By Knowing the Bible Authorizes By Expediency

1
Lesson 21 By Knowing the Bible Authorizes By
Expediency and Understanding Generic Specific
Authority
2
Principles of Biblical Interpretation

• Since the Bible is a propositional revelation,
  then these hermeneutical principles are expected
• DIRECT STATEMENTS
• Would God veil Himself in totally symbolic ways?
  No, not totally.
• Without direct statements, no objective exegesis
  is possible.
• IMPLICATION
• Non-trivial statements imply something.
• To say no begs the question.
• ACCOUNTS OF ACTION IN HISTORY
• Gods revelation is to real people in various
  circumstances.
• God expects us to decide what applies thus, some
  methodology.
• EXPEDIENCY
• No propositional revelation can be exhaustive.
• Expediency increases the practicality and
  endurance of the revelation.

3
The Bible Authorizes By Expediency

• In order to carry out the Christians obligation
  from direct statements, implications and accounts
  of approved action, there is the area of
  expediency.
• An expedient is that which
• Expedites
• Aids
• Assists
• Helps
• Benefits
• Is inherently advantageous in carrying out
  obligations or options (not forbidden)
• Is in harmony with the Scriptures

4
The Bible Authorizes By Expediency

• Some criteria in choosing expedients
• Expedients benefit authorized actions (Col.
  317).
• What we do must be authorized. Ex baptize in
  water
• Expedients must not add to authorized actions.
• Theres a difference between benefitting
  adding.
• Expedients are essential to carry out authorized
  actions.
• Ex Command to assemble makes a place time
  essential.
• The type of expedient is optional.
• Assembly in a tent, on beach, in building. Rent,
  buy, in a home.
• Expedients must truly be beneficial (1 Cor. 612
  1023).
• May not be helpful even if lawful
• Expedients must not be enslaving (1 Cor. 612).
• Some traditions fall into this area.
• Expedients must be edifying (1 Cor. 1023).
• The order of worship is an expedient but should
  not be confusing.
• Expedients must be done in love (1 Cor. 1614).

5
The Bible Authorizes By Expediency

• There is a difference between an expedient (an
  aid) and an addition.
• Anything which is not authorized by Scripture,
  but which is nonetheless employed, is an
  addition.
• A true aid, an expedient, is authorized by the
  Scriptures.

6
The Bible Authorizes By Expediency

• Examples to illustrate diff between an aid an
  addition
• Command Go into all the world and preach
• We could go by WALKING we can go by RIDING (2
  diff options).
• These 2 options have a direct relationship to the
  obligation (Go) but no particular relationship
  to each other. Walking is not an aid (expedient)
  to riding, and riding is not an expedient to
  walking.
• A walking stick, used while walking, would be an
  expedient/aid.
• Simple illustration the area of perception
• We perceive by HEARING we perceive by SEEING (2
  diff ways).
• Hearing is not an expedient to seeing, nor seeing
  to hearing.
• These are definite, distinct ways of perceiving
  co-ordinates
• Either one can be done without the other.
• Eyeglasses would be an expedient/aid to seeing.
• A hearing aid would be an expedient/aid to
  hearing.

7
The Bible Authorizes By Expediency

• Examples to illustrate diff between an aid an
  addition
• What about making music in worship to God?
• We make music by SINGING we make music by
  PLAYING.
• Singing mechanical instruments are two
  different ways of making music co-ordinates.
• Either one can be done without the other.
• Singing is not an expedient/aid to playing.
• Playing is not an expedient/aid to singing.
• The songbook is an expedient/aid to singing.
• Having someone lead the congregation is an
  expedient/aid to singing.
• When we use the songbook in our singing, we are
  JUST SINGING. We are NOT SINGING AND DOING
  SOMETHING ELSE.
• When God commands us in the NT to sing in worship
  to Him, to play an instrument is to ADD to His
  Word.

8
The Bible Authorizes By Expediency

• Expediency increases the practicality, endurance
  far-reaching application of Gods revelation.
• It is through expediency that we have and can
  defend
• Our church buildings
• Our baptistries
• Our teaching in simultaneous Bible classes,
  adults children
• Our song books
• Our song leaders
• Our invitation songs
• Our individual communion cups
• Our contribution baskets
• Our prayer leaders in the assembly
• Our chalkboards, white boards, PowerPoint
  projectors, etc.
• Our public address systems, video recording, etc.

