by Bud Lambert
In his treatise, How To Probe The Mind of God, Bill Lambert makes the following statement. "The message drawn from the Bible is God's word only when a sound method of study that integrates essential principles of interpretation is followed."
One long standing interpretation principle of the restoration movement is "Speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where it is silent." John writes: "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" ( Revelation 22:18-19). Paul warns: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto,you, let him be accur�ed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
accursed" ( Galatians 1:6-9).
One way to dishonor the silence of the Scripture is to place our cultural and religious traditions on the same level the inspired word. Jesus addressed this problem with the scribes and Pharisees ( Matthew 15:19). His ruling on this matter is clear: "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" ( Matthew 19:9).
Another way to dishonor the silence. of the Scripture is to make an optional choice a binding rule. For example, Jesus told his disciples to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel" ( Mark 16:15). Notice that he is silent about how to go. Since he provided no limiting element in the command, we have the freedom option to choose from any mode of travel that is expedient. To make a requirement that one must walk, ride a donkey, ete: would be to bind where God has not bound and dishonor the silence of the Scripture.
The message we draw from the Bible is God's word only when we employ a sound method. of study that integrates. essen:tial principles of interpretation. One God-given principle of interpretation we must hold is to keep silent where the Bible is silent.