Testing Historical Examples Against Clear Biblical Teachings

Biblical teachings often provide historical examples to illustrate principles, serving as warnings or models for behavior ^[2]. These examples are drawn from the lives of individuals, the history of Israel, and the actions of God.

One prominent example is the life of Christ, which serves as the ultimate model for believers. Jesus demonstrated self-denial, as seen in his resistance to temptation in the wilderness and his submission to the Father's will ^[1]. His humility and obedience, even to death on a cross, are presented as an example for others to follow ^[1]. The Apostle Peter explicitly states that Christ left an example for believers to follow in his steps (1 Pet. 2:21) ^[2]. Similarly, pastors are called to be examples to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3) ^[2].

The history of Israel frequently functions as a cautionary tale. The wilderness generation, for instance, serves as an example of disobedience and unbelief. Despite witnessing God's works for forty years, they "tempted (Me) in the way of testing," failing to believe in God's ability and willingness to provide for them ^[6]. Stephen, in his defense before the Sanhedrin, recounted Israel's history, highlighting their repeated rejection of God's messengers and their stubbornness ^[7]. This historical review underscored their unfaithfulness to God, contrasting with the divine will ^[7]. The Apostle Paul also uses the experiences of the Israelites in the wilderness as examples to warn against idolatry and immorality (1 Cor. 10:6-11).

The Old Testament also provides examples of faith. Hebrews 11, often called the "faith hall of fame," lists numerous individuals whose lives exemplified faith, such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham ^[11]. Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac, for example, is presented as a profound test of his faith, demonstrating his love for God above all else ^[10]. God's testing of Abraham was not to gain knowledge, as God "knoweth all things before they come into existence," but to make Abraham "more approved" ^[9].

Conversely, some historical practices mentioned in the Bible are not presented as normative teachings. Embalming, for instance, was a practice learned by the Jews in Egypt, as seen with Jacob and Joseph ^[3]. While it was practiced, it was not universally adopted by Jews, and some traditions interpret it as an attempt to defy God's purpose for the body after death (Gen. 3:19) ^[3]. This suggests that while a practice may be recorded historically, it does not automatically equate to a biblical teaching or command.

The concept of "parable" itself, which is a "placing beside" or "comparison," illustrates how biblical narratives and historical events are used to convey deeper truths ^[4]. Jesus frequently used parables to teach, contrasting his own teachings with traditional interpretations of the law ^[8]. These parables, though sometimes short proverbs or enigmatic maxims, served to illustrate spiritual realities ^[4].

The Bible also acknowledges the destructive power of human actions, such as war, which originates in "the lusts of men" (Jas. 4:1) ^[5]. While God sometimes ordered specific wars in the Old Testament, and taught His people the art of war, the ultimate biblical vision includes a time when God "causes to cease" war (Ps. 46:9) ^[5]. This demonstrates a distinction between historical occurrences, even those divinely sanctioned for a specific period, and overarching biblical principles.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Embalming — Unknown to early patriarchs -- Ge 23:4. Learned by the Jews in Egypt -- Ge 50:2,26. Time required for -- Ge 50:3. How performed by the Jews -- 2Ch 16:14; Lu 23:56; Joh 19:40. Not always practised by the Jews -- Joh 11:39. An attempt to defeat God's purpose -- Ge 3:19.”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: War — Antiquity of -- Ge 14:2. Originates in the lusts of men -- Jas 4:1. A time for -- Ec 3:8. God Frequently ordered. -- Ex 17:16; Nu 31:1,2; De 7:1,2; 1Sa 15:1-3. Taught His people the art of. -- 2Sa 22:35. Strengthens His people for. -- Le 26:7,8. Gives the victory in. -- Nu 21:3; De 2:33; 3:3; 2Sa 23:10; Pr 21:31. Causes to cease. -- Ps 46:9. Scatters those who delight in. -- Ps 68:30. Large armies frequently engaged in -- 2Ch 13:3; 14:9. Weapons used in -- Jos 1:14; Jdj 18:11. Preceded by Consultation. -- Lu 14:31; Pr 24:6. Great preparation. -- Joe 3:9. Rumors”
Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 3:9: When--rather, "Where," namely, in the wilderness. your fathers--The authority of the ancients is not conclusive [BENGEL]. tempted me, proved me--The oldest manuscripts read, "tempted (Me) in the way of testing," that is, putting (Me) to the proof whether I was able and willing to relieve them, not believing that I am so. saw my works forty years--They saw, without being led thereby to repentance, My works of power partly in affording miraculous help, partly in executing vengeance, forty years. The "forty years" joined in the Hebrew and Septuagint”
Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 7:1: 7:1-53 Stephen responded to the accusations by testifying about his Lord (cp. Luke 21:12-17). Instead of defending himself against their prosecution, he became a witness in God’s prosecution of them, exposing their stubbornness and unfaithfulness to God. Stephen’s recital of Israel’s past reminded them of their repeated rejections of those whom God had sent. • Stephen’s review of Israel’s history has three principal parts, dealing with the work of the patriarchs (Acts 7:2-16), the ministry of Moses (7:17-43), and the role of the Tabernacle and the Temple (7:44-50). S”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 5:21: 5:21-47 You have heard. . . . But I say: Jesus contrasts his own teaching to six misinterpretations of the law. Each antithesis provides an example of the surpassing righteousness of Jesus. Jesus reveals the will of God as it contrasts with traditions. 5:21 our ancestors were told: The expression refers to the traditional interpretation of the teachers of religious law and Pharisees. Though their traditions prohibited murder, they did not prohibit hatred. The surpassing righteousness of Jesus demands reconciliation (5:23-24); merely refraining from committing mur”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: order to learn by the proof whether he would obey or not—how should it be so? for He knoweth all things before they come into existence: but on both occasions it is spoken after the manner of men. As, when it is said, He searcheth the hearts of men, it indicates the search, not of ignorance, but of perfect knowledge; so when it is said, He tempted, tried, or proved, it means no other than that He perfectly knew.—Or, it may mean, that He made the person more approved: as Abraham there, so Philip by this question, leading him into the sure knowledge of”
Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 22:1: Here is the trial of Abraham's faith, whether it continued so strong, so vigorous, so victorious, after a long settlement in communion with God, as it was at first, when by it he left his country: then it was made to appear that he loved God better than his father; now that he loved him better than his son. Observe here, I. The time when Abraham was thus tried (Gen 22:1): After these things, after all the other exercises he had had, all the hardships and difficulties he had gone through. Now, perhaps, he was beginning to think the storms had all blown over; but, ”
Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 11:4: The apostle, having given us a more general account of the grace of faith, now proceeds to set before us some illustrious examples of it in the Old Testament times, and these may be divided into two classes: - 1. Those whose names are mentioned, and the particular exercise and actings of whose faith are specified. 2. Those whose names are barely mentioned, and an account given in general of the exploits of their faith, which it is left to the reader to accommodate, and apply to the particular persons from what he gathers up in the sacred story. We have here those”

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