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Misusing Extrabiblical Examples in Theological Discussions

The misuse of extrabiblical examples in theological discussions often involves drawing conclusions or establishing doctrines based on sources outside of the canonical Scriptures, or by misapplying biblical principles to non-biblical narratives. While extrabiblical texts can offer historical or cultural context, they are not considered authoritative for Christian doctrine [18].

One common pitfall is the elevation of human traditions or philosophical ideas to a level of authority comparable to Scripture. The Apostle Paul warns against "myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith" (1 Timothy 1:4 BSB) [10]. Similarly, he cautions against "different teaching, not in agreement with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the teaching which is in agreement with true religion" (1 Timothy 6:3 BBE) [11]. John Gill, commenting on 1 Timothy 6:5, describes "perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds" who are "destitute of the truth of Christ" and wrongly assume "gain is godliness" [19]. Such warnings highlight the danger of departing from biblical truth in favor of human-derived arguments.

Another form of misuse occurs when extrabiblical narratives are employed to justify behaviors or beliefs that contradict biblical ethics. For instance, while the Bible condemns strife, flattery, malice, and evil-speaking [1, 2, 3, 4], extrabiblical examples might be used to rationalize these behaviors under certain circumstances. The Bible explicitly forbids alliances and society with the enemies of God, warning that such associations can lead to idolatry and provoke divine anger [5]. If extrabiblical accounts were used to argue for such alliances, it would directly contradict biblical teaching.

The Bible consistently presents God's anger not as a spontaneous emotional outburst, but as a holy and necessary response to sin [15]. Sin itself is understood as a rebellion against God [14], stemming from an evil heart [4] and a corrupt nature [16]. All human beings are born sinners, and while the godly fight against their sinful nature, the wicked indulge it [12]. Extrabiblical examples that portray sin in a less serious light, or that suggest alternative paths to righteousness outside of Christ, would fundamentally misunderstand the biblical doctrine of sin and salvation. The concept of redemption, for example, is rooted in God's rich mercy and great love (Ephesians 2:4) and the forgiveness of sins through Christ's blood (Ephesians 1:7) [8, 9].

Furthermore, the Bible emphasizes that believers are "claimed by God" through Christ [17]. This means that their identity and purpose are defined by their relationship with God, not by external narratives or human philosophies. Selfishness, which is contrary to God's law and condemned by Christ's example, is characterized by pleasing oneself, seeking one's own interests, and neglecting others [6]. Any extrabiblical example that promotes such self-centeredness as a virtue would be at odds with Christian teaching.