9
Two Ways to Look at the Question of Authority

• The Bible is a document to be praised and held on
  to, but one to be amended on occasion.
• We are not limited by what Scripture teaches,
  affirms or commands.
• The Bible is a document to be praised and held on
  to.
• What the Bible affirms, the church believes.
• What the Bible commands, the church obeys.
• What the Bible prohibits, the church avoids.
• What the Bible authorizes, the church goes not
  beyond.

10
Generic Specific Authority
Generic Authority
Specific Authority
SHOES
NIKE
Includes all authorized
Excludes all not authorized
Reebok, Adidas, K
-
Swiss, etc.
JEWISH MAN
JEWISH MAN OF THE TRIBE
Includes all authorized
OF LEVI
Tribes of Reuben,
Excludes all not authorized
Simeon, Levi, Judah, etc.
Tribes of Reuben,
Simeon,
Hebrews 713-14
Judah, etc.
MUSIC

SING
Includes all authorized
Excludes all not authorized
Sing, Play
Play
Ephesians 519
11
Common Sense the Relation of Generic/Specific
Authority and Inclusive/Exclusive

• Physician to Pharmacist Give the patient
  whatever antibiotic you have.
• GENERIC (ANY antibiotic) and INCLUSIVE
  (penicillin, etc.)
• GENERIC (ANY antibiotic) and EXCLUSIVE (antacids,
  etc.)
• Physician to Pharmacist Give the patient 250mg
  of tetracycline 3 times a day.
• SPECIFIC (tetracycline) and INCLUSIVE (various
  drug companies manufacture specific brands)
• SPECIFIC (tetracycline) and EXCLUSIVE (all other
  drugs/dosages)
• God to Man Sing and make melody in your heart
  to the Lord (Eph. 519 Col. 316).
• SPECIFIC (sing) and INCLUSIVE (songbook, tuning
  fork, etc.)
• SPECIFIC (sing) and EXCLUSIVE (playing)

12
The Bible Teaches (Authorizes) Explicitly
Implicitly
EXPLICIT
TEACHING
EXPLICITLY AUTHORIZED
EXPLICITLY
UNAUTHORIZED
(OBLIGATION)
(FORBIDDEN)
Sing
Give
Adultery
Stealing
Assemble
Lords Supper
Murder
Gossip
Preach
Pray
Lying
Bitterness
IMPLICIT
TEACHING
IMPLICITLY AUTHORIZED
IMPLICITLY
UNAUTHORIZED
(OPTIONAL EXPEDIENTS)
(FORBIDDEN)
Song Books
Burning Incense
Class Literature
Counting Beads
Contribution
Basket
Sprinkling
Communion Tray
Infant Baptism
Church Building
Instrumental
Music
13
Obligatory Optional Matters

• In obligatory matters, there must be unity.
• In optional matters, there must be liberty.
• In all matters, there must be love.
• We must not treat obligatory matters as if they
  were optional (Rom. 1017).
• We must not treat optional matters as if they
  were obligatory (Gal. 23-5 1 Tim. 41-5).

14
A ReviewThe Bible Can Be Understood Alike

• By Affirming that the Bible is the Word of God
• The Bible (every word of it) is the result of the
  verbal, plenary inspiration of God (2 Tim.
  316-17)
• By Acknowledging It Can Be Understood Alike
• Understanding the Bible is not only possible,
  understanding the Bible IS EXPECTED!
• Understanding it at all IS TO UNDERSTAND IT
  ALIKE!
• Thats the only way to understand it.
• Theres no such thing as understanding
  differently.
• We understand it ALIKE UNTIL we get in the way!

15
A ReviewThe Bible Can Be Understood Alike

• By Distinguishing Between the Old the New
• By Accepting That the Bible Is All-Authoritative,
  All-Sufficient All-Delivered
• By Making Proper Necessary Distinctions
• The Merely Reported the Authorized
• Circumstance Condition
• The Temporary the Permanent
• Faith Opinion
• Custom Law

16
A ReviewThe Bible Can Be Understood Alike

• By Properly Interpreting the Bible
• First Gather All the Relevant Evidence on a
  Biblical Question or Subject
• Second Handle the Evidence Correctly
• Third Draw Only (and All) Such Conclusions As
  Are Justified (i.e., Warranted, Demanded) By the
  Evidence.
• By Knowing How the Bible Authorizes
• The Necessity for Authority in Religious Matters
• God Demands Biblical Authority for All That We Do
• God Will Not Tolerate That Which Is Not
  Authorized
• We Must Know How God Does Not Authorize

17
A ReviewThe Bible Can Be Understood Alike

• By Knowing the Bible Authorizes By
• Direct Statement
• Implication
• Accounts of Approved Action
• Expediency
• By Understanding Generic Specific Authority