Scripture's Role in Evaluating Extrabiblical Examples and Bias
Scripture's Role in Evaluating Extrabiblical Examples and Bias
The Bible is considered the inspired Word of God, given by the Holy Spirit [1]. As such, it serves as the ultimate authority in evaluating extrabiblical examples and bias. The Scripture is viewed as having judicial power, whereby it judges unbelieving individuals and holds them accountable [3].
The biblical text is replete with instances where Scripture is personified as foreseeing events and speaking about them beforehand, indicating God's authorship [2]. For example, in Galatians 3:8, the Scripture is said to foresee the justification of the Gentiles by faith. This personification underscores the divine origin and authority of Scripture.
In evaluating extrabiblical examples, Scripture provides a framework for understanding and interpreting historical events and cultural practices. The biblical authors often referenced extrabiblical events and figures, such as Pharaoh, to illustrate God's sovereignty and judgment [4]. The Scripture's account of these events is not merely historical but also theological, providing insight into God's character and purposes.
one commentary tradition on Hebrews notes that the Word of God is "heart-searching" and has judicial power, implying that it is the standard by which all human actions and thoughts will be judged [3]. This understanding underscores the importance of Scripture in evaluating not only extrabiblical examples but also human bias and motivations.
The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill's commentary on 1 Corinthians, highlights the role of Scripture in confirming and illustrating theological points. Gill notes that the apostle Paul cites multiple passages from the Psalms to demonstrate that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God [6]. This approach demonstrates how Scripture is used to evaluate and critique human wisdom and cultural norms.
In the context of Revelation, the Protestant academic commentary notes that biblical imagery, such as adultery, is used to depict serving other gods and engaging in immoral behavior [5]. This imagery serves as a warning against idolatry and immorality, illustrating how Scripture evaluates and judges human behavior.
one commentary tradition on Jude emphasizes that certain individuals who "crept in unawares" were "forewritten" in Scripture as examples of judgment [7]. This understanding highlights the predictive nature of Scripture and its role in warning against false teachings and immoral behavior.
The role of Scripture in evaluating extrabiblical examples and bias is further underscored by its inspiration and authority. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" [8]. This understanding, shared across various Protestant traditions, emphasizes the divine origin and trustworthiness of Scripture.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
- Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 3:8: And the Scripture foreseeing,.... This seems to agree with the Jewish forms or citing passages of Scripture, , "what does the Scripture foresee?" and , (n) "what does the law foresee?" The Scripture here, by a "prosopopeia", is represented as foreseeing an event that would come to pass, and accordingly spoke of it before hand, and designs God the author of the Scripture; and so the Syriac version renders it, "for seeing" , "that God" foreknew, &c. and means either the Holy Spirit, who searches the deep things of God, is privy to all his counsels and decrees, and to ”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:12: For--Such diligent striving (Heb 4:11) is incumbent on us FOR we have to do with a God whose "word" whereby we shall be judged, is heart-searching, and whose eyes are all-seeing (Heb 4:13). The qualities here attributed to the word of God, and the whole context, show that it is regarded in its JUDICIAL power, whereby it doomed the disobedient Israelites to exclusion from Canaan, and shall exclude unbelieving so-called Christians from the heavenly rest. The written Word of God is not the prominent thought here, though the passage is often quoted as if ”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 9:17: For the scripture saith to Pharaoh--observe here the light in which the Scripture is viewed by the apostle. Even for this same--"this very" purpose have I raised--"raised I" thee up, &c.--The apostle had shown that God claims the right to choose whom He will: here he shows by an example that God punishes whom He will. But "God did not make Pharaoh wicked; He only forbore to make him good, by the exercise of special and altogether unmerited grace" [HODGE]. that I might--"may" show my power in thee--It was not that Pharaoh was worse than others”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 17:2: 17:2 Adultery with her is a biblical image for serving other gods (see, e.g., Exod 34:12-16; Judg 2:17; Hos 2). • drunk by . . . her immorality: Drunkenness in Scripture often depicts nations that indulge in wanton and immoral behavior (see Rev 18:3, 9; Jer 25:27; 51:7; Lam 4:21; Ezek 23:33).”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 3:20: And again,.... Not in the same place, nor in the same book, but in the Psalms, in Psa 94:11. This form of citing Scriptures answers to and moreover, used by the Jewish doctors when the matter does not so clearly appear from the first proof, and therefore they produce another (q): and so here the apostle, for the further confirmation and illustration of this point, that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, to the testimony of Eliphaz, adds this of David, the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain; in the Psalms it is, "the Lord ”
- Jude (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jude 1:4: certain men--implying disparagement. crept in unawares--stealthily and unlawfully. See on Pe2 2:1, "privily shall bring in damnable heresies." before . . . ordained--Greek, "forewritten," namely, in Peter's prophecy Jde 1:17-18; and in Paul's before that, Ti1 4:1; Ti2 3:1; and by implication in the judgments which overtook the apostate angels. The disobedient Israelites, Sodom and Gomorrah, Balaam and Core, and which are written "for an example" (Jde 1:7, and Jde 1:5-6, Jde 1:11). God's eternal character as the Punisher of sin, as set forth in Scriptu”
- 2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture--Greek, "Every Scripture," that is, Scripture in its every part. However, English Version is sustained, though the Greek article be wanting, by the technical use of the term "Scripture" being so well known as not to need the article (compare Greek, Eph 3:15; Eph 2:21). The Greek is never used of writings in general, but only of the sacred Scriptures. The position of the two Greek adjectives closely united by "and," forbids our taking the one as an epithet, the other as predicated and translated as ALFORD and ELLICOTT. "Every Scripture ”