I feel moved to reblog Mike Ratliff’s post this morning.
It amazes me how the modern day church makes these bizarre statements.
”Doug Pagitt would scoff at the digging we do here into the original language of the Bible because, in his own words, human language is not adequate enough to know God’s truth so this is all a waste of time. Well, God is our creator and he communicates to us through the languages He gave us and He has also given those who belong to the Son the Holy Spirit so that they may know His truth through the Word of God”
I’d love to listen to the discussion Mike mentions, if I find it I will post in the comments.
I also have observed another popular and widely successful pastor, Andy Stanley has been quote saying much the same about the usefulness of the Old Testament. I will let you Google those for yourself. Perhaps he has been quoted out of context, but from what I’ve read his choice of wording is just not useful at minimum.
The verse Mike quotes originally reads in English this way in the Geneva and KJV versions.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecie came not in olde time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost. GB
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. KJV
That hasn’t change much in meaning in the last 3 to 4 centuries!
Even before that the 14th Century Wycliffe Bible has it..
21 for prophecy was not brought any time by man’s will, but the holy men of God inspired with the Holy Ghost spake.
And Tyndale writing almost 150 years added the emphasis Mike mentions about being moved..
21 For the scripture came never by the will of man: but holy men of god spake as they were moved by the holy goost.
Plus we read….
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: KJV
As for the usefulness of the OT, I will rely upon that reference “All Scripture” (the OT was just that when Paul was inspired or moved to write). And don’t overlook Jesus’ statements in Luke 24.
Luke 24:25-27 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:44-48 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
I will end with these quotes from Chapter 1 of the WCF another almost 400 year old doctrinal summary.
- We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man’s salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
- The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word: and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.
- All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.
Rainbow Trout 