God’s Will in His Rules – As it is Written
(i) Scripture & Human Culture, History & Linguistics?
Shouldn’t we give consideration to human culture, linguistics and history as our scholars have done when interpreting the Word of God?
Yes, it is allowed as long as it does “not” go against ‘what is written’.
God is “no” respecter of human culture, history or linguistics.
He speaks “as it is written” in His Word because there is “no” partiality in His Word toward a particular people type & their own creation of culture, their opinions, their linguistic meaning invented by their geniuses or even by their history which records their own acts & words whilst they lived outside or against the ‘Will of God’.
Only considerations from culture, linguistics & history which are in accordance to the ‘Will of God’ as Revealed in Holy Scripture may be acceptable in ‘sound exegesis’.
(e.g. His Law for Gentiles is for the Gentiles, His Law for the Jews is for the Jews, His Law for male female distinctions on earth is thus as well, Example Scriptures: Acts 15, Acts 21:24 – 25, 1 Corinthians 14:34, 1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Corinthians 1:10 – 11, Corinthians 14:37)
(ii) What if we don’t agree and want to fight it?
If anyone ones to fight (be “contentious” against God’s Laws), this is what Scripture says (we have “no” other practice, meaning that it cannot be done in any other way):
“But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.” (1 Corinthians 11:16)
(iii) What if we want to ignore those verses as our scholars say it is ok to do so?
When they ‘ignore’ God’s Commands to apostle Paul to the Gentile churches (1 Corinthians 14:37), they too will be “ignored by God” (sounds similar to the ‘Lawlessness’ Rejection in some way as found in Matthew 7:21 – 23):
“But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.” – apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 14:38)
Remember, we will be judged according to the Gospel delivered to apostle Paul:
“on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.” (Romans 2:16)
(iv) That is Paul’s opinion; I am sure Lord Jesus would see it differently, right?
Please note that “many” will be ‘rejected’ to the ‘age’ due to various reasons being against “God’s Laws” as Revealed in ‘Holy Scripture only’ (i.e. they practice “Lawlessness” which is against the Will of God):
“Not everyone saying to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of My Father in the heavens.
Many will say to Me in that the day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
And then I will declare unto them, ‘I never knew you; depart you from Me, those working lawlessness.’” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:21 -23)
*Please note that 1 Corinthians 14:37 clearly mentions that it is “Lord Jesus Christ’s Commands” which apostle Paul wrote and thus being the Blessed “Lord’s Commands” it applies to all people type it is addressed to (e.g. Jew vs Gentile, Male vs Female accordingly) impartially and is NOT subject to any human culture, human history & human linguistics against the Will of God as His Law or Command requires as seen in those verses.
(v) What if we didn’t know? Not everyone had Scripture or apostle Paul’s letters right?
A Wrong is wrong whether it is “knowingly” (choosing to disobey His Will as revealed by Laws in Scripture too) done against God’s Laws or “unknowingly” (‘not knowing the Gospel) but still done against God’s Laws as it is written (we are punished for the ‘wrong done’):
“in a fire of flame, inflicting vengeance on those not knowing God and on those not obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus,” (2 Thessalonians 1:8)
Many Beatings (in Hell) for “knowingly” transgressing:
“Now that servant, the one having known the will of his master, and not having prepared nor having done according to his will, will be beaten with many blows.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 12:47)
Few Beatings (in Hell) for “unknowingly” transgressing:
“But the one not having known, but having done things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few. And everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from him to whom much has been committed, more will they ask of him” – Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 12:48)
(vi) We can’t take Scripture literally right? For example, the verse about gorging out our eyes or cutting off of our hands?
Gorging of your eyes and cutting off of your hand is not commanded but is mentioned to be “a better option” than being cast into Hell (Gehenna) in “comparison” which is true “as it is written”:
“If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:29, NASB)
Plus there is no figurative language but a factual one in 1 Corinthians 14:34. Such Scriptures are Factual ones and are not to be confused with the ones using parabolic terms, figures of speech, signs or other literary styles.
“let the women be silent in the churches. For it is not allowed to them to speak, but to be in submission, as the Law also says.” (1 Corinthians 14:34)
Figurative and parabolic Scripture are distinct from factual ones. It’s sad that you can’t see a distinction between each.
Also, God’s Rule is not based on man made culture and it applies to all believers (whoever they are) within a covenant. 1 Corinthians 14:37 clearly implies this through Apostle Paul’s writings as ‘it is written’:
“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.” (1 Corinthians 14:37)
(vii) Do these Rules apply to all churches?
Yes, in fact it is written that “no” other practice is held in other “churches of God” = ‘all churches’ (1 Corinthians 11:16) and that we should speak the “same” thing even with regards to these rules as we must too in doctrine ( 1 Corinthians 1:10) and the only way to do it is to take apostle Paul’s writings ‘as it is written’ because we know that apostle Paul is endorsed by God to reveal these.
As ‘it is written’ only applies when it refers to ‘correctly translated Scripture literally first’. The scholars will be held accountable for that.
Regarding these New Testament laws and conducts which God revealed through apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 14:37), it is the “same” in other churches too at that time.
God also revealed through His Prophets elsewhere and “not” only to the Corinthian church.
Here is that proof verse and though we may not understand how God did it, it must be through His Holy Spirit teaching the “same” thing directly to all “churches” of God ‘as it is written’:
“But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.” (1 Corinthians 11:16)
It is the “same” within the New Covenant for ‘all believers’ because God speaks only the ‘same’ thing as He spoke to the ‘apostle of the Gentiles, apostle Paul Himself’ for this age:
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)
(viii) But these opposing these verses did great sacrifices and ministries for God, didn’t they?
Obedience is far greater than ‘any sacrifice’:
“Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22)
Please don’t be deceived otherwise disillusioned by mere ‘human ideas’ (not verses) serving “human ambitions of pride contrary to God’s Word”. We are not ashamed of the Gospel as it is delivered in full details to apostle Paul (Romans 1:16, Romans 2:16, Galatians 1:11 – 12).
