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Using Human Examples to Undermine Biblical Authority

The Bible consistently warns against the dangers of human-made doctrines and traditions that undermine divine authority. This theme appears throughout both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing that human constructs cannot stand in place of God's revealed truth.

One primary way human examples undermine biblical authority is through idolatry, which involves replacing God with human creations or concepts. The prophet Jeremiah asks, "Can a human make for himself gods? Yet they are not gods!" [1]. Similarly, 2 Chronicles 32:19 describes speaking against the God of Jerusalem "as against the gods of the peoples of the land—work of the hands of man" [3]. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines the "Fall of man" as the revolt of humanity from God, resulting in sin and misery, a historical fact that underlies all revealed truth [4]. Idolatry, as detailed in Torrey's Topical Textbook, encompasses bowing down to images, worshipping other gods, and even worshipping the true God through an image [5]. John Gill, in his commentary on Revelation, connects blasphemy against God to practices like the worship of idols of gold, silver, wood, and stone, which he notes is called blaspheming God in Scripture [13].

Jesus himself confronted the issue of human traditions superseding divine commands. He stated, "They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men" [6]. This highlights how human-derived teachings, when elevated to the status of divine doctrine, render worship meaningless. The apostle Paul also warned against those who would distort the truth. In Acts 20:30, he prophesied, "Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them" [2]. This suggests that the threat to biblical authority can emerge from within the community of believers.

The concept of sin itself, originating from humanity's rebellion, is central to understanding how human examples can lead away from God. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13 describes the first sin not merely as eating an apple, but as "a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters—a preference of the creature to the Creator" [9]. This initial act of prioritizing human desire over divine command set a precedent for subsequent human failings. Psalms 58:3 notes that "All human beings are born sinners," and while the godly fight against their sinful nature, the wicked indulge it [8]. Tyndale House on Romans 1:18-3:20 explains that Paul establishes universal sinfulness, demonstrating that neither Gentiles nor Jews can find favor with God through their own actions [10].

The danger of human-centric approaches also manifests in flattery and hypocrisy. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists flattery as a tool used by the wicked, hypocrites, and false prophets and teachers [7]. Matthew Henry, commenting on Psalms 50:16, addresses hypocrites who usurp the honors and privileges of religion, challenging those who are "really profane" [14]. Such actions demonstrate a superficial adherence to religious forms while lacking genuine submission to God's authority.

John Calvin, in his commentary on Isaiah, discusses how Hezekiah was slandered for overturning false gods and superstitious worship, which God abhors [11]. This illustrates how human-established religious practices, even when presented as pious, can be contrary to God's will and must be removed. Calvin also warns against receiving doctrines "under the false pretext of the authority of angels," emphasizing the need to remain focused on Christ as the "only true aim" [12]. This underscores the idea that any authority not rooted in Christ, whether human or angelic, can lead to deviation from biblical truth.

Sources

  1. Jeremiah “Jeremiah 16:20 (LEB) — Can a human make for himself gods? Yet they are not gods!””
  2. Acts “Acts 20:30 (BSB) — Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.”
  3. II Chronicles “II Chronicles 32:19 (YLT) — and they speak against the God of Jerusalem as against the gods of the peoples of the land--work of the hands of man.”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Fall of man — An expression probably borrowed from the Apocryphal Book of Wisdom, to express the fact of the revolt of our first parents from God, and the consequent sin and misery in which they and all their posterity were involved. The history of the Fall is recorded in Gen. 2 and 3. That history is to be literally interpreted. It records facts which underlie the whole system of revealed truth. It is referred to by our Lord and his apostles not only as being true, but as furnishing the ground of all God's subsequent dispensations and dealings with the children of m”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
  6. Matthew “Matthew 15:9 (BSB) — They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’””
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Flattery — Saints should not used -- Job 32:21,22. Ministers should not use -- 1Th 2:5. The wicked use, to Others. -- Ps 5:9; 12:2. Themselves. -- Ps 36:2. Hypocrites use, to God. -- Ps 78:36. Those in authority. -- Da 11:34. False prophets and teachers use -- Eze 12:24; Ro 16:18. Wisdom, a preservative against -- Pr 4:5. Worldly advantage obtained by -- Da 11:21,22. Seldom gains respect -- Pr 28:23. Avoid those given to -- Pr 20:19. Danger of -- Pr 7:21-23; 20:5. Punishment of -- Job 17:5; Ps 12:3. Exemplified Woman of Tekoah. -- 2Sa 14:17,20. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:2-6”
  8. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
  9. Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
  10. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3, section 4.14: to us, that, imitating the example of Hezekiah, we may stand unshaken against such accusations and slanders. So far as relates to the last clause, in which Rabshakeh reproaches him with having overturned the worship of God, 36 36 Our author refers to the charges contained in the 7 th verse of this chapter. — Ed. every person must plainly see how slanderous is that charge; for Hezekiah had taken away false gods and superstitious 37 37 “ Les idols et l’idolatrie .” “Idols and idolatry.” worship, which God abhors. ( 2 Kings 18:4 .) But we need n”
  12. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 34.10: made use of by Calvin on the Corinthians, vol. 1, pp. 150 , 373 , and vol. 2, p. 9 . — Ed. 393 “ Lesquelles on fait receuoir au poure monde sous la fausse couuerture de l’authorite des anges ;” — “Which they make the world receive under the false pretext of the authority of angels.” 394 “ La splendeur de la maieste de Christ ;” — “The splendor of Christ’s majesty.” 395 “ De seul vray but, qui est Christ ;” — “From the only true aim, which is Christ.” 396 See Calvin’S Institutes , vol. 1, p. 200. 397 “ A cause de l”
  13. Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 13:6: And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God,.... By sitting as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God; by suffering himself to be called by the name of God, God on earth, Lord God the pope, and to be worshipped as God; and by assuming infallibility, giving out that he cannot err, which only belongs to the God of truth; and by his idolatrous practices commanded by him, as the worshipping of idols of gold, silver, wood, and stone, which is in Scripture called blaspheming God, Isa 65:7; see Dan 11:36. To blaspheme his name; his authority, by ”
  14. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 50:16: God, by the psalmist, having instructed his people in the right way of worshipping him and keeping up their communion with him, here directs his speech to the wicked, to hypocrites, whether they were such as professed the Jewish or the Christian religion: hypocrisy is wickedness for which God will judge. Observe here, I. The charge drawn up against them. 1. They are charged with invading and usurping the honours and privileges of religion (Psa 50:16): What has thou to do, O wicked man! to declare my statutes? This is a challenge to those that rare really profane,”
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