Biblical Examples
by Dave Brown
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Let us start by establishing the fact that approved apostolic examples are just as binding upon us today as are commands. How do we know that this is true? We know that approved apostolic examples are binding on us today simply because there are bible commands that make them binding. Consider the following:
- First, the examples of Christ: 1 Pet 2:21: “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps...” Then, the examples of the apostles ...
- 1 Cor 11:1: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
- Phil 3:17: “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
- (Phil 4:9): “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Most of the examples of Jesus are given in the gospels -- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The examples of the apostles are largely given in the book of Acts, although some are also in the epistles.
There are many examples in the book of Acts of evil behavior, and it should be obvious that we are not to follow these examples. So we can say that just because an example is in the bible does not mean we should follow it. God gave us common sense and He expects us to use it ... let us not be foolish.
This is the reason that we qualify the word "examples" by using the term "approved apostolic examples." By this we mean that the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles to perform or to approve of a given action. God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34); so there is no reason to believe that the things that were approved when the apostles were being guided by the Holy Spirit would be any less approved for us to do today. Why else would we have the book of Acts? The book of Acts is an extremely valuable book in this regard. Without it we would have no connection between the life of Christ and the letters to the churches. By using the examples in the book of Acts we can resolve the worship and the work of the church. Of course, the epistles are also quite valuable in completing this picture for us.
The book of Acts contains hundreds of approved examples -- are we bound to follow every one of them? The answer to this question is a qualified yes. Note two principles in this regard: (1) Every example given in the bible serves some purpose (even the examples of evil behavior); if they did not serve some purpose, they would not be there. (2) But, very few examples can be, or necessarily should be, followed in every single minor detail. The examples are much like the commands in this regard (as we discussed in our previous article). They provide principles for us that enable us to apply them in a changing world today. We saw that commands were not just stated like the ten commandments, but were most often couched in situations that enable us to understand the principles that they are conveying. So it is with the examples that we are commanded to follow.
Let us consider these two principles in more detail. The first principle is a truism -- every word in the bible is important, and every example serves a purpose (Matthew 4:4). So every approved apostolic example is for our learning and to be part of the scriptures that thoroughly furnish us unto every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
The second principle once again calls upon us to use our common sense. To illustrate: If we are following Jesus' example to pray while he was in the Garden of Gethsemane. there are many things about his example that are obviously good for us to emulate. His statement: "not my will but Thine be done" would certainly be one of them. But are we compelled to actually go to the exact spot in the Garden of Gethsemane that he went to in order for our prayers to be heard? Of course not. This would be taking the literal example way beyond its intended purpose to the point that it becomes counterproductive. We only state this absurdity to illustrate that most examples are not played out today to the ultimate degree that they can be played out. If we insist that they must be, then we will find ourselves doing silly things like pursuing the Holy Grail.
To illustrate further, we have heard on several occasions the question from those who oppose the use of approved apostolic examples: "why then don't you meet in upper rooms?" It is true that disciples at times met in upper rooms (e.g., Acts 1 and Acts 20). However, they also met in the temple (Acts 2) and in a school facility (Acts 19). When taken together these examples are quite informative. Collectively these examples tell us that the type of location where we meet (borrowed, owned, rented) does not matter. But, of course, we should try to meet in the most expedient place possible that best serves the congregation and facilitates our worship. Assuming that they are sincere in their questioning, the error that they make is the failure to recognize that when there are several examples for performing a given required action (in this case, our meeting together with fellow Christians), then it is wrong to bind any single one of them exclusively. It is also appropriate to ask the question: would this be something important that God would specify and restrict us to? When we get hung up on an insignificant detail we most often lose the whole point of the example.
Jesus said to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to all peoples everywhere" indicting that our preaching should in no way be restricted to a given race or any other subset of people. We know that Paul traveled in various ways -- he walked and also went in ships. Are these examples restrictive? Again, our common sense would tell us that what Paul did was to take the most advantageous method of transportation available to him. This is the example that we should follow. We certainly are not restricted to walking or sailing.
