Personal Experience in Evaluating Scripture Examples and Illustrations
Personal experience plays a significant role in the evaluation and understanding of Scripture, as individuals are encouraged to engage with biblical texts reflectively and critically. The book of Proverbs suggests a process of observation leading to reflection and instruction, stating, "When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction" [1]. This indicates that personal observation and subsequent contemplation can lead to deeper understanding. Similarly, the Psalmist expresses a desire for understanding God's precepts in order to meditate on His wondrous works [2]. Another Psalm highlights the personal depth of engagement, with the author claiming to have "more vnderstading then all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation" [3]. This suggests that personal meditation on Scripture can yield profound insights.
The process of evaluating Scripture involves a personal judgment that is not to be abdicated. As the Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:15 notes, individuals are called to "weigh the force of the argument" and cannot "divest ourselves of the responsibility of 'judging' for ourselves" [6]. While acknowledging the potential for "abuse" of private judgment, the commentary emphasizes its necessary "use" [6]. This perspective aligns with the idea that personal engagement with the text is a vital component of its interpretation.
John Gill, in his commentary on Psalms 26:2, describes a process of self-examination where one's "cause, his integrity, and trust in the Lord" are "examined by the touchstone, the word of God, which is the standard of faith and practice" [7]. This implies that personal experience and internal states are brought before the Scripture for evaluation and testing. The Scriptures themselves are considered "wonderful" due to their divine authorship, the profound matters they contain, and their beneficial use [5]. They provide accounts of creation, providential events, and miracles, all of which invite personal reflection and understanding [5].
The practice of reading Scripture, transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church, has historically been a communal and personal exercise [4]. The New Testament Gospels and Epistles were recognized as inspired and read alongside the Old Testament, fostering a continuous engagement with the divine word [4]. This ongoing interaction allows individuals to integrate biblical teachings with their own experiences, leading to personal instruction and spiritual growth.
Sources
- Proverbs “Proverbs 24:32 (NASB) — When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction.”
- Psalms “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. -- Psalms 119:27”
- Psalms “Psalms 119:99 (Geneva1599) — I haue had more vnderstading then all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:13: Till I come--when Timothy's commission would be superseded for the time by the presence of the apostle himself (Ti1 1:3; Ti1 3:14). reading--especially in the public congregation. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church (Luk 4:16-20; Act 13:15; Act 15:21; Co2 3:14). The New Testament Gospel and Epistles being recognized as inspired by those who had the gift of discerning spirits, were from the first, according as they were written, read along with the Old Testament in the Church (Th1 5:21”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:125: PE.--The Seventeenth Part. PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful,.... The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the things contained in them, and the use and advantage of them. They give an account of the wonderful works of creation; of their author and matter; of the manner, order, and time of their being wrought: they relate many wonderful events of Providence, both in a way of mercy and judgment; they declare several surprising miracles, wrought by Moses and others, and exhibit many marvellous t”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:15: Appeal to their own powers of judgment to weigh the force of the argument that follows: namely, that as the partaking of the Lord's Supper involves a partaking of the Lord Himself, and the partaking of the Jewish sacrificial meats involved a partaking of the altar of God, and, as the heathens sacrifice to devils, to partake of an idol feast is to have fellowship with devils. We cannot divest ourselves of the responsibility of "judging" for ourselves. The weakness of private judgment is not an argument against its use, but its abuse. We should t”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 26:2: Examine me, O Lord,.... His cause, his integrity, and trust in the Lord, as silver and gold are examined by the touchstone, the word of God, which is the standard of faith and practice; and prove me; or "tempt me" (r); as Abraham was tempted by the Lord; and his faith in him, and fear of him, and love to him, were proved to be true and genuine; try my reins and my heart; the thoughts, desires, and affections of it, as gold and silver are tried in the furnace; and so God sometimes tries the faith and patience of his people by afflictive providences; and this examin”