Handling the Precious Scriptures

Mark Dunagan
09/28/14 - Sunday Morning

Handling the Precious Scriptures

If the Bible is the actual word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16) then there is nothing more important than honestly studying and applying it to our lives. Jesus Himself put a premium upon hearing and doing the word of God (Luke 8:21; Matthew 7:21,24), noting that men and women who do such were His true family.

Command/Example/Necessary Inference

Some have ridiculed the idea of looking at direct statements in Scripture (commands), considering Bible precedents (examples/1 Corinthians 10:6), and then drawing the necessary applications or conclusions as the way to properly interpret Scripture. Yet I would point out:

• This was the Method Jesus Used:

He cited direct statements from the Old Testament to make a point (Mark 10:19). He cited Old Testament examples as well (Matthew 22:38; Luke 17:32). This is actually one reason why the Old Testament was preserved for New Testament Christians (Romans 15:4). It would be meaningless to record the precedents of the past if they had nothing of an authoritative nature to teach us in the present. He also drew necessary conclusions from the text of Scripture (Matthew 22:31-32; 22:42-45) to make a doctrinal point.

• It was the Method Used by the Apostles

Speaking by inspiration the apostles cited direct statements or commands (Acts 20:35), brought forth various examples as having an authoritative lesson for us (2 Peter 2:4-9). In fact, examples often show us how a command (1 Corinthians 11:23-25) was to be implemented (Acts 20:7). And they drew and based arguments upon necessary conclusions from past precedents (Hebrews 7:12; 2:1-3; 10:28).

• The Method by Which We Understand Anything

“When push comes to shove, there are only a limited number of ways to interpret anything. In fact, whenever we want to understand someone, we generally look to two things: What a person says and what a person does. What could correspond more to our everyday, automatic, built-in hermeneutic than ‘commands’ (sayings) and ‘examples’ (doings)? When we instinctively look to precept and precedent, we're simply doing what comes naturally” (The Cultural Church, F. LaGard Smith, p. 44). 

• The Method that Constantly Brings Us Back to Scripture

Jesus and the apostles did not cite as the final authority, feelings, human tradition, the findings of current scholarship, the popular cultural views, or “what works for me”. If someone argues, “but people might misuse a Bible example”! Sure. Just like they might misuse clear and direct statements from Scripture (2 Peter 3:16). Yet would you rather have people looking at Bible precedents or secular precedents? In addition, when you are meeting with Christians on a regular basis it is hard to keep on misusing an example, for you will called on it. Looking at the commands and examples in Scripture and then drawing the necessary conclusions keeps us focused on Scripture as the final authority.

• Needed to Answer the Most Basic Questions

Such as, does the Bible apply to me, seeing that no book in the Bible is directly addressed to any of us today. Mark 16:15. Or, can I understand the Bible? Or, has the Bible been corrupted over time? (Matthew 24:35). It is also needed to answer some of the most complicated questions in the eyes of man, such as is homosexuality inborn or natural (Romans 1:26-27) and is the earth billions of years old (Mark 10:6).

• The Method that Even the Critics of it Use

A number of Christians have observed that when people seek to undermine the importance of command, example and necessary inferences they frequently attempt to do this by citing verses (commands) or some precedent (example), and then attempt to draw arguments (necessary inference) from those verses and contexts. Doy Moyer from the website “Mind Your Faith” has observed:

“Regardless of who it is interpreting Scripture, there is a basic process, often unspoken, employed by anyone who thinks Scripture is authoritative that cannot be denied without denying fundamental logic or sounding outright silly. This process involves looking directly at what is said, considering examples given, and then inferring from what is said and shown how important and applicable these matters are. Even those who fuss and pejoratively poke at CENI (Command, Example, Necessary Inference) do the same. At the end of the day, if they are going to say, ‘this is what Christians ought to believe or do,’ they will only get there through the same means. They will appeal to what Scripture says, to the examples provided, and through a reasoning process (inferring) come to conclusions that they think are important. So it is with everyone. Everyone! People will differ on outcomes, but there is no denying the process of how communication works. It astounds me when some try to deny it”. He further notes: 

“Let’s take this issue into the area of grace and law. Some speak against those whom they think put too much stress on God’s commands, saying that they don’t say enough about grace. They think we put too much on authority and need to allow for more freedom based on grace. But here is the kicker: those who teach their view of grace do so by going to the text and arguing that it’s what the authoritative text either states or implies. That is, they go right back to the “Tell-Show-Imply” process to prove their point about grace. To make their case, they must rely every bit as much on the authority of the text as those with whom they disagree. Authority is still at the foundation of any of these discussions. The only other option is to make things up out of the blue”.

So when someone claims that they reject command, example and necessary inference, the question for them is, “Then explain your new method of interpretation to me without telling me anything, without showing me anything and without implying anything”. You see command, example and necessary inference is simply “telling, showing and implying” — and that is how we understand everything in this world, the Bible as well any other book or subject.

“It Doesn’t Answer All the Questions”

Actually it does answer many questions, and here is just a sample:

The Lord’s Supper

• Day of the week and frequency (Acts 20:7). Elements (Matthew 26:17,26).

Baptism

• Purpose (Mark 16:16), mode (Acts 8:38), element (Acts 8:36), subjects (Acts 2:38).

Elders

• Their purpose (Acts 20:28), qualifications (Titus 1:6ff), authority (Hebrews 13:17), and extent of their rule (1 Peter 5:2).

Questions Answered — But Not in the Way Desired

When people complain that command, example and necessary inference does not answer all the questions, what they are actually saying it that this method does answer their questions, but it does not give them a “yes” answer when they are looking for something else. For example, command, example and necessary inference will not endorse the following:

• “Can I fellowship people in error?” 2 John 9-10
• “Does sincerity make up for not obeying God’s word?” Matthew 7:22
• “Hell is not eternal — right?” Matthew 25:46
• “Someone who is sincere in another faith can be saved without Jesus — right?” John 14:6

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net