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Maintaining Humility and Teachability in Biblical Interpretation

Humility and teachability are essential virtues in biblical interpretation, enabling a deeper and more accurate understanding of Scripture. Humility, in particular, is characterized as a state of mind pleasing to God, preserving tranquility, and fostering patience during trials [4]. It is a characteristic of saints, who are regarded, heard, and delivered by God [1].

The Bible consistently presents humility as a virtue. Proverbs states that humility comes before honor [1]. The humble are promised exaltation and receive more grace [1]. Christ himself is the ultimate example of humility, declaring it of himself in Matthew 11:29 [2]. His humility was evident in his incarnation, taking on human nature (Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:16), his birth (Luke 2:4-7), his subjection to his parents (Luke 2:51), and his poverty (Luke 9:58; 2 Corinthians 8:9) [2]. He associated with the despised, refused honors, and even washed his disciples' feet, demonstrating a life of service [2]. This example serves as a model for believers [4].

Teachability, closely linked to humility, involves an openness to instruction and a willingness to learn. It is about maintaining discretion and preserving knowledge [5]. The "simple" or those with less understanding can gain prudence, knowledge, and discretion through instruction [10, 13]. John Gill, commenting on Proverbs 1:4, suggests that even those with "mean abilities" can attain "serpentine subtlety" and "exquisite knowledge of divine things" by attending to wisdom [13]. Similarly, on Psalm 119:32, Gill emphasizes the need for a "spiritual understanding" of God's law, which is a gift of grace [11]. This understanding allows one to keep the law "spiritually, from a principle of love and gratitude" [11].

Diligence is also required in seeking God, obeying Him, and hearkening to His word [3]. This includes striving for perfection, cultivating Christian graces, and guarding against defilement [3]. The apostle Paul, in Titus 1:9, emphasizes the importance of "keeping to the true word of the teaching" so that one can "give comfort by right teaching and overcome the arguments of the doubters" [6]. This highlights the need for a firm grasp of sound doctrine, which comes through diligent study and a teachable spirit.

The concept of "simplicity" in Scripture is not about being naive, but rather about being opposed to "fleshly wisdom" and exhibiting sincerity in conduct [8]. Those who possess this grace are made wise by God and His word, and are preserved by Him [8]. They profit from correction and are made circumspect by instruction [8]. John Gill, in his commentary on Psalm 116:6, notes that "the Lord preserveth the simple," referring to those who are "sensible of their lack of wisdom" and commit themselves to the Lord, being "sincere and upright, harmless and inoffensive, artless and incautious" [16].

In biblical interpretation, humility means approaching the text with an awareness of one's own limitations and biases, rather than imposing preconceived notions. It involves receiving the word of God with meekness [7]. Meekness, like humility, was exemplified by Christ and is a fruit of the Spirit [7]. Ministers are encouraged to follow after meekness and instruct opposers with it [7]. This disposition allows for genuine engagement with the text and a willingness to be corrected by it.

Teachability also implies a readiness to learn from others and from the historical understanding of Scripture. Calvin, for instance, in his commentary on Genesis, acknowledges the value of verbal criticisms, even if he places less emphasis on them himself [12]. Nicolas des Gallars, in a prefatory advertisement to Calvin's commentary on Isaiah, notes Calvin's "clear method of instruction" and the benefit derived from his speaking and writings [14]. This suggests that learning from seasoned interpreters and teachers is part of a teachable approach.

