May 4, 2009
2 kinds of biblical. We need to know which is which when we use the word.
1. Things commanded by Scripture. (Don’t murder, Be wise, etc.)
2. Things consistent with Scripture. (Home schooling, public schooling, etc.)
Confusing these creates legalism.
Excellent point.
In fact, many times things in category 2 are stabs at category 1.
I don’t know. Doesn’t this mean if I’m 100 percent correct with which things are commanded and which are consistent, I can never be legalistic?
I really like this. Great point.
Insightful and very true. Thanks, Abraham. Also… the guest posters were grand, but it’s great to have you back.
Perfect. Thank you.
is this biblical?
and are there any wheaton grads here?
That’s good. I’ve heard it said as biblical *principles* (like #1) versus *methods* (#2). The principles are commanded; the methods are just different ways of walking those principles out.
Really good point.
One of my favorite quotes:
“On the necessary points, unity; on the questionable points, liberty; in all things, love.” –Rupert Meldenius
Hey, that’s only 14 words!
Where the Bible speaks – we speak.
Where the Bible is silent – we are silent.
And then there are situations in which something from 2 jumps into 1. Like who to eat dinner with (Gal 2:11-14).
Very, very insightful! Thank you.
excellent!
David,
You triggered the memory before the alumni question. Thanks for the memory!
[...] 22 Words clarified something that I felt it worth drawing your attention to: biblical – just a great [...]
Oh, that we would just learn this wonderful truth!
Interesting distinction. The church I used to go to used to talk about “biblical courtship”, which always annoyed me. I could see a case for biblical arranged marriage, or biblical polygamy, but not biblical courtship. Obviously they were using “biblical” in the second sense and I missed the distinction. :)
I really like this distinction. Very helpful.
Is the adjective of any use? (Mind you I’m thinking of the term here.)
I instinctively think it is, but now I’m trying to imagine myself getting by fine without it and not having a heck of a lot of problems … hmmm … troublesome.
For instance, what do I really add to the injunction against murder by labeling it ‘biblical’? Hmmm …. troublesome …
Um…this was your most brilliant post ever. Thank you.
Is a third definition something that is mentioned in the Bible but not actually something consistent with who God is? I just mean that technically–I don’t think we should go around saying that certain attitudes or behaviors are “biblical” just because someone in the Bible held them or did them.
But technically, they are “biblical,” a.k.a. in the Bible. Right?
But I’m not going to start using the term biblical to describe those things.
Maybe this isn’t a helpful thing to bring up. However, I’ve wondered if non-Christians have ever taken a more literal view of the word “biblical” and come to the conclusion that it just means something found in the Bible.
For example, the “heck” in Myrddin’s comment–definitely unbiblical in the first sense, and for some, unbiblical in the second!
Very good point
Well done!
Perhaps I should have just said “hell” and been on solidly biblical ground all around!
This is making me all the more inclined to swear off the word for a few months and see if I can do without it.
It’s simply too confusing and has come to mean to many things to too many people in too many ways — especially when you use it with the prefix “un-”
unheck? ;-)
how about using the word to refer to ‘anything or, in or related to the Bible’. i.e. of biblical proportions. You can get some good reactions by telling people things are ‘biblical’.
[...] 2 kinds of biblical [...]
GREAT!
[...] 12, 2009 at 2:01 pm · Filed under journalish This post by Abraham Piper goes right along with where my head and heart and prayers have been these last [...]
Prov. 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Deut. 6:6-7 – “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Eph. 6:4- “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Sounds like commands to me.
I’m not trying to start a controversy here, because i believe there are viable alternatives to homeschooling while remaining obedient to the scriptures, but I’m not sure that public education (especially nowadays) can be considered consistent with scripture – if that is indeed what you’re saying (the post is a little unclear). My wife and I – along with thousands of other parents – homeschool (or are heavily involved in a private Christian education) because that is what the Bible commands us to do.
Thank you!