THE FORMAL PRINCIPLE OF
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
A Study By
Gary Ray
Branscome
"Then said Jesus… If ye continue in my
Word then are ye my disciples indeed"
(John 8:31)
Every theology has a formal principle, and that principle has to do with the
authority behind the theology and thus with the source of the information it
contains. Consequently, the formal principle of a Roman Catholic theology will
include tradition and the authority of that Church in addition to Scripture.
The formal principle of a “liberal” theology will place the mind of man over
the Bible as a judge of what it says. And, the formal principle of various cult
theologies will include any “new revelations” provided by the cult's founder or
leaders. However, because addition to the Word of God always obscures the
gospel, the Evangelical theology of Luther and Tyndale
excludes all other authorities, making Scripture alone its formal principle.
For that reason, a truly Evangelical theology will consist of what the Bible
actually teaches, not reason, not tradition, and not new revelations. Or, to
put it another way, since the doctrine that God has given us consists of what
the words of Scripture actually say (not what we think), the Evangelical
doctrine consists of those truths that are clearly stated in Scripture, “line
upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10).
[John 8:31, 2Peter 1:20, 2Corinthians 1:13, Galatians 1:6-9, Colossians 2:8,
Mark 7:9, Isaiah 8:20, Proverbs 30:6.]
While many churches claim to base their doctrine on
Scripture, there is a difference between “basing” doctrine on Scripture, and
allowing Scripture to speak for itself. When it comes right down to it, most
churches read unscriptural ideas into some passages while explaining away
others. However, because they all claim to be following Scripture, yet are
unable to agree as to what the Bible says, many have concluded that a theology
consisting only of what the Bible teaches is idealistic and impossible to
achieve. Nevertheless, they are wrong!
What they fail to see, is that the root of division does not
lie with the Bible, but with the unscriptural ideas
that are being read into the text. In fact, many who call themselves
“Evangelical” actually follow a formal principle that includes not only
Scripture, but also numerous man-made explanations of Scripture [i.e. Scofield etc.]. However, since the Bible calls such man-made
explanations “tradition,” they are an adding to God’s Word, and those who add
too God’s Word are not true disciples of Christ (John 8:31) — (see Matthew
15:3-6, Mark 7:5-9, Proverbs 30:6).
One difficulty in adhering to Scripture Alone lies in the
fact that the carnal mind continually seeks to dethrone God (by explaining away
some passages of Scripture), while enthroning man in His place (by elevating
man's explanation of God's Word to the status of divine doctrine). Another
difficulty lies in the fact that many Christians think of doctrine as an
explanation of Scripture, or as an abstract of what is said, instead of what is
actually said (2Corinthians 1:13). Consequently, those who study the Bible
often wind up fabricating explanations instead of sticking to what God has
revealed, “Line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah
28:10). Once they have accepted man-made explanations as doctrine, Satan then
leads them to explain away any statements of Scripture that contradict those
explanations, often making them adamant in their defense of false doctrine.
TRUE HUMILITY
Since one key factor in understanding God’s Word is
humility, if we are to receive the doctrine that God has given us in His Word
we must be willing to accept every word of Scripture in childlike faith, simply
because it is the Word of God (Luke 10:21). We are not to teach our own ideas
as doctrine, or contradict what the Bible says. [Revelation
Martin Luther's encounter with the Swiss reformer Ulrich
Zwingli illustrates the kind of humility that I have in mind. In 1529, Luther
and Zwingli met in the German city of
Since Luther was convinced that God wanted him to teach exactly what Christ
said (whether he understood it or not) he believed that if Christ said “Take
eat, this is my body,” we should teach “Take eat, this is Christ’s body.” And,
that is exactly what Zwingli was unwilling to do! Instead, Zwingli openly contradicted
Christ by saying, “It isn’t really Christ’s body, it
just represents His body.” And, by contradicting Christ he was making the words
of Christ "of no effect" (Mark
Those who assume that Luther’s doctrine was an explanation
of Christ’s words, often accuse him of teaching consubstantiation. However,
that is not true. Because the Bible tells us that those who partake of the
Lord's Supper eat bread, not flesh, Luther actually taught that what we are
eating and drinking in the Lord’s Supper is bread and wine, not flesh and blood
(1Corinthians 11:26). In fact, Luther even agreed that the bread and wine were
signs of Christ’s body and blood, and taught that those “signs are added to the
divine promises to represent that which the words signify” (The Babylonian
Captivity of the Church). However, unlike Zwingli, he was not willing to use
that opinion as an excuse to contradict Christ, and that is why I am holding
him up as an example of humble submission to the Word of God.
[NOTE: Christ instituted His Supper as a way of promising those who partake
that His body was “given” and His blood “shed” for them, for the remission of
sins (Luke 22:19-20). However, because it is through faith in Christ that we
have access to what is promised, those who believe that His body and blood were
“given” and “shed” for them truly receive His body and blood, in the sense that
they receive it as the atonement for their sins (2Corinthians 1:20, Galatians
3:22).
