Scriptures Sufficiency in Christian Living and Decision Making

The sufficiency of Scripture in Christian living and decision-making is a foundational concept, asserting that the Bible contains all that is necessary for faith and practice. This doctrine is rooted in the understanding that the Scriptures are "given by inspiration of God" and are "God-breathed" ^{[1, 11]}. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this in 2 Timothy 3:16, stating that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" ^[11]. This divine origin ensures its authority and completeness for guiding believers.

The Bible itself is referred to by various names that underscore its authority and divine nature, such as "the Word," "Word of God," "Word of Christ," and "Holy Scriptures" ^[1]. Jesus Christ himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them ^[1]. For instance, in John 5:39, Jesus tells those who search the Scriptures for eternal life that these very Scriptures bear witness concerning him ^[5]. This highlights the Bible's role in revealing Christ and the path to salvation ^{[6, 10]}.

The concept of sufficiency extends to the practical aspects of Christian life. Second Timothy 3:15-17 indicates that the Holy Scriptures are "able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" and that through them, the servant of God "may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" ^{[6, 11]}. This implies that the Bible provides comprehensive guidance for ethical conduct, spiritual growth, and understanding God's will. The "Tyndale House" commentary on 2 Timothy 3:16-17 elaborates that these verses explain Scripture's effectiveness, its source, and how it imparts wisdom for living out salvation ^[11].

While the Scriptures are sufficient, the Bible also acknowledges that human beings are not sufficient in themselves. As 2 Corinthians 3:5 states, "not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God" ^{[2, 4]}. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, interprets this verse to mean that believers are not sufficient for the work of ministry, the conversion of sinners, or any spiritual work, not even to think a good thought, as of themselves ^[9]. This highlights that while the Scriptures provide the necessary guidance, the power and ability to live according to them come from God. The "Tyndale House" commentary on 1 Timothy 6:6 further connects contentment with "real dependence on the sufficiency of Christ" ^[12].

For decision-making, the Scriptures offer principles and commands that guide believers. The Bible encourages decision and commitment to God's service, opposing indecisiveness or "halting between two opinions" ^[7]. Examples of such decisions include seeking God wholeheartedly, keeping His commandments, and following Him fully ^[7]. The Scriptures also provide assurance regarding various aspects of the Christian life, such as election, redemption, adoption, and eternal life, which can inform and strengthen decision-making ^[3].

The "Easton's Bible Dictionary" notes that the term "Scripture" in the New Testament consistently refers to a definite collection of sacred books, regarded as inspired by God, which includes both the Old and New Testaments ^[8]. This collection was progressively enlarged as God revealed His will, culminating in a "completed 'Scripture'" ^[8]. This completed body of inspired text serves as the ultimate standard for Christian belief and conduct.

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”
2 Corinthians “not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; -- 2 Corinthians 3:5”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Assurance — Produced by faith -- Eph 3:12; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 10:22. Made full by hope -- Heb 6:11,19. Confirmed by love -- 1Jo 3:14,19; 4:18. Is the effect of righteousness -- Isa 32:17. Is abundant in the understanding of the gospel -- Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5. Saints privileged to have, of Their election. -- Ps 4:3; 1Th 1:4. Their redemption. -- Job 19:25. Their adoption. -- Ro 8:16; 1Jo 3:2. Their salvation. -- Isa 12:2. Eternal life. -- 1Jo 5:13. The unalienable love of God. -- Ro 8:38,39. Union with God and Christ. -- 1Co 6:15; 2Co 13:5; Eph 5:30; 1Jo 2:5; 4:13. Peace with ”
II Corinthians “II Corinthians 3:5 (Geneva1599) — Not that we are sufficient of our selues, to thinke any thing, as of our selues: but our sufficiencie is of God,”
John “John 5:39 (Rotherham) — Ye search the Scriptures, because, ye, think, by them, to have, life age-abiding; and, those [Scriptures], are they which bear witness concerning me:”
II Timothy “II Timothy 3:15 (BSB) — From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Decision — Necessary to the service of God -- Lu 9:62. Exhortations to -- Jos 24:14,15. Exhibited in Seeking God with the heart. -- 2Ch 15:12. Keeping the commandments of God. -- Ne 10:29. Being on the Lord's side. -- Ex 32:26. Following God fully. -- Nu 14:24; 32:12; Jos 14:8. Serving God. -- Isa 56:6. Loving God perfectly. -- De 6:5. Blessedness of. -- Jos 1:7. Opposed to A divided service. -- Mt 6:24. Double-mindedness. -- Jas 1:8. Halting between two opinions. -- 1Ki 18:21. Turning to the right or left. -- De 5:32. Not setting the heart aright. -- Ps 78:8,37. Exe”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 3:5: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves,.... Though we are sufficient for this work to which God has called us, and have such trust and confidence that he has blessed and owned us, and done such great things by us; yet we do not ascribe anything to ourselves, to any power of ours, to any self-sufficiency in us: for "we are not sufficient of ourselves" neither for the work of the ministry, nor for the conversion of sinners, nor for faith and hope in God, nor for any spiritual work whatever; not even to think anything as of ourselves; any good thing, either for ou”
John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 5:39: Search the scriptures, &c.--"In the Scriptures ye find your charter of eternal life; go search them then, and you will find that I am the Great Burden of their testimony; yet ye will not come to Me for that life eternal which you profess to find there, and of which they tell you I am the appointed Dispenser." (Compare Act 17:11-12). How touching and gracious are these last words! Observe here (1) The honor which Christ gives to the Scriptures, as a record which all have a right and are bound to search--the reverse of which the Church of Rome teaches; (2)”
2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:16: 3:16-17 These verses elaborate on 3:15 by explaining Scripture’s effectiveness, its source, and the ways that it gives wisdom to live out our salvation. Paul was speaking of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), but his statement can now apply to all Scripture, including the New Testament (see, e.g., 2 Pet 3:15-16). 3:16 The fact that Scripture is inspired by God (literally God-breathed, breathed out by God’s own speech; see also Heb 4:12-13; 2 Pet 1:20-21) does not negate the active involvement of the human authors. But it does affirm that God is fully re”
1 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Timothy 6:6: 6:6 with contentment: This is not just a philosophical outlook but real dependence on the sufficiency of Christ. See 4:8; 2 Cor 9:8; 12:7-10; Phil 4:10-13; Heb 13:5.”

Ask Your Own Question