Extrabiblical Teachings Undermining Authority of God's Word
Extrabiblical Teachings Undermining Authority of God's Word
The concept of extrabiblical teachings undermining the authority of God's Word is rooted in biblical warnings against false teachings and idolatry. Isaiah 59:13 describes those who "transgress and deny the Lord, and turn away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood" [1]. This passage highlights the severity of rejecting God's Word and substituting it with human ideas or false teachings.
The Bible condemns various forms of rebellion against God, including idolatry, blasphemy, and disobedience [2, 3, 4]. Torrey's Topical Textbook categorizes these actions under headings such as "Rebellion Against God" and "Idolatry," citing numerous biblical references that warn against such behaviors [2, 4]. For instance, idolatry is described as bowing down to images, worshipping other gods, and serving other gods, all of which are considered forms of rebellion against the true God [4].
In the New Testament, Jesus teaches that annulling or making invalid even the least of God's commandments and teaching others to do so will result in being called "the least in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19) [6]. This emphasizes the importance of adhering to God's Word and the consequences of undermining its authority. The apostle Paul also warns against "imaginations" and "every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God," advocating for the casting down of such reasonings through the preaching of the Word [9].
Historically, Christian interpreters have understood these biblical warnings as cautioning against extrabiblical teachings that undermine the authority of Scripture. For example, John Gill comments on Isaiah 59:13, noting that it refers to transgressing and denying the Lord, which includes denying the deity, righteousness, and satisfaction of Christ [5]. Similarly, Calvin critiques those who profane real theology by teaching contrary to the sincerity of the apostles, highlighting the importance of maintaining the integrity of biblical doctrine [7].
The issue of extrabiblical teachings is not limited to ancient contexts but remains relevant today. As Matthew Henry notes, hypocrisy is a form of wickedness for which God will judge, and this includes professing religion while violating God's statutes [8]. The ongoing challenge for Christians is to discern and reject teachings that undermine the authority of God's Word, adhering instead to the biblical text and its interpretations within the Christian tradition.
Sources
- Isaiah “transgressing and denying Yahweh, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. -- Isaiah 59:13”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rebellion Against God — Forbidden -- Nu 14:9; Jos 22:19. Provokes God -- Nu 16:30; Ne 9:26. Provokes Christ -- Ex 23:20,21; 1Co 10:9. Vexes the Holy Spirit -- Isa 63:10. Exhibited in Unbelief. -- De 9:23; Ps 106:24,25. Rejecting his government. -- 1Sa 8:7; 15:23. Revolting from him. -- Isa 1:5; 31:6. Despising his law. -- Ne 9:26. Despising his counsels. -- Ps 107:11. Distrusting his power. -- Eze 17:15. Murmuring against him. -- Nu 20:3,10. Refusing to hearken to him. -- De 9:23; Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11. Departing from him. -- Isa 59:13. Rebellion against governors appoi”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Blasphemy — In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in Ps. 74:18; Isa. 52:5; Rom. 2:24; Rev. 13:1, 6; 16:9, 11, 21. It denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (1 Kings 21:10; Acts 13:45; 18:6, etc.). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God (Matt. 26:65; comp. Matt. 9:3; Mark 2:7). They who deny his Messiahship blaspheme Jesus (Luke 22:65; John 10:36). Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31, 32; Mark 3:28, 29; Luke 12:10) is regarded by some as a continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel,”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 59:13: In transgressing and lying against the Lord,.... The word of the Lord, as the Targum; they transgress the doctrine of Christ, as well as the law of God, and deny him the only Lord God, even our Lord Jesus Christ, his proper deity, his righteousness, and satisfaction, which is notorious in our days; so the Syriac version renders it, we have denied the Lord; the Lord that bought them: this is the case of many under a profession of Christ: and departing away from our God: from following him, from walking in his ways, from attending his worship, word, and ordinances;”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 5:19: Whosoever therefore shall break--rather, "dissolve," "annul," or make "invalid." one of these least commandments--an expression equivalent to "one of the least of these commandments." and shall teach men so--referring to the Pharisees and their teaching, as is plain from Mat 5:20, but of course embracing all similar schools and teaching in the Christian Church. he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven--As the thing spoken of is not the practical breaking, or disobeying, of the law, but annulling or enervating its obligation by a vic”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 29.6: the sincerity of the apostles, it is, on that account, an absolute profanation of real theology. What, I ask, do they teach about faith, or repentance, or calling on God; about the weakness of men, or the assistance of the Holy Spirit, or the forgiveness of sins by free grace, or about the office of Christ, that can be of any avail for the solid edification of godliness? But on this subject we shall have occasion to speak again in expounding the Second Epistle. Undoubtedly, any person who possesses a moderate share of understand”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 50:16: God, by the psalmist, having instructed his people in the right way of worshipping him and keeping up their communion with him, here directs his speech to the wicked, to hypocrites, whether they were such as professed the Jewish or the Christian religion: hypocrisy is wickedness for which God will judge. Observe here, I. The charge drawn up against them. 1. They are charged with invading and usurping the honours and privileges of religion (Psa 50:16): What has thou to do, O wicked man! to declare my statutes? This is a challenge to those that rare really profane,”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:5: Casting down imaginations,.... Or "reasonings"; the carnal reasonings of the minds of natural men against God, his providences and purposes, against Christ, and the methods of salvation, and every truth of the Gospel; which are all disproved, silenced, and confounded, by the preaching of the word, which though reckoned the foolishness and weakness of God, appears to be wiser and stronger than men; and whereby the wisdom of the wise is destroyed, and the understanding of the prudent brought to nothing: and every high thing that exalteth itself against the know”