Scriptures Primacy in Christian Decision Making
The primacy of Scripture in Christian decision-making stems from its foundational role as the inspired word of God, providing guidance for faith and practice [2, 9]. The Apostle Paul states that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). This divine inspiration means that the Scriptures are not merely human writings but are given by the Holy Spirit [1].
Christ himself affirmed the authority of Scripture, appealing to it in his teachings and ministry [1]. For instance, he taught out of the Scriptures and sanctioned them by his appeals, as seen in Matthew 4:4 and Luke 24:27 [1]. The early church also recognized this primacy, with the Apostle Paul passing on the message that "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" as a matter of "first importance" [5, 6].
The Scriptures are considered the "rule of faith" and the "rule of truth" for the Christian Church [2]. They are described as the "Holy Scriptures" that are "able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" [3, 7]. This wisdom is not just theoretical but practical, guiding believers in their daily lives and decisions [10]. John Gill, in his commentary on the Psalms, describes the Scriptures as a "goodly heritage," preferable to worldly inheritances, and transmitted across generations [8].
For Christians, making decisions involves aligning one's choices with the principles and commands found in the Bible. Matthew Henry, commenting on Romans 12, emphasizes that Christianity is a "practical religion" designed to "reform our hearts and lives" [10]. This involves a deliberate choice to walk in "the way of truth" as revealed in Scripture [12]. The Bible provides direction for various aspects of life, from seeking God with the heart to keeping His commandments and serving Him fully [4].
The concept of Scripture's primacy also implies that it is the ultimate source of authority in matters of doctrine and practice [9]. As such, Christians are encouraged to "search the scriptures" to understand God's will and to find the path to eternal life, as Jesus himself instructed [11]. This emphasis on biblical authority stands in contrast to traditions that might place other sources of authority on par with or above Scripture [11].
Sources
- 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”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Canon Of Scripture, The — may be generally described as the "collection of books which form the original and authoritative written rule of the faith and practice of the Christian Church," i.e. the Old and New Testaments. The word canon, in classical Greek, is properly a straight rod, "a rule" in the widest sense, and especially in the phrases "the rule of the Church," "the rule of faith," "the rule of truth," The first direct application of the term canon to the Scriptures seems to be in the verses of Amphilochius (cir. 380 A.D.), where the word indicates the rule by ”
- II Timothy “II Timothy 3:15 (BSB) — From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
- 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”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 15:3 (BSB) — For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,”
- 1 Corinthians “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, -- 1 Corinthians 15:3”
- 2 Timothy “From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. -- 2 Timothy 3:15”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:107: Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever,.... The Scriptures, which testify of Christ and of his grace, and of the mind and will of God, are a portion of themselves; and a goodly heritage they are, better than thousands of gold and silver, preferable to all worldly inheritances; as they have been to many, who have forsaken all for Christ and his Gospel. These, like an inheritance, have been transmitted from father to son, from one age of the church to another, in successive generations; nor shall they depart from her, nor from her seed and seed's seed, ”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:16: Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice. Be ye . . . for I am--It is I with whom ye have to do. Ye are mine. Therefore abstain from Gentile pollutions. We are too prone to have respect unto men [CALVIN]. As I am the fountain of holiness, being holy in My essence, be ye therefore zealous to be partakers of holiness, that ye may be as I also am [DIDYMUS]. God is essentially holy: the creature is holy in so far as it is sanctified by God. God, in giving the command, is willing to give also the power to obey i”
- Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 12 (introduction): The apostle, having at large cleared and confirmed the prime fundamental doctrines of Christianity, comes in the next place to press the principal duties. We mistake our religion if we look upon it only as a system of notions and a guide to speculation. No, it is a practical religion, that tends to the right ordering of the conversation. It is designed not only to inform our judgments, but to reform our hearts and lives. From the method of the apostle's writing in this, as in some other of the epistles (as from the management of the principal minister”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 5:39: Search the scriptures, &c.--"In the Scriptures ye find your charter of eternal life; go search them then, and you will find that I am the Great Burden of their testimony; yet ye will not come to Me for that life eternal which you profess to find there, and of which they tell you I am the appointed Dispenser." (Compare Act 17:11-12). How touching and gracious are these last words! Observe here (1) The honor which Christ gives to the Scriptures, as a record which all have a right and are bound to search--the reverse of which the Church of Rome teaches; (2)”
- 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”