WCF 1.9 The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one) it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.
Can any testament, book, chapter, verse, sentence, or word be taken in isolation to the rest of the Scriptures? Is it possible for Gary to get one thing from a part of Scripture, yet for Jim to get some totally different interpretation that "God has shown him personally."
2 Peter 1:20-21 says, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. V21 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."
No scripture is of any private interpretation. No man will get a "Spirit-filled" revelation of a part of Scripture that has been first revealed to him and no other or that contradicts other parts of Scripture. No man today can claim that he has a new word or interpretation from God that everybody needs to listen to. Yet there are still many false prophets today who claim to get on-going new revelation or claim to be the only one to have the right interpretation of particular Scriptures. Men and women who think like this are only fooling themselves, for no scripture is of private interpretation.
In Acts 15, certain of the Jews believed that the Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised to be saved. There was lots of contention around this issue and Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem for a discussion with the other elders. Peter responded in verses 6-11 and said that there should be no additional bondage placed upon the Gentiles because the Gentiles too were able to be saved by grace alone.
Then James got up and spoke these words in verse 13 onwards, "Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:"
Even at this time when there were still new prophecies being spoken, James did not say, "Well Peter, you are a man of great discernment and a pillar of our faith. I think that you should be trusted on this one." No he said, "Peter has declared such unto you and the words of the prophets (the Old Testament prophets) agree with him! And because what Peter has said is in line with the rest of Scripture, we need to listen to him!"
And so it is the same with any preacher, minister, elder, deacon, father, or friend, we should listen to them if what they say is in line with the rest of Scripture. If a man does say something that is out of line with other parts of the Scripture and is taken out of context with the whole counsel of God, then we need to search diligently to find out the true meaning of that passage.
Don't forget; for all the Scripture proofs of the Westminster Confession of Faith, you need to get a copy of the Westminster Confession of Faith with Scripture Proofs and read it for yourself. http://www.fpbookroom.org/shop/acatalog/F_P_Bookroom_Free_Presbyterian_Publications_14.html
Can any testament, book, chapter, verse, sentence, or word be taken in isolation to the rest of the Scriptures? Is it possible for Gary to get one thing from a part of Scripture, yet for Jim to get some totally different interpretation that "God has shown him personally."
2 Peter 1:20-21 says, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. V21 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."
No scripture is of any private interpretation. No man will get a "Spirit-filled" revelation of a part of Scripture that has been first revealed to him and no other or that contradicts other parts of Scripture. No man today can claim that he has a new word or interpretation from God that everybody needs to listen to. Yet there are still many false prophets today who claim to get on-going new revelation or claim to be the only one to have the right interpretation of particular Scriptures. Men and women who think like this are only fooling themselves, for no scripture is of private interpretation.
In Acts 15, certain of the Jews believed that the Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised to be saved. There was lots of contention around this issue and Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem for a discussion with the other elders. Peter responded in verses 6-11 and said that there should be no additional bondage placed upon the Gentiles because the Gentiles too were able to be saved by grace alone.
Then James got up and spoke these words in verse 13 onwards, "Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:"
Even at this time when there were still new prophecies being spoken, James did not say, "Well Peter, you are a man of great discernment and a pillar of our faith. I think that you should be trusted on this one." No he said, "Peter has declared such unto you and the words of the prophets (the Old Testament prophets) agree with him! And because what Peter has said is in line with the rest of Scripture, we need to listen to him!"
And so it is the same with any preacher, minister, elder, deacon, father, or friend, we should listen to them if what they say is in line with the rest of Scripture. If a man does say something that is out of line with other parts of the Scripture and is taken out of context with the whole counsel of God, then we need to search diligently to find out the true meaning of that passage.
Don't forget; for all the Scripture proofs of the Westminster Confession of Faith, you need to get a copy of the Westminster Confession of Faith with Scripture Proofs and read it for yourself. http://www.fpbookroom.org/shop/acatalog/F_P_Bookroom_Free_Presbyterian_Publications_14.html
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