What is Your Authority for Knowing Truth?

[Johann]

What is Your Authority for Knowing Truth?
One of the most important decisions anyone makes in this life is choosing which authority to trust for their eternal destiny. We can be wrong about a lot of things in this life and still survive, but if we are wrong about which authority to trust for our life after death, we will pay for that mistake for all eternity. As ambassadors for Christ, we must ask people if they have a reliable source for discerning truth from error. Has that source ever been wrong before? Is it possible for that source to ever mislead or deceive people?

Since every religion has an authority, and every person has an opinion, we need to ask people about their source for truth when we share the Gospel. Some will say their authority is a person, a book, a religion, a spirit, or their own understanding. Some will say they rely on their popes, rabbis, religious leaders, religious traditions, human reasoning, church history, church fathers, or Google. Any of these sources might be right some of the time, but there is only one source that is right all the time. Our holy and omniscient God has never been wrong, and He has given us His Word as our only infallible source for truth. Scripture's supreme authority is established by its divine origin. There is no higher authority than our almighty God and creator.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16). In other words, Scripture is our supreme authority for knowing truth and correcting all that opposes it. Every word was breathed out by God, who cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18). Because of this, His inerrant Word must be the standard by which we discern truth from error (1 John 4:6). We also know that Scripture is sufficient to function as the sole infallible rule of faith, because it does not refer us to any other rule of faith. Everything we must know, understand, and believe to be saved is found in Scripture (2 Tim. 3:14-16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Therefore, after considering any other source for truth, we must ask, "But what does the Scripture say?" (Gal. 4:30).

No other source for truth can do everything that Scripture does. It brings conviction, gives wisdom, produces faith, refutes error, and can be used as a sword to slay the devil's lies. For everyone who believes Scripture, it converts, saves, frees, guides, reproves, trains, corrects, sanctifies and equips for every good work. Therefore, we must use it to test the veracity of all of the following:

The teachings of men (Acts 17:11)
Religious traditions (Mark 7:7-13)
The spirits (1 John 4:1)
Church fathers (Acts 20:29-31)
Wisdom of men (1 Cor. 2:5)
Your own understanding (Prov. 3:5)

Why would anyone who is earnestly searching for the truth look anywhere other than the Lord Jesus, who is the personification of truth, who came into this world to testify to the truth, and whose Word is truth (John 14:6, 17:17, 18:37). Scripture is what God says; religion is what man says God says. Therefore, we embrace Scripture as The Supreme Authority for Truth.

 

[Diserner]

I am Sola Spiritus.

And the Spirit confirms to me personally the veracity, authority and power of the Bible!

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:10 NKJ)

 

[Johann]

I am Sola Spiritus.

And the Spirit confirms to me personally the veracity, authority and power of the Bible!

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:10 NKJ)

Lol!
Did you add another Sola to the 5?

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

J.

 

[101G]

addressing the OP, again it starts with the individual. 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." for the reading of this verse it seems like one just need to STUDY..... NO, WRONG. a many of years ago, the Holy Spirit revealed to me what these verses was meant for.

one cannot study God word and gain KNOWLEDGE, and GODLY WISDOM... no. by studying, you show God, (just as the verses said), that you're interested in his WORD, and he will "REVEAL" his Word unto you. God Word cannot be Gain by just studying, it must be REVEALED to you. and here's why. the Holy Spirit is in all of us who gave our lives to God... right. understand something. just because the Holy Ghost is in us, he is not called a helper for nothing. a helper doesn't do it for you, (like studing), a helper help you do whatever you are doing. and if one is not doing anything the helper has nothing to do.

so by studying, you're doing something, (and this shows God you want to KNOW HIM), and boy Oh boy he will help you to know him. you can take that to the bank, I'm living proof of that. and when God, the Holy Spirit, God, JESUS, teach you. Oh yea you're well taught. because, 1 Corinthians 2:12 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." 1 Corinthians 2:13 "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." 1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:15 "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." 1 Corinthians 2:16 "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

101G.

 

[Johann]

addressing the OP, again it starts with the individual. 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." for the reading of this verse it seems like one just need to STUDY..... NO, WRONG. a many of years ago, the Holy Spirit revealed to me what these verses was meant for.

one cannot study God word and gain KNOWLEDGE, and GODLY WISDOM... no. by studying, you show God, (just as the verses said), that you're interested in his WORD, and he will "REVEAL" his Word unto you. God Word cannot be Gain by just studying, it must be REVEALED to you. and here's why. the Holy Spirit is in all of us who gave our lives to God... right. understand something. just because the Holy Ghost is in us, he is not called a helper for nothing. a helper doesn't do it for you, (like studing), a helper help you do whatever you are doing. and if one is not doing anything the helper has nothing to do.

so by studying, you're doing something, (and this shows God you want to KNOW HIM), and boy Oh boy he will help you to know him. you can take that to the bank, I'm living proof of that. and when God, the Holy Spirit, God, JESUS, teach you. Oh yea you're well taught. because, 1 Corinthians 2:12 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." 1 Corinthians 2:13 "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." 1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:15 "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." 1 Corinthians 2:16 "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

101G.