This should be common sense, and biblical interpretation in this regard is not difficult. Some go out of their way to make it difficult, but we are not ignorant of the devices of Satan. If there is a legitimate question as to the appropriate resolution of any given issue, then all of the passages throughout the New Testament that have any relevance to the subject should be compiled (including commands, examples and implications), and the resolution should follow from the preponderance of the biblical evidence. Using just one or a few examples to resolve an issue is not proper unless that is all that can be found on the subject. And if there is no problem with leaving an issue to individual discretion (i.e., if it is not a collective church issue), then there is no reason to argue about it -- we might state our opinion and then allow individual conscience to prevail. It is in regard to such matters of indifference that the apostle Paul stated: "But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God" (Romans 14:10).
EXAMPLES THAT ESTABLISH BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
by Dave Brown
Biblical Basis for Examples
There are three ways that we obtain authority and direction from the bible: Command, Example and Necessary Inference (also referenced as Necessary Implication). This article will consider the second of these, approved apostolic example, and the subjects of Commands and Necessary Inference are considered in other articles. There is no direct statement in the bible that prescribes these three methods, so we must be careful to establish that we are not going beyond (as in 2 John 9) in making this claim. Let’s consider the subject of examples one step at a time.
Most people can see that God’s direct commands that are recorded in the New Testament are binding on us today. The writings of Paul (and by extension, the other New Testament writers as well) were to be viewed as the commandments of God (1 Cor. 14:37): “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.”
Approved apostolic examples are binding, and they are only binding, because God commanded us to follow them. First, the examples of Christ (1 Pet 2:21): “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps...” Then, the examples of the apostles:
- 1 Cor 11:1: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
- Phil 3:17: “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
- Phil 4:9: “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.”
The only conclusion that one can draw from these and the many other similar passages is that approved apostolic examples have the same binding power as do direct commands, because we are commanded to follow them.
How Do Examples Apply?
Obviously there are both good and bad examples in the bible so we must examine the context to see if an example is binding. Consider the example of Job’s wife: “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!’” (Job 2:9). Obviously, this is not an example for us to follow today. This is why we qualify the word by talking of “approved apostolic examples” when talking about the examples in the New Testament that are binding upon us today. This limits consideration to only practices approved by the apostles and thus the Holy Spirit.
Whenever we get into a discussion of such examples, it seems that some want to cast derision on the whole process by saying things like: “We do a lot of things without example. What about song books and church buildings?” And, “We don’t follow all the examples. What about meeting in upper rooms?”
Those who make such remarks show little regard for moving the discussion ahead and answering the question posed above: “How do examples apply?” Nor do they seem to have any interest in resolving the issues that they are raising. But in fact, these are legitimate questions, and they should be answered. But first, we must ask: what are you promoting? Are you saying that we should ignore all examples? If so, you are in direct contradiction to the clear scriptural evidence presented above.
We should never do anything in our religion without authority. Examples are just one of the three ways for establishing authority. We are not arguing that examples are the only means of establishing authority, and the fact that some things are approved in other ways does not negate the value of examples.
Then there is the fact that many details mentioned in the New Testament are incidental and not intended to be made into doctrine. In such cases there are usually counterexamples that demonstrate that certain details are not there for binding. The meeting in upper rooms is a good example of this principle, since there are many examples of churches meeting in other places. God expects us to use our brains to reason through the various questions that we have and to do our very best to apply his word to doing His will today.
All approved apostolic examples apply to us today. However, some apply only in principle (e.g., Acts 3:1; 4:32), while others contain important details (Acts 20:7). It is up to each one of us to study our bibles and to rightfully divide God’s word in this regard (2 Tim. 2:15). The vast majority of issues are easy to resolve, and on these we can and should stand firm. On those which provide a greater challenge, we should continue to study and apply ourselves to doing our best to resolve them in a way that will not needlessly offend anyone’s conscience.
While some might attack this as a subjective process, we respond that nothing is more subjective than disregarding the biblical examples altogether. They are essential to our knowledge of God’s will. Let us do our very best to apply them as God would have us.
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