Equal
Preached by Jason Abbott
May 25, 2014
Francis Schaeffer, some 30 years ago, illustrated well the drastic result that even a subtle change to an orthodox view of Scripture could have on Christianity.He described a snow covered ridge near where he resided in the Alps. Walking along that ridge, Schaeffer explained that the snow seemed a single piece. However, he noted, the ridge was in fact a dividing line—a watershed.Upon that ridge, the snow that seemed so similar, so thoroughly the same, would ultimately be divided as time passed and as the snow began to shift. Schaeffer explained that on one side of that ridge, the snow would drain into the Rhine River and then on into the icy waters of the North Sea, while on the other side of the ridge, the snow would eventually drain into the Rhone River and then on into the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea.These final destinations of the 2 snows were literally a thousand miles apart. In the end, the destination was completely determined by what side of the ridge—what side of the dividing line or watershed—the snow came to rest upon.Finally, Schaeffer concludes with this observation:
…Evangelicals today are facing a watershed concerning the nature of biblical inspiration and authority. It is a watershed issue in very much the same sense as described in the illustration. Within evangelicalism there are a growing number who are modifying their views on the inerrancy of the Bible so that the full authority of Scripture is…undercut. But it is happening in very subtle ways. Like the snow lying side-by-side on the ridge, the new views on biblical authority often seem at first glance not to be so very far from what evangelicals, until just recently, have always believed. But also, like the snow lying side-by-side on the ridge, the new views when followed consistently end up a thousand miles apart.1
Today we’re going to look at one of the ridges that has recently emerged, just one subtle dividing line or watershed issue in a biblical doctrine of Scripture. By seeing it, we want to establish how important a right view of Scripture is.(This sermon, by the way, is a sneak preview of a greater coming attraction. Starting next week, our adult Sunday school class begins to focus on this doctrine. For 12 weeks, you can come and learn what the Bible has to say about itself. Consequently, if your interest is peaked during this sermon please come next week to our summer class “Speak O Lord” at 9 a.m. right here in the sanctuary.)Well, without further ado, let’s read today’s passage of Scripture and consider what the Bible teaches, or says, concerning its own authority or priority. Specifically, what does it mean that all Scripture is God breathed?
2 Timothy 3:10-17
10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
1. What does this passage say to Timothy about a watershed issue?
From prison, Paul writes to Timothy to encourage him to come and see him. Paul also, however, wants to encourage him in his pastoral ministry at Ephesus. Apparently false teachers were working their way in among the Ephesian church. So, just before Paul wrote today’s passage, he wrote Timothy about these teachers. He warns him:
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith (v. 8).
Thus, today’s passage must be read in the immediate context of combating false teachers. Paul is explaining how to stay on the right side of the watershed.What does Paul teach? What does he instruct Timothy to do so that he can rightly and faithfully navigate the watershed issues of his day?
a. Paul points him to his own biblical teachings (v. 10).
In our first verse, Paul says, you have followed or have known my teachings. Someone might argue that it is unclear whether Paul means biblical teachings here. He just says “my teachings.”To such a person, I would respond: You’re right, but you’re wrong.You’re right—there is no direct indication in the sentence that the teaching, which Paul is referring to, is biblical teaching. However, I would ask what other kind of instruction do we find Paul giving (especially in a context where teachers are teaching false doctrines in a church)?Wherever we find Paul teaching, it seems that it’s his regular practice to teach from the Scriptures! Consider the following passages:
And Paul went in [to a synagogue], as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ” (Acts 17:2-3).
[While in Corinth, Paul] stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them (Acts 18:11).
[While in Rome, from] morning till evening [Paul] expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets (Acts 28:23).
Again, wherever we find Paul, it seems he is teaching from the Scriptures. So also here, he says: Timothy, remember what I’ve taught you from God’s word. Such sound biblical teaching will help you navigate this watershed.Application: Let me point out that it’s not enough that we go to the Bible when we find ourselves in the midst of a crisis or watershed moment in life. Rather, like Paul, we need to prepare ourselves and those we shepherd with sound biblical teaching before the watershed moments come! How are you doing this?Second, in the midst of Timothy’s watershed moment:
b. Paul points him to his own biblical teachings lived out (vv. 10-11).
In effect, Paul says: You know my biblical testimony and teaching Timothy, and you know how I have faithfully put it into practice in my life. So, he writes:
[You have known] my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me (vv. 10-11).
