Proof-texting is a name used critically to describe citing a Biblical text. One example was a liberal Methodist professor's wife who responded to my statement in class that Greek mythologies of returning from Hades are not parallel to the New Testament. I used the original Greek text to point that out. She responded, "We can proof-text all day." She implied that any position was valid, especially hers. Citing the meaning of the Greek verb annoyed her.
Was I proof-texting? That term should be used in a derogatory way, but only when the criticism fits. For example, the resurrection of Christ is not at all like Greek mythology.
Lutherans use the term sedes doctrinae, but I dislike falling into the habit of using Latin terms to discourage thought. The temptation is great to say that "Lutherans have always viewed this passage as teaching..." That leads people into applying dogmatic claims they wish to support with "we have always taught." That is already once removed from the Bible (Lutherans have...) and really twice removed when someone is trying to sell something new and alien, as if the Synodical Conference always taught Objective Justification (not true - see the Gausewitz original catechism and the KJV catechism sold by CPH).
The dogmatic habit is also dangerous because it leads to the ossification of error, where more is attributed to support that error.
Proof-texting is clearly revealed when people find every Atonement passage teaching that "God proclaimed the entire world of sinners righteous in Christ." Every atonement passage teaches that Christ died for the sins of the world, which is not the same as saying Hindus, Hottentotts, atheists, and Hitler were pronounced "guilt-free saints."
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| Grabbing a proof-text. |
Scripture teaches that God has already declared the whole world to be righteous in Christ, Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Rom. 4:25;
Many pastors have declared that these three passages teach Universal Forgiveness without Faith. Focusing on Romans 4-5, Paul teaches clearly and repeatedly that we are justified by faith. There is no world absolution via the resurrection of Christ. Romans 4:24 clearly teaches - "if we believe..."
Romans 5:1-2.
5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
So - just before Romans 4:25, Paul wrote "if we believe," and just after, with Romans 5:1-2, "being justified by faith." So Paul teaches the Chief Article, then Objective Justification, then the Chief Article again?
That shows how badly proof-texting works, because grabbing a text and making a false claim with it only showcases one's Biblical ignorance and dogmatic mummification. The argument grows weaker with "Lutherans have always taught..." or "Our synod has always taught..." Imposing synodical authority is no different from the Church of Rome saying, "People get confused so the Pope explains the Bible for them. The hierarchy are like the Supreme Court, clarifying the Bible."
In Contrast - Exegesis.
18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. He is the Father's exegesis.
18 θεον ουδεις εωρακεν πωποτε ο μονογενης υιος ο ων εις τον κολπον του πατρος εκεινος εξηγησατο. Verb form of exegesis
exégeomai: to show the way
Original Word: ἐξηγέομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: exégeomai
Phonetic Spelling: (ex-ayg-eh'-om-ahee)
Definition: to show the way
Usage: I lead, show the way; met: I unfold, narrate, declare.
The only true teaching of the Scriptures can come from exegesis, where we begin with the text instead of enforcing an argument with a citation or two or three.
The Book of Concord is an excellent example of this method, addressing doctrinal issues by explaining what the Scriptures say about the topic.
A crucial part of Biblical teaching is showing that this doctrinal point is consistently taught throughout the Bible. We can test Objective Justification this way. If Abraham was justified by faith in Genesis 15, Romans 4, Galatians, Hebrews, and James. This immunized people against false claims.
Historical knowledge is important too, if we do research into what people taught at various times. For example:
- Luther taught Justification by Faith and called it the Chief Article, a description repeated by Melanchthon and the Book of Concord editors.
- The first person to teach Objective Justification among Lutherans was Samuel Huber, who was kicked out for this false teaching.
- The next to teach Objective Justification were the professors at and clergy from Halle University, such as Rambach the hymn writer (The Lutheran Hymnal).
- Bishop Martin Stephan studied at Halle and taught OJ.
- Walther learned OJ from Stephan and said it saved his life.
- Walther insisted on Pieper replacing him, and Pieper taught OJ.
- The Missouri Synod did not make OJ official.
- The Wisconsin Synod did not make OJ official.
- LCMS-WELS let the OJ faction take over and persecute Justification by Faith.
The Bible Teaches the Divine Nature of Christ
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Our rationalistic age likes to give credit to Jesus for being a good person, a great teacher, and so forth. But the divine nature of the Savior is beyond us. It is not something we can deduce - it is revealed by the Scriptures.
This passage is remarkable because the divine nature of Christ is so clearly taught. The child will have some titles in the future. Wonderful and Counsellor sound quite good, but the next three are beyond dispute.
The child is Mighty God - that is the subject of many hymns, how the infant was still while a baby, a weak human, God with all the divine power and majesty of the godhead.
The Everlasting Father teaches His pre-existence and future existence. He is One with the Father - "I and the Father, we are one." Gospel of John. That is so interwoven that some cults feel they must have one person and one god, such as the Spirit only or so other confusion. This is a mystery revealed to us.
