Dangers of Presenting Human Examples as Spiritual Models
The Dangers of Presenting Human Examples as Spiritual Models
Presenting human examples as spiritual models can be perilous, as it may lead to idolatry or the distortion of true spirituality. The Bible warns against creating images or likenesses of God, emphasizing His transcendence and distinction from creation [2]. This principle is echoed in the commentary on Isaiah, where Calvin notes that representing God through images or likenesses is inconsistent with His nature [1].
The New Testament also cautions against false spiritualism and the dangers of asceticism, which can arise from misinterpreting or misrepresenting spiritual ideals. For instance, the commentary on 1 Timothy 4:3 highlights the risk of sensuality leading to false spiritualism, where individuals may claim a higher level of spiritual perfection through abstinence from certain practices or foods [4].
Moreover, the biblical emphasis is on bearing the image of the heavenly, Christ-like character, rather than emulating human examples that may be flawed or misleading. John Gill's commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:46 notes that bearing the image of the heavenly refers to the spiritual image of Christ stamped on the soul in regeneration [5].
The Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry's commentary, also warns against the dangers of misinterpreting spiritual examples. Henry's commentary on Luke 16:19 cautions that the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is intended to awaken people to the reality of the wrath to come, rather than encouraging a superficial or worldly interpretation [6].
Furthermore, the apostolic warnings against idolatry and the importance of discerning true spirituality are relevant to this issue. Matthew Henry's commentary on 1 John 4:1 emphasizes the need to be cautious and discerning regarding spirits and spiritual professors, lest one be led astray by false or misleading representations of spirituality [3].
Sources
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3, section 8.30: in guarding the Jews against distrust, at the same time condemns the superstitions of the Gentiles, and declares that it is inconsistent with the nature of God to be represented by painting or by any kind of likeness. This shews clearly that Paul’s doctrine fully agrees with it; for the Prophet, after having shewn that the power of God is infinite, since he holds all things in his fist, at length concludes, “To whom then will ye liken me? for no image that is formed will have any likeness or resemblance to me.” Or, what resemblance will you a”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 20:4: 20:4 Not making an image of God is the first step toward recognizing that he is transcendent—that he is the Creator of the universe and distinct from it. To represent God as something in creation was inevitably to end up worshiping the creation rather than the Creator, and this immorality had deadly consequences (Rom 1:18-25).”
- 1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 4:1: The apostle, having said that God's dwelling in and with us may be known by the Spirit that he hath given us, intimates that that Spirit may be discerned and distinguished from other spirits that appear in the world; and so here, I. He calls the disciples, to whom he writes, to caution and scrutiny about the spirits and spiritual professors that had now risen. 1. To caution: "Beloved, believe not every spirit; regard not, trust not, follow not, every pretender to the Spirit of God, or every professor of vision, or inspiration, or revelation from God." Truth is the ”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:3: Sensuality leads to false spiritualism. Their own inward impurity is reflected in their eyes in the world without them, and hence their asceticism (Tit 1:14-15) [WIESINGER]. By a spurious spiritualism (Ti2 2:18), which made moral perfection consist in abstinence from outward things, they pretended to attain to a higher perfection. Mat 19:10-12 (compare Co1 7:8, Co1 7:26, Co1 7:38) gave a seeming handle to their "forbidding marriage" (contrast Ti1 5:14); and the Old Testament distinction as to clean and unclean, gave a pretext for teaching to "abstain”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 15:46: And as we have borne the image of the earthy,.... Which regards not so much the sinful image of the first man upon the soul, or the depravity of the powers and faculties of it, as his image of frailty and mortality on the body, having like him a body subject to infirmities and death: we shall also bear the image of the heavenly; which likewise regards not so much the spiritual image of Christ stamped on the soul in regeneration, when Christ is formed in the heart, and the new man is created after his likeness, and which more and more appears, through every t”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 16:19: As the parable of the prodigal son set before us the grace of the gospel, which is encouraging to us all, so this sets before us the wrath to come, and is designed for our awakening; and very fast asleep those are in sin that will not be awakened by it. The Pharisees made a jest of Christ's sermon against worldliness; now this parable was intended to make those mockers serious. The tendency of the gospel of Christ is both to reconcile us to poverty and affliction and to arm us against temptations to worldliness and sensuality. Now this parable, by drawing the curta”