Here, Paul essentially says to Timothy: You know me! You know who I am! Paul, you see, has not simply preached Christ but has really lived Christlikeness. He put on compassion and kindness and gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12). He daily died to his selfish desires and lived to proclaim the glory of Jesus Christ. For him, living was Christ (Philippians 1:21).Therefore, when Timothy is facing false teachers in the church at Ephesus, Paul encourages him to live out biblical teachings even as he had seen Paul do so. What an encouragement an authentic godly example can be—someone who doesn’t only teach sound biblical truth but lives it out as well!So Paul urges Timothy: Follow me as I follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)!Application: We far too often live our Christian lives in relative isolation. This is not, I believe, what God intends for us to do. The author of Hebrews, consequently, exhorts us to encourage one another in Christian service and to not give up meeting together (Hebrews 10:24-25).When I’m disheartened, I’ll often call someone who has discipled me. Typically, talking with them and sharing in their faith is enough to cheer me up. However, sometimes when I can’t reach them, it is enough to consider their faithful example and know that I’m not alone.Do you have a Paul or Timothy relationship in your life, a faith encourager? If not, the pastor-elders of this church would love to help you connect in this kind of a discipling relationship. Please don’t hesitate to ask!Finally, in the midst of Timothy’s watershed moment:
c. Paul points him to continued growth in biblical teaching (vv. 14-17).
Look at what Paul says:
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (vv. 14-17).
Paul tells Timothy to continue to grow in biblical wisdom by learning and teaching from the sacred writings. Why? Because of the very DNA of the writings, they (Paul tells us) are all breathed out by God!“‘God-breathed’…does not mean inspirational, nor does it presuppose a mechanical view of God dictating words to the authors.”2 Instead, it means that, through these authors (who had unique personalities and varying perspectives), God brought forth the very text—the precise book—he wanted his church to have. Therefore, Paul says to Timothy: If you want to be prepared and equipped for life’s watershed moments, continue in these most profitable of writings!In a nutshell, Paul’s advice to Timothy during this difficult time is simply:
Remember the biblical teachings you’ve received.
Remember the biblical teachings you’ve seen lived out.
Remember to continue to grow in and through evermore biblical teachings.
That’s what the passage says to Timothy. But:
2. What does this passage say to us about a watershed issue?
As in Paul and Timothy’s time, today people will manipulate the Bible in order to say what they want to say, in order to argue for what they want to be true. Inside the church, the issue of marriage equality has provided one such example.Some have, with this, pursued a dangerous way of understanding Scripture. They have looked at the Bible with an eye (I believe) on justifying gay marriage, and they have come up with a rather subtle and creative way of interpreting the relevant biblical passages in order to justify such marriages.They essentially ask: If you need to find out the answer to a tough question, and you talked to both Paul and Jesus about it, which one should you ultimately allow to make the final judgment? Who should get the final say?The answer seems obvious, right? Jesus is God so he should get to decide! This is often called red letter Christianity—i.e. the red letters of Jesus take special priority over the black letters of the rest of Scripture. One proponent writes:
We emphasize the “red letters” because we believe that you can only understand the rest of the Bible when you read it from the perspective provided by Christ.3
This view then turns quickly into a “biblical” argument like this:
Jesus is not recorded as having said anything related to intimate sexual relationships between people of the same gender. One has to wonder, if homosexuality is such a heinous sin against God, why does Jesus himself never refer to it?4
Yet, here are two flaws with such a system of biblical interpretation:
The Holy Spirit (Jesus says) will speak to and through his apostles: But…the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you (John 14:26; cf. 15:26-27, 16:13). When an apostle speaks in Scripture, it is the Spirit who directs the process. There are no arguments among members of the Trinity!
Jesus’ words are not unmediated; we don’t have an unmediated Jesus! Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were all guided by the Holy Spirit to record the words of Jesus that we have. You see, we accept the words of Jesus, which they recorded, as authentic based on the doctrine of inspiration!
In the end, here is the main point: There is no hierarchy of the Scriptures.The Bible is the word of God. What Paul wrote in it is the word of God. What the 4 gospel writers recorded in it concerning Jesus is also the word of God. What the Old Testament records is likewise the word of God.The doctrine of inspiration, which the Bible reports and affirms about itself, tells us that, from Genesis to Revelation, all the Scriptures are of fully equal value; they are equally the word of God!
There will always be things that challenge us in the 66 books of the Bible—things that we wish were perhaps a bit different.
There will always be cultural pressures to make the Bible say something that it simply does not say.
However, we must not, therefore, judge and manipulate the biblical texts. We must not place ourselves above God’s word. Instead, you and I must embrace (if God is, in fact, going to be God of our lives) that his word, in full, must ultimately have authority over us!
1Francis A. Schaeffer, The Great Evangelical Disaster, Chapter 2.
2Michael F. Bird, A Biblical And Systematic Introduction, 63.
3Tony Campolo, Red Letter Christians: A Citizen’s Guide to Faith and Politics (Ventura, CA: Regal, 2008).
4http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2010/12/08/what-did-jesus-say-about-homosexuality/5059
