Avoiding Cultural and Personal Biases in Biblical Teaching
Avoiding Cultural and Personal Biases in Biblical Teaching
The apostle Paul warns against being "carried away" by diverse and strange doctrines, emphasizing the importance of sound teaching that adheres to the Scriptures [6]. In biblical interpretation and teaching, avoiding cultural and personal biases is crucial to conveying the authentic message of the Gospel. The New Testament provides guidance on this matter, cautioning against the influence of human traditions and philosophies that are not grounded in Christ [1].
Paul's letters to Titus and the Colossians offer specific instructions on how to avoid cultural and personal biases in teaching. In Titus 3:9, Paul advises Titus to avoid "foolish controversies" and "genealogies" that do not promote God's work or faith [2]. Similarly, in Colossians 2:8, he warns the Colossians to beware of being taken captive by "philosophy and empty deception" based on human tradition rather than Christ. These warnings highlight the need for discernment in teaching, ensuring that the message is rooted in Scripture and not influenced by personal or cultural biases.
The importance of sound speech and wholesome words is also emphasized. According to John Gill, sound speech is characterized by plain, easy, and acceptable language that conveys just ideas of things and is agreeable to the Scriptures of truth and the analogy of faith [3]. This approach helps to avoid confusing or misleading others with ambiguous or culturally tainted language.
The New Testament also underscores the role of community in maintaining sound doctrine. In Hebrews 8:11, it is noted that under the new covenant, there will be a universal knowledge of the Lord, and the need for external teaching will be minimized [4]. However, this does not eliminate the need for public ministry and private instruction among believers. Instead, it highlights the importance of mutual edification and watchfulness within the community to prevent the spread of false doctrines.
The Corinthian church's divisions over preferred teachers illustrate the dangers of personal biases in biblical teaching [5]. Paul's response to this issue emphasizes the unity of the church and the shared responsibility of its members in promoting the mind of Christ.
To avoid cultural and personal biases, biblical teachers must be diligent in their interpretation and application of Scripture. This involves being aware of their own cultural and personal perspectives and being willing to be guided by the text itself. As John Gill notes, it is essential to "look diligently" and act as overseers, ensuring that false doctrines are not introduced and that the community remains grounded in the grace of God [7].
Mature Christians, with a well-grounded knowledge of the Gospel, are better equipped to discern and resist false teaching [8]. This maturity is not just about individual knowledge but also about the community's collective understanding and adherence to sound doctrine.
The biblical warnings against being "tossed and blown about" by false teachings serve as a reminder of the importance of grounding teaching in the solid foundation of Scripture [8]. By doing so, teachers can avoid the pitfalls of cultural and personal biases, ensuring that their message is faithful to the Gospel and edifying to their audience.
Sources
- Colossians “Colossians 2:8 (BSB) — See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.”
- Titus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Titus 3:9: Here is the fifth and last thing in the matter of the epistle: what Titus should avoid in teaching; how he should deal with a heretic; with some other directions. Observe, I. That the apostle's meaning might be more clear and full, and especially fitted to the time and state of things in Crete, and the many judaizers among them, he tells Titus what, in teaching, he should shun, Tit 3:9. There are needful questions to be discussed and cleared, such as make for improvement in useful knowledge; but idle and foolish enquiries, tending neither to God's glory nor the edif”
- Titus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Titus 2:6: Sound speech that cannot be condemned,.... In the public ministry, the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus should be used, and the doctrines of the Gospel be expressed, as near as can be, in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth, and not in the enticing words of man's wisdom; such speech or language should be chosen, that is plain, easy, and acceptable, and conveys just ideas of things; and which being agreeable to the Scriptures of truth, and the analogy of faith, cannot be justly found fault with: or this may refer to private conversation, in which no rotten speech, o”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 8:11: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour,.... The Alexandrian copy reads, "citizen"; that is, fellow citizen; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions: "and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord": this is not to be understood, so as to set aside the external and public ministry of the word, which is a standing ordinance of God under the Gospel dispensation; or even the, private instructions of saints one to another, in Christian conversation, whereby they may build up one another in their most holy faith; but the sense is, that men should not only teach, ”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:4: 3:4 Proudly identifying oneself with a preferred teacher (see 1:12) was common in Greek culture, but it is not in keeping with the mind of Christ (3:5-9; cp. Matt 23:8-10).”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 13:9: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines,.... The word "divers" may denote the variety and multitude of other doctrines; referring either to the various rites and ceremonies of the law, or to the traditions of the elders, or to the several doctrines of men, whether Jews or Gentiles; whereas the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ, and his apostles, is but one; it is uniform, and all of a piece; and so may likewise denote the disagreement of other doctrines with the perfections of God, the person and offices of Christ, the Scriptures of truth, the anal”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 12:14: Looking diligently,.... Acting the part of bishops, or overseers, as the word signifies; and so this exhortation either respects officers of the church of the Hebrews, whose business it was more especially to inspect into the principles and practices of the members of it, and take care that they did not imbibe false doctrines, or live immoral lives; or rather the several members of the church, whose business it is to watch over one another, since this epistle seems to be written to the whole church. Lest any man fail of the grace of God; not the free favour and lo”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:14: 4:14 We won’t be tossed and blown about: Mature Christians, with a well-grounded knowledge of the Good News and of Christ himself, will be able to discern and resist false teaching (see Gal 1:6-7; 3:1; Col 2:8-23; 1 Tim 1:3-7; 4:1-3; 6:3-5, 20; 2 Tim 4:3-4; Titus 1:11).”