Scripture vs Man-Made Doctrine in Christian Teaching
Christian teaching distinguishes sharply between doctrines derived from divine revelation and those originating from human tradition. This distinction is rooted in biblical texts that emphasize the divine origin and authority of Scripture, while cautioning against the elevation of human precepts to the level of divine command [1, 4].
The Bible is consistently presented as divinely inspired. Second Timothy 3:16 states that "All Scripture is God-breathed" (ESV), and 2 Peter 1:21 notes that "prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" [2]. This divine origin grants Scripture unique authority. Jesus himself frequently appealed to the Scriptures, sanctioning their authority [2]. For instance, in Matthew 4:4, he quotes Deuteronomy, saying, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" [2]. The New Testament refers to these sacred writings by various names, including "the Word of God," "the Word of Christ," and "Holy Scriptures," underscoring their sacred and authoritative nature [2]. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines "Scripture" in the New Testament as "that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament" [5]. This collection was progressively enlarged as God revealed his will through inspired writers, culminating in a "completed 'Scripture'" [5].
In contrast, "man-made doctrines" refer to teachings or rules that originate from human interpretation, tradition, or authority rather than direct divine revelation. Jesus directly confronted the issue of human traditions superseding divine commands. In Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7, he quotes Isaiah, stating, "In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" [1, 4]. This critique was directed at religious leaders who prioritized their traditions over God's revealed will.
The early church fathers also addressed this distinction. John Chrysostom, in his Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians, argued that if a doctrine was "of man," it could be overcome by human cleverness or falsehood, but a divine doctrine, demonstrated by "works and signs," is far more evident and cannot be subdued [9]. He emphasized that the Holy Spirit does not enter an "unclean soul" and, once entered, cannot be overcome by "cleverness of speech" [9].
Later theological traditions continued to uphold the supremacy of Scripture. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, interpreted 1 Timothy 6:3 as a warning against teaching "another doctrine" that deviates from what the apostle had taught, specifically "a doctrine different from that of the Bible, of Christ" [8]. He also warned against "the doctrine of false teachers" in his commentary on Proverbs 19:27, citing examples such as the Roman Catholic Church's doctrines concerning Scripture, merit, and indulgences, which he viewed as setting "unwritten traditions upon a level with them" [10]. Gill further clarified that the "principles of the doctrine of Christ" are the Gospel itself, which should not be abandoned or forgotten [11].
The concept of "man" in relation to God's creation highlights the inherent limitation of human understanding and authority. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that "man" was "Made for God" and "Cannot profit God" [6]. Job 4:17 asks, "Can a human being be more righteous than God, or can a man be more pure than his Maker?" [3]. This underscores that human beings, as created beings, are not the ultimate source of truth or authority [6, 7]. Therefore, any doctrine originating solely from human reasoning or tradition is inherently subordinate to divine revelation.
The distinction between Scripture and man-made doctrine is crucial for maintaining the purity and authority of Christian teaching. While traditions can play a role in understanding and transmitting faith, they are not to be equated with or supersede the inspired Word of God.
Sources
- Matthew “And in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’” -- Matthew 15:9”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
- Job “Job 4:17 (LEB) — ‘Can a human being be more righteous than God, or can a man be more pure than his Maker?”
- Mark “But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ -- Mark 7:7”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Man — Made for God -- Pr 16:4; Re 4:11. God's purpose in creation completed by making -- Ge 2:5,7. Cannot profit God -- Job 22:2; Ps 16:2. Unworthy of God's favour -- Job 7:17; Ps 8:4. Created By God. -- Ge 1:27; Isa 45:12. By Christ. -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16. By the Holy Spirit. -- Job 33:4. After consultation, by the Trinity. -- Ge 1:26. On the sixth day. -- Ge 1:31. Upon the earth. -- De 4:32; Job 20:4. From the dust. -- Ge 2:7; Job 33:6. In the image of God. -- Ge 1:26,27; 1Co 11:7. After the likeness of God. -- Ge 1:26; Jas 3:9. Male and female. -- Ge 1:27; 5:2. A l”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Creation — (The creation of all things is ascribed in the Bible to God, and is the only reasonable account of the origin of the world. The method of creation is not stated in Genesis, and as far as the account there is concerned, each part of it may be, after the first acts of creation, by evolution, or by direct act of God's will. The word create (bara) is used but three times in the first chapter of Genesis-- (1) as to the origin of matter; (2) as to the origin of life; (3) as to the origin of man's soul; and science has always failed to do any of these acts thus as”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 6:3: If any man teach otherwise,.... Or another doctrine, as the Syriac version renders it; a doctrine different from what the apostle had now taught, concerning the duty of servants to their masters; as did the false teachers, who despised dominion or government; not only civil government, and so spoke evil of rulers and magistrates; and church government, and therefore reviled the apostles, elders, and pastors of churches; but family government, and encouraged disobedience to parents and masters; see Pe2 2:10 or teach another doctrine, from that of the Bible, of Chris”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians: doctrine was of man: this clearly demonstrated it to be divine, and to have come down from heaven. Now when demonstration is made by wisdom of words, even the worse oftentimes overcome the better, having more skill in words; and falsehood outstrips the truth. But in this case it is not so: for neither doth the Spirit enter into an unclean soul, nor, having entered in, can it ever be subdued; even though all possible cleverness of speech assail it. For the demonstration by works and signs is far more evident than that by words. [4.] But some one m”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 19:27: Cease, my son, to hear the instruction,.... The counsel of bad men, or the doctrine of false teachers. The words are spoken either by Solomon to his son; or by Wisdom, that is, Christ, to everyone of his children, to beware of false prophets, and take heed what they hear; see Mat 7:15; such as the doctrines of the church of Rome; concerning the Scriptures, forbidding the people to read them; setting unwritten traditions upon a level with them, and making the pope an infallible interpreter of them; concerning merit, works of supererogation, indulgences, pardons, pen”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 6:1: Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,.... The Gospel is the doctrine of Christ, and is so called, because Christ, as God, is the author of it; as Mediator, he received it from his Father; as man, he was the preacher of it; and he is also the sum and substance of it: the principles of this doctrine are either the easier parts of the Gospel, called milk in the latter part of the preceding chapter; which are not to be left with dislike and contempt, nor so as to be forgotten, nor so as not to be recurred to at proper times; but so as not to abide in”