Using Non-Biblical Examples in Theology Without Biblical Relativism
Scripture itself employs non-biblical examples to illustrate theological truths without compromising its authority. When Paul addresses the Athenians at the Areopagus, he quotes pagan poets and appeals to natural theology, declaring that God "giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" [6]. This demonstrates that theological discourse can draw on common human experience and observation while maintaining scriptural primacy.
The Biblical Pattern of Illustration
The biblical writers frequently use examples from nature, human relationships, and social structures to clarify doctrine. Peter instructs church leaders to serve "not as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock" [2], using the concrete image of shepherding to communicate spiritual leadership. The Psalms reference universal human sinfulness—"all human beings are born sinners"—while acknowledging that "the wicked indulge their sinful nature" whereas "the godly fight against it" [3]. These observations about human behavior serve theological instruction without requiring explicit proof-texts for every illustrative detail.
The Distinction Between Illustration and Authority
Using non-biblical examples becomes problematic only when those examples function as independent sources of doctrine rather than as clarifying analogies. Paul warns against "stories and endless genealogies" that "bring arguings, rather than that stewardship of God which is with faith" [1]. The issue is not illustration itself but the displacement of scriptural authority. When Genesis describes the first sin as involving "a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters" [5], it employs relational categories (benefactor, master) drawn from common experience to illuminate the theological gravity of rebellion.
Theological Method and Natural Knowledge
The Reformed tradition has consistently affirmed that God's self-revelation in creation provides genuine knowledge, even as Scripture remains the norming norm. Acts records Paul's assertion that God's existence and providence are evident in the created order [6], a claim that permits theological reasoning from observable realities. The danger lies not in using such examples but in treating them as coordinate with Scripture's authority. Augustine's observation that "from the devil there is not generation, but corruption" [4] illustrates how theological precision can be sharpened through philosophical categories without biblical relativism, provided Scripture governs the framework.
Sources
- I Timothy “I Timothy 1:4 (Rotherham) — Not to be teaching otherwise, nor yet to be giving heed to stories and endless genealogies,—the which, bring, arguings, rather than that stewardship of God which is with faith;—”
- I Peter “I Peter 5:3 (Webster) — Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being examples to the flock.”
- 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).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- 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.”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 17:25: Neither is worshipped with--ministered unto, served by men's hands, as though he needed anything--No less familiar as this thought also is to us, even from the earliest times of the Old Testament (Job 35:6, Job 35:8; Psa 16:2-3; Psa 50:12-14; Isa 40:14-18), it would pour a flood of light upon any candid heathen mind that heard it. seeing he--He Himself. giveth to all life, and breath, and all things--The Giver of all cannot surely be dependent for aught upon the receivers of all (Ch1 29:14). This is the culminating point of a pure Theism.”