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Prioritizing Biblical Authority in Theological Decision Making

Prioritizing biblical authority in theological decision-making involves grounding one's understanding and choices in the revealed word of God. This approach emphasizes that the Bible serves as the ultimate standard for faith and practice, guiding believers in discerning truth and making ethical and spiritual judgments. The concept of "decision" in a biblical context is often linked to a resolute commitment to God's service, as seen in exhortations to seek God wholeheartedly and keep His commandments [1].

The Bible itself asserts its judicial power, indicating that God's "word" is heart-searching and will be the basis for judgment [10]. This underscores the idea that theological decisions are not merely intellectual exercises but have profound implications for one's standing before God. The prophet Micah, for instance, declares himself "full of power by the Spirit of Yahweh, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin," highlighting the divine origin and authoritative nature of such declarations [5].

Theological decision-making rooted in biblical authority requires a deliberate choice to follow "the way of truth" [11]. David, in Psalm 119, exemplifies this by choosing the way of truth, recognizing that the principles of serious godliness are founded on eternal truth and lead to happiness [11]. This choice is contrasted with a "divided service" or "double-mindedness," which are seen as antithetical to a full commitment to God [1]. Instead, believers are called to set their affections supremely upon God and His commandments [2].

John Calvin, in his commentary on Isaiah, suggests that judging a person's godliness involves observing their adherence to both tables of the law—their worship of God and their conduct toward others, including justice, truthfulness, and kindness [6]. This implies that theological decisions are not isolated to abstract doctrines but extend to practical living and ethical considerations, all under the umbrella of biblical instruction.

The concept of judgment, in a broader sense, is also applied to God's own actions. God is depicted as presiding in the "great assembly" and judging among the "gods" [4]. Furthermore, God's "determined" will is emphasized in both judging Israel's sin and blessing them, demonstrating His sovereignty in these decisions [8]. This divine precedent reinforces the idea that judgment and decision-making are inherently linked to divine authority.

For Christians, the responsibility of "judging" for oneself, particularly in matters of faith, is not to be avoided. As Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note on 1 Corinthians 10:15, believers are called to use their powers of judgment to weigh arguments, such as the implications of partaking in the Lord's Supper versus idol feasts [7]. This does not negate the need for biblical authority but rather emphasizes the individual's responsibility to apply that authority discerningly.

The foreknowledge and election of God also play a role in theological understanding, as seen in passages discussing the election of Christ, angels, Israel, and saints [3]. This divine election is described as being "according to the purpose of God" and "according to the foreknowledge of God," highlighting the ultimate divine authority behind such decisions [3, 9].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Decision — Necessary to the service of God -- Lu 9:62. Exhortations to -- Jos 24:14,15. Exhibited in Seeking God with the heart. -- 2Ch 15:12. Keeping the commandments of God. -- Ne 10:29. Being on the Lord's side. -- Ex 32:26. Following God fully. -- Nu 14:24; 32:12; Jos 14:8. Serving God. -- Isa 56:6. Loving God perfectly. -- De 6:5. Blessedness of. -- Jos 1:7. Opposed to A divided service. -- Mt 6:24. Double-mindedness. -- Jas 1:8. Halting between two opinions. -- 1Ki 18:21. Turning to the right or left. -- De 5:32. Not setting the heart aright. -- Ps 78:8,37. Exe”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affections, The — Should be supremely set upon God -- De 6:3; Mr 12:30. Should be set Upon the commandments of God. -- Ps 19:8-10; 119:20,97,103,167. Upon the house and worship of God. -- 1Ch 29:3; Ps 26:8; 27:4; 84:1,2. Upon the people of God. -- Ps 16:3; Ro 12:10; 2Co 7:13-15; 1Th 2:8. Upon heavenly things. -- Col 3:1,2. Should be zealously engaged for God -- Ps 69:9; 119:139; Ga 4:18. Christ claims the first place in -- Mt 10:37; Lu 14:26. Enkindled by communion with Christ -- Lu 24:32. Blessedness of making God the object of -- Ps 91:14. Should not grow cold -- P”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Election — Of Christ, as Messiah -- Isa 42:1; 1Pe 2:6. Of good angels -- 1Ti 5:21. Of Israel -- De 7:6; Isa 45:5. Of ministers -- Lu 6:13; Ac 9:15. Of churches -- 1Pe 5:13. Of saints, is Of God. -- 1Th 1:4; Tit 1:1. By Christ. -- Joh 13:18; 15:16. In Christ. -- Eph 1:4. Personal. -- Mt 20:16; Joh 6:44; Ac 22:14; 2Jo 1:13. According to the purpose of God. -- Ro 9:11; Eph 1:11. According to the foreknowledge of God. -- Ro 8:29; 1Pe 1:2. Eternal. -- Eph 1:4. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:15,16; 1Co 1:27; Eph 1:11. Irrespective of merit. -- Ro 9:11. Of grace. -- Ro 11:5. Recorded i”
  4. Psalms “God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods. -- Psalms 82:1”
  5. Micah “But as for me, I am full of power by the Spirit of Yahweh, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin. -- Micah 3:8”
  6. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 7.37: not they fear God. We might, indeed, be deceived, were it from the second table only that we formed our judgment about the godliness of a man; but if any one discharge the duties of the first table, which are evidences of godliness and of the worship of God, he must then be brought to this standard, Does he act inoffensively towards other men? Does he abstain from every act of injustice? Does he speak truth? Does he live in the exercise of kindness to his brethren? This is the reason why Christ pronounces mercy, judgment, and faith, to be the”
  7. 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”
  8. Zechariah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zechariah 8:14: 8:14-15 determined: The repetition of this word emphasizes God’s sovereignty in judging Israel’s sin and then in blessing them.”
  9. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:2: foreknowledge--foreordaining love (Pe1 1:20), inseparable from God's foreknowledge, the origin from which, and pattern according to which, election takes place. Act 2:23, and Rom 11:2, prove "foreknowledge" to be foreordination. God's foreknowledge is not the perception of any ground of action out of Himself; still in it liberty is comprehended, and all absolute constraint debarred [ANSELM in STEIGER]. For so the Son of God was "foreknown" (so the Greek for "foreordained," Pe1 1:20) to be the sacrificial Lamb, not against, or without His will, but His ”
  10. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:12: For--Such diligent striving (Heb 4:11) is incumbent on us FOR we have to do with a God whose "word" whereby we shall be judged, is heart-searching, and whose eyes are all-seeing (Heb 4:13). The qualities here attributed to the word of God, and the whole context, show that it is regarded in its JUDICIAL power, whereby it doomed the disobedient Israelites to exclusion from Canaan, and shall exclude unbelieving so-called Christians from the heavenly rest. The written Word of God is not the prominent thought here, though the passage is often quoted as if ”
  11. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:30: Observe, I. That those who will make anything to purpose of their religion must first make it their serious and deliberate choice; so David did: I have chosen the way of truth. Note, 1. The way of serious godliness is the way of truth; the principles it is founded on are principles of eternal truth, and it is the only true way to happiness. 2. We must choose to walk in this way, not because we know no other way, but because we know no better; nay we know no other safe and good way. Let us choose that way for our way, which we will walk in, though it be narrow. I”
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