Now this treasure is conveyed and communicated to us in no other way than
through the words "given and shed for you for the forgiveness of
sins." In these [words] you receive the double assurance that it is
Christ's body and blood, and that it is yours as your treasure and gift… And
inasmuch as He offers and promises forgiveness of sins, there is no other way
of receiving it than by faith… that which is given in and with the sacrament
cannot be grasped nor appropriated by our body. This is done by faith in the
heart, which discerns this treasure and desires it. (Martin Luther, Large
Catechism)]
THE TESTIMONY OF
THE
While the difference between Luther and Zwingli can be used
to illustrate the formal principle, the fact that the doctrine of the Trinity
rests on Scripture alone is a compelling testimony to the antiquity of that
principle.
In contrast to sectarian doctrine, the doctrine of the
Trinity does not exclude or explain away any passages of Scripture, but instead
accepts each of the truths that God has revealed about Himself, without trying
to make them conform to man’s limited understanding. Furthermore, the doctrine
of the Trinity includes all that the Bible says on that topic, and that is
important because we must take into account all that the Bible says if we are
to be true to God’s Word (Isaiah 28:10).
As we examine specific passages that relate to the doctrine
of the Trinity, we find that some tell us that there is only one God
(Deuteronomy 6:4). Other passages tell us that the Father is God (Romans 15:6),
the Son is God (1Timothy 1:1, Isaiah 9:6), and the Holy Ghost is God (Ephesians
The same holds true for the doctrine of Christ. When we
examine the pertinent passages, we find some that tell us that Christ is God
(Jeremiah 23:5-6), while others call Him the servant of God (Zechariah 3:8,
Matthew
Just as we must accept everything that the Bible says in
regard to God or Christ, we must accept everything that the Bible says on any
topic. For example: To our limited way of thinking the passages that warn us of
the danger of losing our salvation, seem to contradict the ones that assure us
that God will keep us from losing it. However, what needs to be understood is
that the passages that warn us are law, while the passages that assure us of
God’s grace are gospel. The law reveals our need for God's sustaining grace by
warning us of the danger of losing salvation (Luke 8:13), while the gospel
comforts all who trust in Christ by assuring them that God will keep them from
falling (1Peter 1:5). Those who explain away one set of passages are acting
like they think God was too stupid to know what He was doing when He put those
passages in the Bible. However, in reality, they are the ones who are acting
foolishly, for wisdom accepts everything that the Bible says (Proverbs 8:9,
1John 4:6).
SPEAKING ACCORDING
TO GOD'S WORD
Before we can speak in accord with the Word of God, we must
first learn what the Word of God says. And, we can only learn the truths that
God wants us to learn from His Word, when we stop reading our own ideas into
the text. The true doctrine is nothing other than “what you read,” to the
exclusion of all “principles” or explanations not stated in the text
(2Corinthians
“All error in doctrine can be
traced to the refusal of the teacher to continue in the wholesome words of
Christ. This refusal prompted Luther’s constant warning against substituting an
interpretation (gloss) for the Scripture words themselves.” [“Christian Dogmatics”, by Francis Pieper, Vol. 1, pg 323] “The whole
Christian doctrine is revealed in Scripture passages that need no exegesis, but
are an open book alike to the learned and the unlearned and can be so readily
translated that the translator cannot go wrong unless he has made up his mind
to depart from the original.” [ibid, pg 347]
If some passages of Scripture seem unclear to us, that is
because our minds are darkened by sin, not because God has not spoken clearly
(2Corinthians
For example: If we interpret Hebrews 10:35 “Cast not away
therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward,” in the light
of Ephesians 2:8, “By grace are ye saved through faith,” we will conclude that
the word “confidence” is a reference to “faith,” and the word “reward” is a
reference to “salvation.” Furthermore, because that interpretation is
explicitly stated in Ephesians 2:8, we can be certain that it is the Word of
God. For, even if that was not the meaning of Hebrews
Since Satan is prone to attack those areas where our defense
is weak, we are often forced to take a stand on matters that are not clearly
addressed by Scripture. Nevertheless, in taking such a stand we must be careful
not to go beyond the Word of God or contradict what it says. Yet, all too
often, that is exactly what happens. Take, for example, the issue immodest
clothing and skimpy bathing suits. Some churches simply ignore the issue, while
others try to dictate how their members should dress. However, we can avoid
such extremes by simply pointing out what the Bible does say. We might begin by
taking a serious look at what the Bible says about modesty. God clearly does
not want us dressing in ways that are suggestive, or that stir up lust in the
opposite sex. Nor does He want men and women dressing alike. In fact, if women
dress in a way that entices men, they are tempting them with a forbidden fruit,
and that is clearly not the will of God. Having taught what the Bible says, a
congregation should then leave its members to their own responsibility. Unless
there is a clear transgression of God’s law, matters of dress are generally
matters on which the older women should counsel the younger, not matters that
require church discipline (1Corinthians 5:1-5, Titus 2:4-5). In dealing with
such issues, we need to remember that we are not under the law, and that a
repentant heart is more important than outward compliance to a set of rules.
