Missional hermeneutics 3/5

Authority of Scripture and witness to itself

Quadruple combination opened to the Book of Isaiah – note the cross references between Biblical and Latter-day Saint scripture in the footnotes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We all should allow the Scriptures to stand as their own witness and interpreter. In the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) it is  summarized in (1:9): “The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.”Reading and studying the Bible we shall find more answers in it and shall be able to build up our faith, in understanding the Bible.

2PE 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. ACT 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up. [24] MATT. 22:29,31. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying. EPH. 2:20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. With ACTS 28:25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers.

In parts 4 an 5 of the first chapter in the same document we do find that the authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or Church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the Author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man’s salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it does abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet, notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.

A Holy Book to reveal

The Christadelphians believe that the Bible (66 books) is the inspired word of God, complete and self-sufficient to instruct us in the way of salvation. We do not believe that any Christadelphian, past or present, has received any type of special revelation. It is only through sustained and prayerful reading of the Scriptures that we come to an understanding of the purposeof God in our lives, and how He would have us conduct ourselves day to day.

Cover of Understanding the Bible

In The Christadelphian Statement of Faith it also says that the only true God is He Who was revealed to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by angelic visitation and vision, and to Moses at the flaming bush (unconsumed) and at Sinai, and Who manifested Himself in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the supreme self-existent Deity, the One Father, dwelling in unapproachable light, yet everywhere present by His Spirit, which is a unity with His person in heaven. It furthers notes that in His kindness, the Creator of heaven and earth, conceived a plan of restoration which, without setting aside His just and necessary law of sin and death, should ultimately rescue the race from destruction, and people the earth with sinless immortals. That He inaugurated this plan by making promises to Adam, Abraham and David, and afterwards elaborated it in greater detail through the prophets.

I, like all  the Christadelphians, believe that these promises had reference to Jesus Christ the Messiah, who was to be raised up in the condemned line of Abraham and David, and who, though wearing their condemned nature, was to obtain a title to resurrection by perfect obedience, and, by dying, abrogate the law of condemnation for himself, and all who should believe and obey him.  Jesus some two thousands years ago in a miraculous begettal of a human mother, of the house and lineage of David, came onto this earth enabling him to bear our condemnation, and, at the same time, to be a sinless bearer thereof, and, therefore, one who could rise after suffering the death required by the righteousness of God.

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Preceding: Missional hermeneutics 2/5

Continued on: Missional hermeneutics 4/5

Dutch readers can find a more elaborate writing on this subject in:
/ Nederlandse lezers kunnen een uitvoerig versie vinden verdeeld over:

Missionaire hermeneutiek 1/5 + Missionaire hermeneutiek 2/5 + Missionaire hermeneutiek 3/5

Please do read:

1. Bible Basic Intro
2. My exegesis and hermeneutics
3. Biblepower to change
4. Bible Word of God, inspired and infallible
5. God’s promises to us in our suffering
6. Gods instruction about joy and suffering
7. Concerning Faith and the Gospel
8. Incomplete without the mind of God
9. Full authority belongs to God
10. God His reward
11. Jesus’ answers about our Creator
12. First century patterns
13. Christadelphian People
14. My faith

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Related articles

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  Despite being a fairly law-abiding guy, I can relate to being on the losing side of a battle, only mine was not against the law, but against the Church.
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