2Ti 2:15 HastenG4704 G5657 V-AMA-2S Spoudason Σπούδασον yourself,G4572 PPro-AM2S seauton, σεαυτὸν, approvedG1384 Adj-AMS dokimon δόκιμον to presentG3936 G5658 V-ANA parastēsai παραστῆσαι -G3588 Art-DMS tō τῷ to GodG2316 N-DMS Theō Θεῷ a workmanG2040 N-AMS ergatēn ἐργάτην not ashamed,G422 Adj-AMS anepaischynton, ἀνεπαίσχυντον, accurately handlingG3718 G5723 V-PPA-AMS orthotomounta ὀρθοτομοῦντα theG3588 Art-AMS ton τὸν wordG3056 N-AMS logon λόγον -G3588 Art-GFS tēs τῆς of truth.G225 N-GFS alētheias. ἀληθείας.
Give diligence (spoudason). First aorist active imperative of spoudazō, old word, as in 1Th_2:17; Gal_2:10.

To present (parastēsai). First aorist active infinitive of paristēmi as in Col_1:22, Col_1:28.

Approved unto God (dokimon tōi theōi). Dative case theōi with dokimon, predicate accusative, old adjective (from dechomai), for which see note on 1Co_11:19; 2Co_10:18.

A workman (ergatēn). See 2Co_11:3; Php_3:2.

That needeth not to be ashamed (anepaischunton). Late double compound verbal adjective (a privative, epaischunō), in Josephus and here alone.

Handling aright (orthotomounta). Present active participle of orthotomeō, late and rare compound (orthotomos), cutting straight, orthos and temnō), here only in N.T. It occurs in Pro_3:6; Pro_11:5 for making straight paths (hodous) with which compare Heb_12:13 and “the Way” in Act_9:2.

Theodoret explains it to mean ploughing a straight furrow. Parry argues that the metaphor is the stone mason cutting the stones straight since temnō and orthos are so used. Since Paul was a tent-maker and knew how to cut straight the rough camel-hair cloth, why not let that be the metaphor? Certainly plenty of exegesis is crooked enough (crazy-quilt patterns) to call for careful cutting to set it straight.
RWS
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Study (σπούδασον)
Originally, make haste. In Paul, Gal_2:10; Eph_4:3 (note); 1Th_2:17.
To shew thyself approved (σεαυτὸν δόκιμον παραστῆσαι)
Παραστῆσαι, better, present. In Pastorals only here and 2Ti_4:17. Often in Acts and Paul. See on Act_1:3; see on Rom_16:2; see on Eph_5:27. Δόκιμον approved, only here in Pastorals, five times by Paul. See on Jas_1:12. See on δοκιμή approvedness, Rom_5:4; and see on δοκιμάζειν to approve on test, 1Pe_1:7.

A workman (ἐργάτης)
In Paul, 2Co_11:13; Php_3:2. In Pastorals, 1Ti_5:18.

That needeth not to be ashamed (ἀνεπαίσχυντον)
N.T.o. olxx, oClass. Lit. not made ashamed, as Php_1:20. A workman whose work does not disgrace him.

Rightly dividing (ὀρθοτομοῦντα)
N.T.o. oClass. In lxx, Pro_3:6; Pro_11:5; both times in the sense of directing the way. From ὀρθός straight and τέμνειν to cut. Hence, to cut straight, as paths; to hold a straight course; generally, to make straight; to handle rightly. Vulg. recte tractare. The thought is that the minister of the gospel is to present the truth rightly, not abridging it, not handling it as a charlatan (see on 2Co_2:17), not making it a matter of wordy strife (2Ti_2:14), but treating it honestly and fully, in a straightforward manner.

Various homiletic fancies have been founded on the word, as, to divide the word of truth, giving to each hearer what he needs: or, to separate it into its proper parts: or, to separate it from error: or, to cut straight through it, so that its inmost contents may be laid bare. Others, again, have found in it the figure of dividing the bread, which is the office of the household steward; or of dividing the sacrificial victims; or of cutting a straight furrow with the plough.
MV

I was going to unpack it for you-but will forbear.
I'm tired.
J.