Do Study

Why use extra biblical resources? Because we need to and it can be quite arrogant to think that any position you have on a biblical subject or text is right because you read only the Bible while others may have learned from someone else. We all bring presuppositions to the Bible and anyone that does not admit or recognize that is typically the one with the goofiest interpretations. Then there are others that just won't admit their position has been taught to them. Instead they assert things like "I just believe the Bible" (as if everyone else doesn't) or "I take the Bible for what it says." Yet some of these individuals use commentaries (typically the ones that agree with them) or may have Bible college or Seminary degrees where they were taught their position. Sadly, these are the loudest folks at decrying extra biblical resources (unless of course the resources agree with their particular position)! But, again, we all have already set ideas about things that we read back into the Bible and we need others to help point those out when they contradict Scripture.

I remember while I was a new convert and reading certain passages about election I would automatically assume that it was election based on my foreseen faith or some similar argument. "Surely a loving God would not violate anyone's 'free-will,'" I thought. And think that, I did, for many years no matter how plain the Scriptures were that state God elects of His own grace, love and will (Eph. 3:1-10, John 6:37,44, Rom. 9 e.t.c.) and is not dependent on anything foreseen in man. But because I was raised here in America with such an emphasis on personal freedom and human autonomy, that is precisely what I read back into Scripture and completely missed the "plain meaning" for so long. And if I would have trusted my own reading of Scripture, in the case of election, I would still be exalting man over God. Yet, because of a book by Dr. James White, I was pointed to the error(s) of my position and after painful struggle abandoned it.

To discourage someone from reading sound theological writers is error. Yes, Scripture is our final authority. The problem is not there but with our own judgments. Ask the average pew sitter about hermeneutics and what role it plays in their understanding of Scripture. You may often find a blank or confused look because many a believer relies on some "inner urging", which is often mistaken for the Holy Spirit, for their assurance that there understanding is correct. Others simply read their own culture and language back into the sacred text. We should never simply rely on our own judgments. We should test them with the godly men of history that have left written records of what they have learned from the Holy Writ.

Some of the strangest views come from people that have trusted their own judgment and failed to see how their position was somehow missed throughout the history of the Church. Concerning one of these views Charles Spurgeon writes: "...we have even heard it asserted that those who lived before the coming of Christ do not belong to the church of God! We never know what we shall hear next, and perhaps it is a mercy that these absurdities are revealed one at a time, in order that we may be able to endure their stupidity without dying of amazement." While I would not use such harsh language, I do agree with the Prince of Preachers. If one's view seems to have been missed throughout the history of the Church, one should not invest too much stock in it and check with others to see what they have to say.

Now it is best to encourage people to study their Bibles and become well acquainted with it. I also advocate reading catechisms, creeds and confessions as well as sound theological books. No matter how much we study the Bible we are still left with perplexing questions on certain issues. Others are aware and have kindly used their gifts to help answer some of these questions. Remember the Ethiopian eunuch? If Philip did not explain to him Isaiah 53, the eunuch would have been in limbo concerning the Messiah, "And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and join this chariot.' So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: 'Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.' And the eunuch said to Philip, 'About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?' Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus"(Ac 8:27–35).


Even the Lord Jesus, while he was young, gave Himself to studying and asking questions, "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers" (Lk 2:41–47). Dare we think that we cannot sit at the feet of others, other than our pastors, to learn? Do we really assume that every time we open up the Bible, our understanding of what we are reading, is automatically correct? Or can we learn from others more learned than us and adopt their positions because they indeed come from Scripture, while ours don't., without some allegation of "you only learned that because someone else taught you and you only need Scripture?"

I will conclude with the words of Spurgeon, "The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his own. Brethren, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read." Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando