Grounding Teaching and Preaching in Biblical Authority
The authority of Scripture is foundational to Christian teaching and preaching, guiding believers in doctrine and practice. The Apostle Paul, for instance, emphasizes his divine appointment as a "herald" and "teacher" of the Gentiles, underscoring the authoritative nature of the gospel message he proclaimed [3]. This message, which he describes as "the hope of the gospel," is to be firmly "grounded" and "settled" in believers, preventing them from being "moved away" by false teachings [2].
Biblical authority implies that the word of God is the ultimate standard for faith and life. John Calvin, in his commentary on Isaiah, highlights that an assembly where "the preaching of heavenly doctrine is not heard does not deserve to be reckoned a Church" [6]. This perspective underscores the centrality of God's word in defining the very nature of the church. Preaching, therefore, is not merely human discourse but the proclamation of divine truth.
The content of this teaching moves beyond elementary principles to more profound truths. John Gill, commenting on Hebrews 6:3, explains that ministers should "leave the rites and ceremonies of the law, which were the rudiments, or first principles of the Gospel," and instead "go on to a more perfect knowledge of Gospel truths" [1]. This progression suggests a dynamic and deepening engagement with biblical revelation, rather than a static adherence to initial teachings.
Furthermore, the authority of Scripture extends to guiding God's people in their conduct and worship. Gill, in his commentary on Jeremiah 12:16, notes that people are to "diligently learn the ways of my people," which are "the ways which God has prescribed to them, and has directed them to walk in" [5]. This learning occurs through diligent attendance to God's word and ordinances. The ultimate goal is to worship and serve the living God, whose life is inherent and the source of all life [5]. The Lord's comfort for Zion, the church, is also linked to the "ministration of the word, and administration of ordinances," which are means through which God applies Gospel promises and grants His presence [4].
Sources
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 6:3: And this will we do, if God permit. That is, leave the rites and ceremonies of the law, which were the rudiments, or first principles of the Gospel, and go on to a more perfect knowledge of Gospel truths; and, not lay again as the foundation of the ministry, or insist upon them as if they were the main things, even the above articles of the Jewish creed, especially in the, way and manner in which they had been taught and learnt: the sense is, that the apostle and his brethren, in the ministry were determined to insist upon the more solid and substantial parts of the G”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:23: If--"Assuming that," &c.: not otherwise shall ye be so presented at His appearing (Col 1:22). grounded--Greek, "founded," "fixed on the foundation" (compare Note, see on Eph 3:17; Luk 6:48-49). settled--"steadfast." "Grounded" respects the foundation on which believers rest; "settled," their own steadfastness (Pe1 5:10). Co1 15:58 has the same Greek. not moved away--by the false teachers. the hope of the gospel-- (Eph 1:18). which ye have heard . . . which was preached to every creature . . . whereof I . . . am . . . a minister--Three arg”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 2:7: Whereunto--For the giving of which testimony. I am ordained--literally, "I was set": the same Greek, as "putting me," &c. (Ti1 1:12). preacher--literally, "herald" (Co1 1:21; Co1 9:27; Co1 15:11; Ti2 1:11; Tit 1:3). He recurs to himself, as in Ti1 1:16, in himself a living pattern or announcement of the Gospel, so here "a herald and teacher of (it to) the Gentiles" (Gal 2:9; Eph 3:1-12; Col 1:23). The universality of his commission is an appropriate assertion here, where he is arguing to prove that prayers are to be made "for all men" (Ti1 2:1). ”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 51:3: For the Lord shall comfort Zion,.... The church, by his Spirit, in the ministration of the word, and administration of ordinances; by the donation of the blessings of grace, and by the application of Gospel promises; by the discoveries of his love; by granting his gracious presence; by blessing his word; and by calling many souls, and adding them to his people: and in order to engage the church and people of God to believe God will do this, and that he can and will bless and increase them when in a low estate, the above instances of calling Abraham alone, and the bles”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 12:16: And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people,.... Not their evil ways of sin or superstition, they sometimes stray into; but the ways which God has prescribed to them, and has directed them to walk in, and in which they do walk; and which are to be learned of the Lord, by a diligent attendance with his people on his word and ordinances; see Isa 2:3, to swear by my name, the Lord liveth; that is, to worship and serve the living God, a self-existent Being, who has life in himself, and of himself, and not another; and is the fountai”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3, section 8.21: to the city this appellation, because there the priests and Levites were instructed according to the injunctions of the Law, that they might be the teachers of the whole people, and by their labors might spread the doctrine of salvation. ( Malachi 2:7 .) Yet we ought carefully to observe this commendation which God bestows on his Church, that it may not be without a clear mark of distinction; for an assembly in which the preaching of heavenly doctrine is not heard does not deserve to be reckoned a Church. In this sense also, Paul calls it ( 1”