The Pope and Biblicism

In a recent encyclical entitled "Fides et Ratio" (Faith and Reason), Pope John Paul II lashes out at what he terms "biblicism." According to the pope, "biblicism" is the tendency "to make the reading and exegesis of Sacred Scripture the sole criterion of truth."

We have written many times in Abundant Life about our intention to study, understand and teach the Bible as the sole source of God's instruction for man. We have discussed the all-sufficiency of God's word.

Regular readers then, will recognize that such a position puts us squarely at odds with the pope. We believe however, that we can justify our position by using the scriptures (how else?). In fact, we believe the Bible makes this argument for itself.

Over and over, the writers of the New Testament make the case for God's word (as delivered in scripture) being all that is needed for man to know what is necessary for him to have a right relationship with God. Peter says, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Pet. 1:2-3). It is clear that our knowledge of Him comes from His word which reveals Him to us. Peter also discusses our salvation as obedience to the truth, stating, "For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God" (1 Pet. 1:23). Jesus also uses the idea of the word as seed in His parable of the soils (Matt. 13:3-8, 18-23). In it, every judgment of the four soils (people) is based on their response to the seed (word).

Paul, in one of the most famous passages of scripture defining itself, tells Timothy, "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17, emphasis added). Certainly this equipping for every good work leaves nothing more to be added to make the man of God what he ought to be. Who would equip us further if God has done so for everything good? In the same letter, Paul instructs Timothy on the importance of studying in order to use the word of God accurately (2:15). When he warns the young evangelist about the dangers of false teachers, he gives him a three word antidote to their destructive doctrines: "Preach the word" (4:2). As Paul saw it, not only did God's word supply us with all we needed to do good, it was also our source for defeating evil.

Jesus used the Old Testament scripture to defeat Satan at every turn during His temptation (Matt. 4:1-11). There was no supernatural attempt to destroy this enemy, for Jesus understood, and wanted us to understand, that the best, most effective way to defeat Satan was simply to answer his lies with the truth. Even when Satan misused the scriptures himself in order to trick Jesus, the Savior responded forcefully and truthfully and again, from scripture (vv. 5-7). The message is clear: the word of God is sufficient for man to defend himself against his greatest enemy.

Jesus also told us His disciples would be people of the word. "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jn. 8:31-32). When we accept and obey His word, we show ourselves to be His disciples. When we go beyond His word, we prove that we have no part in Him (2 Jn. 9).

Finally, Peter again gives us instruction concerning how we are to behave as Christians. After explaining the need to put away evil from our lives, he says, "Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord" (1 Pet. 2:2-3).

It is the word, and the pure word at that, which provides us with the spiritual nutrition by which we can be saved.

We believe God's word to be all-sufficient, and as such, we see no need to give credence to the pope's recent encyclical. God has provided his word, and we will continue to recognize it, and it alone, as his plan for man's salvation.