The danger of relying on extrabiblical examples is that they can lead to "unprofitable talk" and "speeches which do no good" (Job 15:3 Darby) [7]. The Apostle John, in his first epistle, contrasts those who "doeth righteousness" with those who "committeth sin," stating that the latter "is of the devil" [13]. Augustine, as quoted by Bengel, clarifies that while one can become a "child of the devil by imitating him," the devil does not "beget" or "create" in the same way God does [13]. This distinction highlights the importance of understanding the origin and nature of spiritual realities from a biblical perspective, rather than relying on potentially misleading extrabiblical analogies.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Flattery — Saints should not used -- Job 32:21,22. Ministers should not use -- 1Th 2:5. The wicked use, to Others. -- Ps 5:9; 12:2. Themselves. -- Ps 36:2. Hypocrites use, to God. -- Ps 78:36. Those in authority. -- Da 11:34. False prophets and teachers use -- Eze 12:24; Ro 16:18. Wisdom, a preservative against -- Pr 4:5. Worldly advantage obtained by -- Da 11:21,22. Seldom gains respect -- Pr 28:23. Avoid those given to -- Pr 20:19. Danger of -- Pr 7:21-23; 20:5. Punishment of -- Job 17:5; Ps 12:3. Exemplified Woman of Tekoah. -- 2Sa 14:17,20. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:2-6”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Evil-speaking — Is expressly forbidden (Titus 3:2; James 4:11), and severe punishments are denounced against it (1 Cor. 5:11; 6:10). It is spoken of also with abhorrence (Ps. 15:3; Prov. 18:6, 7), and is foreign to the whole Christian character and the example of Christ.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Malice — Springs from an evil heart -- Mt 15:19,20; Ga 5:19. Forbidden -- 1Co 14:20; Col 3:8; Eph 4:26,27. A hindrance to growth in grace -- 1Pe 2:1,2. Incompatible with the worship of God -- 1Co 5:7,8. Christian liberty not to be a cloak for -- 1Pe 2:16. Saints avoid -- Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:12-14. The wicked Speak with. -- 3Jo 1:10. Live in. -- Tit 3:3. Conceive. -- Ps 7:14. Filled with. -- Ro 1:29. Visit saints with. -- Ps 83:3; Mt 22:6. Pray for those who injure you through -- Mt 5:44. Brings its own punishment -- Ps 7:15,16. God requites -- Ps 10:14; Eze 36:5. Pun”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Alliance and Society With the Enemies of God — Forbidden -- Ex 23:32; 34:12; De 7:2,3; 13:6,8; Jos 23:6,7; Jdj 2:2; Ezr 9:12; Pr 1:10,15; 2Co 6:14-17; Eph 5:11. Lead to idolatry -- Ex 34:15,16; Nu 25:1-8; De 7:4; Jdj 3:5-7; Re 2:20. Have led to murder and human sacrifice -- Ps 106:37,38. Provoke the anger of God -- De 7:4; 31:16,17; 2Ch 19:2; Ezr 9:13,14; Ps 106:29,40; Isa 2:6. Provoke God to leave mean to reap the fruits of them -- Jos 23:12,13; Jdj 2:1-3. Are ensnaring -- Ex 23:33; Nu 25:18; De 12:30; 13:6; Ps 106:36. Are enslaved -- 2Pe 2:18,19. Are defiling -- Ez”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
  7. Job “Job 15:3 (Darby) — Reasoning with unprofitable talk, and with speeches which do no good?”
  8. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 1:7 cross-references: Exodus 34:7, Job 33:24, Psalms 32:1, Psalms 86:5, Psalms 130:4, Psalms 130:7, Isaiah 43:25, Isaiah 55:6, Jeremiah 31:34, Daniel 9:9, Daniel 9:19, Daniel 9:24, Jonah 4:2, Micah 7:18, Zechariah 9:11, Zechariah 13:1, Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 1:77, Luke 7:40, Luke 7:47, Luke 24:47, John 20:23, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Acts 10:43, Acts 13:38, Acts 20:28, Romans 2:4, Romans 3:24, Romans 4:6, Romans 9:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Ephesians 1:6, Ephesians 2:4, Ephesians 2:7, Ephesians 3:8, Ephesians 3:16, Philippians 4:19”
  9. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 2:4 cross-references: Exodus 33:19, Exodus 34:6, Deuteronomy 7:7, Deuteronomy 9:5, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalms 51:1, Psalms 86:5, Psalms 86:15, Psalms 103:8, Psalms 145:8, Isaiah 55:6, Jeremiah 31:3, Ezekiel 16:6, Daniel 9:9, Jonah 4:2, Micah 7:18, Luke 1:78, John 3:14, Romans 2:4, Romans 5:8, Romans 5:20, Romans 9:15, Romans 9:23, Romans 10:12, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:7, Ephesians 3:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Timothy 1:14, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 3:4, 1 Peter 1:3, 1 John 4:10”
  10. I Timothy “I Timothy 1:4 (BSB) — or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith.”
  11. I Timothy “I Timothy 6:3 (BBE) — If any man gives different teaching, not in agreement with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the teaching which is in agreement with true religion,”
  12. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
  13. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
  14. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
  15. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
  16. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
  17. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:23: 3:23 Just as they may now claim everything as their own, so Christ has claimed them for himself (see Rom 14:7-9), and in Christ they are ultimately claimed by God (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).”
  18. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:15: Appeal to their own powers of judgment to weigh the force of the argument that follows: namely, that as the partaking of the Lord's Supper involves a partaking of the Lord Himself, and the partaking of the Jewish sacrificial meats involved a partaking of the altar of God, and, as the heathens sacrifice to devils, to partake of an idol feast is to have fellowship with devils. We cannot divest ourselves of the responsibility of "judging" for ourselves. The weakness of private judgment is not an argument against its use, but its abuse. We should t”
  19. 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 6:5: Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds,.... Who being corrupt in their principles, and corrupters of the word of God, dispute in a very froward and perverse way, rubbing and galling one another, and so provoke, to wrath and anger, and, every evil work: and destitute of the truth of Christ, who is the truth, knowing nothing of him spiritually and savingly; and of the Gospel, the word of truth; and also of the truth of grace, being carnal, sensual, and having not the Spirit of God. Supposing that gain is godliness; such were Simon Magus and his followers, and”
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