The New Testament warns against being "carried aside" by "teachings, manifold and strange" [9]. Instead, the heart should be confirmed with gratitude, not with matters that do not profit [9]. This underscores the need for discernment, which is fostered by humility and teachability, allowing believers to distinguish sound doctrine from error. The Christian privilege involves receiving grace, which produces faith exhibited in serving God [15]. This grace is essential for understanding and applying biblical truths.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Humility — A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Ch”
  5. Proverbs “Proverbs 5:2 (BSB) — that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.”
  6. Titus “Titus 1:9 (BBE) — Keeping to the true word of the teaching, so that he may be able to give comfort by right teaching and overcome the arguments of the doubters.”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Meekness — Christ set an example of -- Ps 45:4; Isa 53:7; Mt 11:29; 21:5; 2Co 10:1; 1Pe 2:21-23. His teaching -- Mt 5:38-45. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22,23. Saints should Seek. -- Zep 2:3. Put on. -- Col 3:12-13. Receive the word of God with. -- Jas 1:21. Exhibit, in conduct, &c. -- Jas 3:13. Answer for their hope with. -- 1Pe 3:15. Show to all men. -- Tit 3:2. Restore the erring with. -- Ga 6:1. Precious in the sight of God -- 1Pe 3:4. Ministers should Follow after. -- 1Ti 6:11. Instruct opposers with. -- 2Ti 2:24,25. Urge, on their people. -- Tit 3:1,2. A char”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Simplicity — Is opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Necessity for -- Mt 18:2,3. Should be exhibited In preaching the gospel. -- 1Th 2:3-7. In acts of benevolence. -- Ro 12:8. In all our conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. Concerning our own wisdom. -- 1Co 3:18. Concerning evil. -- Ro 16:19. Concerning malice. -- 1Co 14:20. Exhortation to -- Ro 16:19; 1Pe 2:2. They who have the grace of Are made wise by God. -- Mt 11:25. Are made wise by the word of God. -- Ps 19:7; 119:130. Are preserved by God. -- Ps 116:6. Made circumspect by instruction. -- Pr 1:4. Profit by the correction o”
  9. Hebrews “Hebrews 13:9 (Rotherham) — With teachings, manifold and strange, be not carried aside; for it is, noble, that, with gratitude, should, the heart, be getting confirmed,—not with matters of food, in which, they who are walking, have not been profited.”
  10. Proverbs “Proverbs 1:4 (BSB) — To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,”
  11. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:32: Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law,.... A spiritual understanding; an understanding of the law, the perfection, purity, holiness, and spirituality of it; an understanding of the Gospel, and of Christ and the things of Christ; from whom grace and strength are to be had for the due observance of the law, as in his hands; which understanding must be given, and is a gift of pure, free, rich grace, to such who have it; though they cannot keep the law perfectly, as no mere man can, yet will keep it spiritually, from a principle of love and gratitude, and with”
  12. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 1.5: more recently been subjected. Still his verbal criticisms are neither few nor unimportant, though he lays comparatively little stress upon them himself. 5 5 The reader is referred, for full information on this subject, to a small volume entitled, “The Merits of Calvin as an Interpreter of the Holy Scriptures,” by Professor Tholuck of Halle. To which are added, “Opinions and Testimonies of Foreign and British Divines and Scholars as to the Importance of the Writings of John Calvin.” With a Preface by the Revelation William Pringle. ”
  13. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 1:4: To give subtlety to the simple,.... Men of mean abilities, weak capacities, shallow understandings, incautious, credulous, and easily imposed upon: these, by attending to what is herein contained, may arrive to a serpentine subtlety; though they are simple and harmless as doves, may become as wise as serpents; may attain to an exquisite knowledge of divine things and know even more than the wise and sage philosophers among the Gentiles, or any of the Rabbins and masters of Israel; or any of the princes of this world, whose wisdom comes to nought; and become very caut”
  14. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 2.1: PREFATORY ADVERTISEMENT BY NICOLAS DES GALLARS TO THE READERS Though in collecting these Commentaries I was astonished, first, at the labor and difficulty, and next at the various opinions of men, yet I thought, Christian Readers, that I must not refuse to labor or shrink from anything, provided that I can be of any service. With respect to the difficulties, I quickly surmounted them, through the clear method of instruction which the Author has been accustomed to employ, as may be seen in his writings, but still more in his speaking. And if so”
  15. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 12:28: receiving--as we do, in prospect and sure hope, also in the possession of the Spirit the first-fruits. This is our privilege as Christians. let us have grace--"let us have thankfulness" [ALFORD after CHRYSOSTOM]. But (1) this translation is according to classical Greek, not Paul's phraseology for "to be thankful." (2) "To God" would have been in that case added. (3) "Whereby we may serve God," suits the English Version "grace" (that is Gospel grace, the work of the Spirit, producing faith exhibited in serving God), but does not suit "thankfulness."”
  16. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 116:6: The Lord preserveth the simple,.... Such as have but a small degree of understanding, either in things natural or spiritual, in comparison of others; babes, as the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions render it, so in the Talmud (i); see Mat 11:25. Such who are sensible of their lack of wisdom, and what they have they do not lean unto or trust in, but being sensible of their weakness commit themselves to the Lord; they are sincere and upright, harmless and inoffensive, artless and incautious, and so easily imposed upon by designing men; bu”
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