Scripture's Role in Guiding Decision-Making and Extrabiblical Examples

The Bible serves as a primary guide for decision-making within Christian traditions, stemming from its understanding as divinely inspired and authoritative ^[6]. Scripture is described as "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16), indicating its divine origin and its capacity to provide wisdom for living out salvation ^[8]. This inspiration applies to both the Old and New Testaments ^[8].

The role of Scripture in guiding decisions is multifaceted:

Divine Revelation and Authority: The Bible is considered the "Word of God" and the "Word of Christ" ^[1]. It is given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit ^[1]. Christ himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them ^[1]. This divine origin means that Scripture is perfectly trustworthy and an infallible guide for humanity ^[6]. Passages like 2 Timothy 3:16-17 emphasize Scripture's effectiveness in teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, equipping believers for every good work ^[8].
Exhortations to Decision: The Bible frequently calls for clear and resolute decision-making in service to God. It exhorts individuals to seek God wholeheartedly, keep His commandments, be on the Lord's side, and follow Him fully ^[3]. This is contrasted with a divided service, double-mindedness, or "halting between two opinions" ^[3]. The blessedness of making such decisions is also highlighted ^[3].
Guidance for Moral and Ethical Choices: While the Bible provides clear commands and principles, it also acknowledges the need for human judgment. For instance, in matters where there is no explicit divine command, apostles like Paul offered their "judgment" or opinion, guided by inspiration, but allowing for individual discretion ^[7]. This suggests a framework where direct commands are binding, but other areas allow for Spirit-led wisdom applied to biblical principles.
Prayer and Discernment: Prayer is presented as a means of seeking divine guidance, though Scripture does not offer a theoretical explanation for its efficacy ^[4]. The example of Abraham's servant praying for a sign to guide his decision in finding a wife for Isaac illustrates a "pious and rational" approach to seeking God's direction, asking for a natural sign that would indicate desirable qualities, rather than tempting God with an unreasonable request ^[9].
Limitations of Extrabiblical Revelation: While dreams and visions were vehicles of divine revelation in the Old Testament, the New Testament era places them below prophetic visions where understanding is active ^[5]. Under the Christian dispensation, dreams are not typically referred to as means of divine revelation ^[5]. This suggests a shift in how God communicates, emphasizing the written Word as the primary and sufficient guide.
The Role of Conscience and Judgment: Believers are encouraged to use their own powers of judgment to weigh arguments and discern truth ^[10]. This responsibility of "judging" for oneself is not to be avoided, though its abuse is cautioned against ^[10]. This implies that while Scripture is the ultimate authority, believers are to actively engage their minds in applying its truths to specific situations.

The concept of predestination, for example, is described as belonging to the "secret things" of God, meaning that while it is a revealed doctrine, its full implications are not entirely comprehensible, and believers are to rely on the revealed word as their guide ^[2]. This highlights that not all aspects of God's plan are fully disclosed, and faith involves trusting in what has been revealed.

The public reading of Scripture, a practice transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church, underscores its communal role in guiding the body of believers ^[11]. The New Testament Gospels and Epistles were recognized as inspired and read alongside the Old Testament from their earliest circulation ^[11]. This communal engagement with Scripture further reinforces its role as a shared guide for decision-making within the Christian community.

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”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
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”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — The object of this article will be to touch briefly on-- + The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; + Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; + Its types and examples of prayer. + Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need ”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Dreams — The Scripture declares that the influence of the Spirit of God upon the soul extends to its sleeping as well as its waking thoughts. But, in accordance with the principle enunciated by St. Paul in (1 Corinthians 14:15) dreams, in which the understanding is asleep, are placed below the visions of prophecy, in which the understanding plays its part. Under the Christian dispensation, while we read frequently of trances and vision, dreams are never referred to as vehicles of divine revelation. In exact accordance with this principle are the actual records of the ”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Inspiration — Dr. Knapp given as the definition of inspiration, "an extra-ordinary divine agency upon teachers while giving instruction, whether oral or written, by which they were taught what and how they should write or speak." Without deciding on any of the various theories of inspiration, the general doctrine of Christians is that the Bible is so inspired by God that it is the infallible guide of men, and is perfectly trustworthy in all its parts, as given by God.”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:25: no commandment of the Lord: yet . . . my judgment--I have no express revelation from the Lord commanding it, but I give my judgment (opinion); namely, under the ordinary inspiration which accompanied the apostles in all their canonical writings (compare Co1 7:40; Co1 14:37; Th1 4:15). The Lord inspires me in this case to give you only a recommendation, which you are free to adopt or reject--not a positive command. In the second case (Co1 7:10-11) it was a positive command; for the Lord had already made known His will (Mal 2:14-15; Mat 5:31-32). ”
2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:16: 3:16-17 These verses elaborate on 3:15 by explaining Scripture’s effectiveness, its source, and the ways that it gives wisdom to live out our salvation. Paul was speaking of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), but his statement can now apply to all Scripture, including the New Testament (see, e.g., 2 Pet 3:15-16). 3:16 The fact that Scripture is inspired by God (literally God-breathed, breathed out by God’s own speech; see also Heb 4:12-13; 2 Pet 1:20-21) does not negate the active involvement of the human authors. But it does affirm that God is fully re”
Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 24:12: And he said, O Lord God, etc. - "The conduct of this servant," says Dr. Dodd, "appears no less pious than rational. By supplicating for a sign, he acknowledges God to be the great superintendent and director of the universe, and of that event in particular; and at the same time, by asking a natural sign, such as betokened humanity, condescension, and other qualities which promised a discreet and virtuous wife, he puts his prayer upon such a discreet, rational footing, as to be a proper example for all to imitate who would not tempt the providence of God, by expect”
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”
1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:13: Till I come--when Timothy's commission would be superseded for the time by the presence of the apostle himself (Ti1 1:3; Ti1 3:14). reading--especially in the public congregation. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church (Luk 4:16-20; Act 13:15; Act 15:21; Co2 3:14). The New Testament Gospel and Epistles being recognized as inspired by those who had the gift of discerning spirits, were from the first, according as they were written, read along with the Old Testament in the Church (Th1 5:21”

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