Knowing Scripture

By R.C. Sproul

Having studied for some time the book of Daniel, which of course includes both historical and prophetical accounts, but of late concentrating mainly on future events and end times as declared according to the word of God, I felt compelled to go back and study the beginnings of creation and the opening chapters of Genesis in depth. The attacks upon God, His existence, His power, the authority of His word, creation etc. do not cease, however, there are great works being done by true disciples in such organisations as ‘Answers in Genesis’ and ‘Creation Ministries International’ against what appears to be mounting lies, heresy and blasphemy and we as fellow believers should study/continue to study at least some of the multitude of articles coming out of such ministries, always preparing ourselves with true, biblically and historically accurate answers for an inquisitive or attacking unbelieving family member/work colleague/fellow student and being a witness/living epistle to them for our God. Such articles should not take priority or take the place of immersing ourselves in Scripture but should merely complement our studies of God’s infallible and inerrant word in the quiet place. While beginning to study Genesis 1, I looked across to the bookcase and thought this book by R.C. Sproul may, in some way, further aid a knowledge of the Holy Writ.

J.I. Packer writes on the blurb of this book, ‘Knowing Scripture’, “If I were the devil, one of my first aims would be to stop folks from digging into the Bible…I should do all I could to surround it with the spiritual equivalent of pits, thorns, hedges and mantraps…But I should be very far from pleased to see this book by R.C. Sproul.” I am struggling in my mind, as I type, as to who I would recommend this book to. There are believers I know who are daily wielding the steak knife and digging deeply into the meat of the word, who may not gain a great deal from this book, while there are others sucking gently and perhaps, at best, monthly from the milk of the word who would never dream of picking up this book. I don’t know. I shall leave it up to the individual to decide whether or not to read this book. I’ll merely leave you with one of many quotes that could have been taken from this 125-page book that has, in my own case, brought to light new rules I shall apply while approaching a passage/body of text in the Bible and also reinforced existing principles.

In Chapter 4: Practical Rules for Biblical Interpretation and Rule #4: The Implicit is to be Interpreted by the Explicit Sproul writes “In the business of language we make distinctions between that which is implicit and that which is explicit. Often the difference is a matter of degree and the distinction can be muddled. But usually we can determine the difference between what is actually said and what is left unsaid though implied. I am convinced that if this one rule were consistently followed by Christian communities, the vast majority of doctrinal differences that divide us would be resolved. It is at the point of confusing the implicit and the explicit that it is easy to be careless.” One of Sproul’s examples of this statement is in the question of the nature of Jesus’ resurrection body. “I have seen descriptions of Jesus’ glorified body as being a body that has the capacity to move unimpeded through solid objects. The biblical warrant for such a claim is found in John 20:19: ‘When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst , and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’’ Look carefully at the words of the text. Does it say that Jesus ‘dematerialised’ and floated through the door? No, it says that the doors were shut and Jesus came and stood in their midst. Why does the author mention that the door was shut? Perhaps to indicate the amazing way Jesus appeared. Or perhaps merely to accentuate what he actually says, that the disciples were afraid of the Jews. Is it possible that Jesus came to His frightened disciples who were huddled together behind closed doors, opened the door, walked in and began speaking with them? Again, maybe Jesus did in fact float through the door, but the text does not say that. To construct a view of Jesus’ resurrected body on the basis of this text involves unwarranted speculation and careless exegesis.”

This book could be a helping hand on the way for some believers struggling in their interpretation of texts they have observed and studied but should not be a substitute for the place of prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer while studying and meditating day and night on God’s word.

Psalm 1!