Quote:
Originally Posted by mizpeh
Dan is trying to make the point that we cannot derive doctrine from narrative accounts, such as the book of Acts. I'm asking your opinion.
Should we follow the actions of the apostles or not? Are the acts of the apostles indicative of what we should teach and preach? Does a narrative allow for that?
(the common sense remark had nothing to do with you. I was letting off some steam!  ) |
Hi Mizpeh,
The answer is "yes", and here's why:
"3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Ro 15:3-4)
In verse 3, Paul is quoting
Ps 69:9, which is neither one of the 613 commandments, a narrative, nor a direct didactic passage. And yet he goes on to say in verse 4 that those things written in the "scriptures" are for our
learning (Gr.
didaskalian, from
didaskoo: "to teach").
From the sense of the Romans passage, we see Paul is not specifically referring to only the Psalms as containing didactic value, but the "scriptures" as a whole- all of God's Word.
Again, Paul in
2Tim 3:10-17 charges his protege Timothy to "continue thou in the things which thou hast
learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." (vs. 14).
What was it that Timothy had learned from Paul? Didactic teaching only? No, "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me." (vs. 10-11).
IOW, Timothy learned from Paul's "life experience", which Paul himself catalogues along with "doctrine", etc., and which Luke records in the book of Acts.
Notice also that Paul commends Timothy's study from childhood of "the holy scriptures" (vs. 15- meaning all of God's Word, not simply specific OT didactic passages), which are able to make him "wise unto salvation". This is why Paul concludes in verse 16 that because "all scripture is given by inspiration of God", that
all of it is profitable for:
1)- doctrine
2)- reproof
3)- correction
4)- instruction in righteousness
So then, "all scripture" (including narrative) works toward the end goal of making one "wise unto salvation" (vs. 15), and equipped to perform "all good works" (vs. 17).