“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” Rev. 2:14
“But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.” “Do we have no right to eat and drink?” I Cor. 8:8; 9:4
So…will God hold it against me if I eat meat that might have been sacrificed to an idol? Or am I free to eat what I want without suffering any guilt?
Most who read these verses will find themselves effortlessly agreeing with one and opposing what the other “appears to be saying.” That is not to say that the one who opposes one of the two verses believes the Bible to be in error or to be uninspired. Rather, he will appeal to the context or the Greek language as a defense against the surface rendering of the passage. Surely two verses cannot oppose one another, so there must be an explanation.
As this approach is applied to the sum of scripture, then a portfolio of handy explanations is compiled over time. Think of Bible studies in which you have been involved. Whatever the topic might be, verses that support the teacher’s position are called upon and quoted without the necessity of elaboration. And if challenged by opposition texts, he confidently deals with them in a very studious and thorough way - tracking word usage throughout the bible, quoting commentators, or employing a host of other techniques.
And ironically, someone else in the world is using those same verses to prove an opposing position.
So how do I know if I am right? What is the best method of biblical interpretation? If I have more proof texts for my position than does the preacher at First Community Church, do I win? If I understand Greek better, is my position solidified? Maybe I make the scriptures come alive through my contemporary application of the Word, so my church is bigger. Have I then proven that I have a better understanding of the Bible than do my peers? Perhaps the “Dr.” in front of my name validates what I teach. Or maybe it is as simple as the fact that I have studied longer than the one who challenges me.
While all of these ideas come into play, the exchange of verse for verse – what I call “verse volleyball” – seems to be the most popular method of interpretation. One clings to one or more verses that are clear on a subject. Another sees an opposing position presented, undeniably, in other passages. Consequently, we have disarray in the church today. Denominations usually exist because of this very idea: differing interpretations of the same verses. But God is not divided, and He did not create the confusion, so the Bible cannot be wrong. In God’s Word, one might find multiple applications from the same passages… but there is only one truth. With so many choices in churches, how does one choose which one preaches the truth on any given doctrine?
Consider the following doctrines and their related passages. What method will you use to address the differences?
Keeping the Sabbath
“You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.” Ex. 31:14
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths…” Col. 2:16
Dietary Restrictions
“Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you…” Lev. 11:4
“But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.”
“Do we have no right to eat and drink?” I Cor. 8:8; 9:4
Eternal Security
“Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his people.” Ex. 30:33
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Eph. 1:13-14
Faith Only for Salvation
“He also taught me, and said to me: ‘ Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.’” Prov. 4:4
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9
Most will find those easy to deal with. After all, while the verses appear to contradict one another, one set comes straight out of the Old Testament while the other comes from the New Testament. But is that an adequate interpretation method? Many Seventh Day Adventists, [former] Worldwide Church of God disciples, and some Pentecostals would disagree. They would deal with the supposed contradictions in a different way.
What test do you use to be sure your method is correct?
Now consider the following New Testament passages that address those same doctrines.
Keeping the Sabbath
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding afestival or a new moon or Sabbaths…” Col. 2:16
“And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on theSabbath.” Matt. 24:20
Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. John 19:31
Dietary Restrictions
“But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.”
“Do we have no right to eat and drink?” I Cor. 8:8; 9:4
“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” Rev. 2:14
“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, toteach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” Rev. 2:20
Eternal Security
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Eph.1:13-14
“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matt. 24:13
“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.” “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” Heb. 4:1, 11
Faith Only for Salvation
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9
“You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” James 2:24
If your system for biblical interpretation is only to divide between the Old Testament and the New Testament…your system just fell apart. For here we have apparent contradictions within the New Testament itself.
The longer one studies scripture (for more than just devotional purposes), he usually develops a more complex system that does not crumble so easily. You might be someone like that. If so, did you find that you were completely objective and emotionless as you read? Likely not. Most find a part of themselves automatically (possibly even subconsciously) giving a mental “thumbs up” to some of the verses and perhaps feeling a bit uneasy with some others. Or if “uneasy” is the wrong word, there might be at least a basic, mental appeal to a recollection of the context in order to resolve the apparent difference.
What if one is able to recall with perfection every verse and context in the Bible? Jack van Impe has been called the “Human Bible” for his uncanny ability to recall virtually any scripture. Hank Hanegraaff is well-known as the “Bible Answer Man” because of his ability to answer any difficult Bible question. These two men, as well as countless others, are adept at resolving the apparent differences in the verses shown above. Yet ironically, they both differ significantly on some of those and on many other topics . Why? Are either one of them missing an important proof text for a particular position? As versed as they each are, that is highly unlikely. The answer is much more fundamental: one or both of their foundations must be flawed.
If one knows everything about housing code and builds a perfect roof and walls but builds the foundation upon a weak subsurface, the whole house will shift and crack and possibly even collapse one day. The wise builder should want a house that will stand forever and will take great care in the evaluation and construction of the foundation upon which everything else is built.
Concerning doctrine, one’s foundation must stand up under the harshest of scrutiny, and one must be willing to submit it to that scrutiny or his beliefs on details like baptism, tongues, salvation, and others will fail when tested. So the most important question in construction is not what color walls does one prefer (“Is speaking in tongues required for salvation?”), or does a shingle or steel roof hold up best in severe weather (“Should one be immersed or is sprinkling adequate?”), or should I use wood or steel joists (“When one is saved, is he always saved?”). The most important question has to be: Will my foundation support anything that I build upon it?
I want a house that will be solid and that will stand forever.
Will yours? Are you willing to find out?
