Phil Johnson has an excellent post today. You really ought to read it. He refutes the accusation hurled at him that because he quotes Spurgeon, is loyal to John MacArthur, and likes John Calvin, that he is not supporting the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. It's really a great post.
This brought back to my mind a time when I taught a ladies bible study with my friend. We taught bible studies that were put out by Precept Ministries. Now, let me say that I have the utmost respect for Kay Arthur. Learning to study the bible through her teaching revolutionized my life; not because the methods were designed by Kay Arthur, but because these studies forced me to read the bible very closely and with a mind to understanding the truths. One of the phrases we liked to use with out students was that we were "studying the truth for ourselves." We were encouraged not to use commentaries until we had studied the passages on our own; good advice, I think.
However, as time went on, I began to develop a bit of arrogance for commentaries. What use did I have for commentaries when I was studying the truth for myself? I had the Holy Spirit; what need did I have for the words of mere men? Well, obviously, my snobbery and pride would turn around and bite me in the end, because my attitude changed. Actually, I stopped teaching that bible study because I didn't have time anymore. But it was a good thing for me, because it co-incided with a time in our homeschool life when we were studying Church History. I became acquainted with all those great men, Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Wycliffe, and interest in those spurred an interest in other, more recent, great men (and some women, too) of the faith. So, I began buying a commentary here and there, and I began drawing on the commentaries available on-line. It was another revolutionary thing to my thinking, because it demonstrated to me that while God does indeed teach us through the Holy Spirit, that spirit is not limited to me. I can benefit from the spirit-led teaching of others. After all, I do sit and allow myself to be taught by my pastor week by week, right?
Anyway. This was a last minute post, and I really should be doing something else at the moment, but I really liked that post.