The Prince of Peace shows that the mission of this Child will be to atone for our sins and teach faith in Him. Prince of Peace is a charming title because everyone wants to enjoy true peace, and that only comes from the forgiveness of sin received in faith.
Where do I go for peace? To Jesus.
How do I receive this grace? From the Instruments of Grace, the Gospel Word and Sacraments.
These Messianic Promises - which are Gospel, creating and strengthening faith - are rejected by the rationalists and lazy fellows who overlook the powerful second verse in this passage.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.
No empire, no kingdom has ever lasted. The greatest ones have become the least. Look at the PIGS - Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain. All were powerful empires that ravaged the earth and gathered its spoils. They are now groups as the PIGS because their economies are so weak.
Christianity has grown since the beginning and more importantly, the True Church, the Kingdom of God is everlasting.
upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.
This is not a material rule but a spiritual rule, one established with judgment (Law) and righteousness (Gospel) forever.
This clarifies the true Kingdom of Christ. As Jesus told the man who held power over His life - "My Kingdom is not of this world."
That should remind everyone that the importance of life is eternal, not material.
The divinity of Christ is in harmony with His Virgin Birth, so that means Matthew and Luke understood Isaiah 7 and 9 well. So many wise guys know better because they do not believe and are blind to this great wonder.
But this indication of divinity is also in Romans 1 and John 1, not repeated over and over with the same words but taught with different expressions, such as His pre-existence and fashioning the universe as the Logos (John 1), "And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" Romans 1.
Because the divine and human natures are united in Christ, we see how the New Testament will emphasize one and then the other. Jesus was thirsty in John 4 (human nature) but knew everything about the woman at the well (divine nature). This was so startling to her that the conversation moved to His role as the Messiah, and she believed in Him, and witnessed about Him to everyone.
Reading and hearing the Scriptures is a comforting and consoling because we learn again how God cares for us, protects us, blesses us, and extends His grace through the Means of Grace.
Greek Lesson
Everyone should have a copy of Paine, the best book for NT Greek. It costs about $25.
Steps in learning Greek are:
- Learn to recite and write down the alphabet, which is almost the same as ours, cause we stole it.
- Read passages out loud. That takes some practice, but it is essential in learning it and making it our own.
- Never, ever write the words above or near the Greek text. Old Adam will cheat and that short-circuits learning the Greek words in their context.
- Greek is easy, but time spent means learning more until it is like reading the newspaper.
- Look for cognates below - words in Greek that mean the same or almost the same in English. I redlined them.
ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 1 1550 Stephanus New Testament (TR1550)
1 εν αρχη ην ο λογος και ο λογος ην προς τον θεον και θεος ην ο λογος
2 ουτος ην εν αρχη προς τον θεον
3 παντα δι αυτου εγενετο και χωρις αυτου εγενετο ουδε εν ο γεγονεν
4 εν αυτω ζωη ην και η ζωη ην το φως των ανθρωπων
5 και το φως εν τη σκοτια φαινει και η σκοτια αυτο ου κατελαβεν
6 εγενετο ανθρωπος απεσταλμενος παρα θεου ονομα αυτω ιωαννης
7 ουτος ηλθεν εις μαρτυριαν ινα μαρτυρηση περι του φωτος ινα παντες πιστευσωσιν δι αυτου
8 ουκ ην εκεινος το φως αλλ ινα μαρτυρηση περι του φωτος
9 ην το φως το αληθινον ο φωτιζει παντα ανθρωπον ερχομενον εις τον κοσμον
10 εν τω κοσμω ην και ο κοσμος δι αυτου εγενετο και ο κοσμος αυτον ουκ εγνω
11 εις τα ιδια ηλθεν και οι ιδιοι αυτον ου παρελαβον
12 οσοι δε ελαβον αυτον εδωκεν αυτοις εξουσιαν τεκνα θεου γενεσθαι τοις πιστευουσιν εις το ονομα αυτου
13 οι ουκ εξ αιματων ουδε εκ θεληματος σαρκος ουδε εκ θεληματος ανδρος αλλ εκ θεου εγεννηθησαν
14 και ο λογος σαρξ εγενετο και εσκηνωσεν εν ημιν και εθεασαμεθα την δοξαν αυτου δοξαν ως μονογενους παρα πατρος πληρης χαριτος και αληθειας
15 ιωαννης μαρτυρει περι αυτου και κεκραγεν λεγων ουτος ην ον ειπον ο οπισω μου ερχομενος εμπροσθεν μου γεγονεν οτι πρωτος μου ην
16 και εκ του πληρωματος αυτου ημεις παντες ελαβομεν και χαριν αντι χαριτος
17 οτι ο νομος δια μωσεως εδοθη η χαρις και η αληθεια δια ιησου χριστου εγενετο
18 θεον ουδεις εωρακεν πωποτε ο μονογενης υιος ο ων εις τον κολπον του πατρος εκεινος εξηγησατο
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| I could be watching football instead. |
