“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” 2 Timothy 3:16
Paul’s oft quoted statement about the “God-Breathed” nature of Scripture has been thoroughly misapplied by the modern evangelical church. Paul intended to give understanding about what we would now refer to as the Old Testament. He was not referring to anything we now call the New Testament. I have written about this particular verse in greater detail in an earlier post entitled: WHAT ARE THE SCRIPTURES?
For us today to put the Old and New Testaments on equal footing is a crucial error. Why? Because if you take the position that the New Testament is in the same “God-Breathed” category as the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets, you have tied yourself to the same continuous confusion that has reigned with the Christian church for centuries.
We were told the entire Bible is absolutely 100% true and that it all harmonizes together. It you accept this assumption (as most of us did) you are stuck. Not only do you have to believe it all, but you must accept it all as God given instructions. Consequently, you will not grasp the significance of the critical debate that was raging between its writers. One of the great beauties of New Testament writing is that you are given a ringside seat at the argument. And there you are not just a passive bystander. You must judge! Did Paul make his case? Or did James’s argument trump Paul’s? And how does Peter’s commentary fit? And does John grasp sin and righteousness by the same revelation as Paul?
If you fail to engage your mind in this debate, you will remain bound by the untenable position that all the writers are in perfect agreement. You are prevented from using your truly God-given ability to think. And if you do raise critical questions about “inspired authorship” of the New Testament, you will be branded as, at least, a troubled confused person in need of “instruction”. More likely, if you keep it up, you will be labeled an actual heretic and expelled.
The great debate that Paul had with James, as well as the other leaders of the Jerusalem church was over law and grace. Paul believed that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ completely fulfilled and did away with the law, both ceremonial and moral. The first died (with Christ) that we may be married to the second (in Christ).
Paul wrote, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
James wrote, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20
James also wrote, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (James 2:21-24)
Paul wrote, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:1-5
James and Paul disagreed on one of the most key elements of all truth… righteousness. Righteousness is our “right standing with God” or better yet… our right “relationship” to God. Paul taught that it was imputed to us through the work of Christ upon the cross. James said that it was conditional upon our works to complete our faith.
And just in case you’re tempted to think, well they just seem like they were at odds, but they really harmonize by the Spirit…. Read Acts 21.
Paul had come to Jerusalem despite being warned not to. When he appeared before James and the other elders, Paul was told, “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.” (Acts 21:20-24)
James told Paul that the Jewish believers were upset with him because Paul was telling Jews everywhere that they did not have to circumcise their children or obey the laws of Moses. James says that all the Jews in his church were “zealous of the law!”
John Wesley commented on this struggle in Acts 21, writing that James said to Paul, “And all will know – that thou thyself walkest orderly, keeping the law” Then Wesley questions Paul’s obedience to James instruction, saying, “Ought he not, without any reverence to man, where the truth of God was so deeply concerned, to have answered plainly, I do not keep the Mosaic law; neither need any of you. Yea, Peter doth not keep the law. And God himself expressly commanded him not to keep it; ordering him to go in to men uncircumcised, and to eat with them, (Acts 11:3), which the law utterly forbids.”
Wesley continues, “Then Paul took the men – Yielding his own judgment to their advice, which seemed to flow not out of spiritual but carnal wisdom; seeming to be what he really was not: making as if he believed the law still in force. Declaring – Giving notice to the priests in waiting, that he designed to accomplish the days of purification, till all the sacrifice should be offered, as the Mosaic law required, (Numbers 6:13)
Why tell you all this detail and even quote Wesley’s commentary? My point is quite simple… the New Testament is awesome and worthy of our attention, study, and appreciation, but it is not Scripture. If it were Scripture the writers would not have been at odds with each other’s doctrine. Do we find Isaiah arguing with the ideas of Jeremiah? Do we see Daniel criticizing Ezekiel’s viewpoint about God? Or do we find David writing about Moses’ failure to understand the truth?
Yet, in the New Testament we find Paul telling us how he withstood Peter to the face because he found Peter ensnared in hypocrisy. And we find Peter saying that Paul’s writings were hard to understand.
My basic premise is this: Scripture is the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets which we call the Old Testament. The New Testament is a record of the life of Christ and his followers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and the Acts of the Apostles). It also contains fabulously in depth commentaries on the Scriptural foundation and significance of the Gospel of Christ (the Epistles of Paul, John, Peter, and James).
As far as the Book of Revelation goes, I like something I heard Mike Williams say. He commented that while he does not pretend to understand this Book, he thought it significant to realize that John wrote in Chapter 1, verse 1, that this writing is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ…” rather than something that is going to happen to the world later on.