Another issue not specifically addressed in Scripture has to
do with the origin of souls. While today it is usually understood that the soul
and body come into existence as a unit, in the past there were some who
believed that each soul was created apart from the body, either on the sixth
day, at the time of conception, or at the time of birth. However, even though
the Bible does not specifically address this issue it is not a neutral issue,
for those ideas conflict with what the Bible does say. For example: The idea
that God creates each soul separate from the body ends up portraying God as
corrupter of souls, for it portrays Him as the one who places those souls into
sinful bodies, and into homes where they will be taught worship idols etc.
Furthermore, the idea that each soul is created at birth is used to justify
abortion. Therefore, while the Bible does not specifically address this issue,
the fact that it nowhere says that the soul has a separate origin from the body
is reason enough to reject the idea that it does. We are not to add too the
Word of God, and that Word simply speaks of body and soul coming into existence
as a unit, both being the product of procreation (Psalm 51:5).
A third issue that is not specifically addressed by
Scripture is the matter of infant salvation. While some passages seem to imply
that the infant children of believers are saved, other passages make it clear
that the infant children of unbelievers are not saved (Luke
A congregation that makes “Scripture Alone” its formal principle will be
uncompromising in its commitment to morality. Uncompromising,
not because they are stubborn or judgmental, but because they cannot change
what the Bible says. The Bible makes it clear that God intended for
marriage to be a lifelong union of one man to one woman, while clearly
condemning fornication. In fact, chastity prior to marriage is one thing that
should set believers apart from the world (1Thessalonians 4:3). On the other
hand, a church that goes strictly by what the Bible says,
will not require celibacy or dictate how its members should dress, but will
present the law in a way that is in full accord with the fact that we are
justified by faith, not works, and with the freedom that is ours in Christ.
The doctrine of the unity of Scripture tells us that because all Scripture is
inspired by God, it only contains one theology (2Peter 1:21, 2Timothy 3:16).
Therefore, any attempt to interpret Scripture to teach contradictory ideas,
theologies, or accounts of creation must be rejected. [Isaiah 8:20, Romans 3:4]
The doctrine of the authority of Scripture tells us that we are to reject any
thoughts or ideas that are not in accord with what the Bible says (2Corinthians
10:5, Isaiah 8:20). Therefore, any doctrine, conclusion, or interpretation that
contradicts what the Bible explicitly says, must be rejected (Romans 3:4 and
12:2). [Luke 24:25, 1Corinthians
The doctrine of the clarity of Scripture tells us that the
meaning God wants us to get from His word is not hidden or mysterious, but
instead is the plain meaning of the words (2Corinthians
The doctrine of the purpose of Scripture tells us that God
brought the Bible into existence to testify of Christ, and therefore, it ought
to be interpreted in the light of that testimony (John 5:39, Acts 10:43, John
20:31). [Luke 24:27, 1John
DEVELOPING A
BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW
In order to bring our theology into accord with the Word of
God we must begin by bringing our thinking into accord with the Word of God
(Romans 12:2). And, as I have pointed out, we start by learning those truths so
clearly stated in Scripture that there is no debate as to the fact that they
are in the Bible. I am not saying that everyone will accept them, just that no
one will be able to dispute the fact that they are in the Bible. For example:
While there are many who reject what the Bible says about a six-day creation,
no one can deny the fact that the Bible says, “For in six days the Lord made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is” (Exodus 20:11). Likewise,
no one can deny the fact that the words “evening” and “morning” are used in
connection with each one of the creation days (Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31).
Those truths are beyond dispute because they can be verified by anyone willing
to look up the references. And, because that is what the Bible says, that is
what God wants us to teach. If our theology is to be founded on fact, rather
than on the shifting sands of human opinion, every doctrine must rest on what
is certain.
Furthermore, because God has revealed Himself in history, as you learn the
doctrinal truths that are explicitly stated in Scripture, you will find that
they all relate to Bible history, and specifically to seven key events of that
history. Those events are the creation and fall of man, and the birth, death,
resurrection, ascension, and return of Christ. Because each of those events has
a spiritual significance for every one of us, they are central to Bible
doctrine.
CREATION
Words such as, “We are the clay, and thou our potter,” and “Hath not the potter
power over the clay?” reveal the spiritual significance of creation in regard
to our relationship to God (Isaiah 64:8, Romans 9:21). The words, “I suffer not
a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
For Adam was first formed, then Eve,” tell us the significance of creation in
regard to the roles of men and women (1Timothy
However, the fact that God created the first man and woman in His “own image,”
makes it clear that God is not responsible for sin, and that He is fully
justified in condemning our sins (Genesis
THE FALL
The spiritual significance of Adam’s fall
into sin is revealed by such words as, “There is none righteous, no, not one,
// The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, // By one
man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all
men, for that all have sinned,” and we are “By nature the children of wrath”
(Romans 3:10 and 5:12, Jeremiah 17:9, Ephesians 2:3). Furthermore, just as
these passages relate to the fall because they reveal our fallen nature and
need of a Savior, the entire law of God relates to the fall, because it too
reveals our fallen nature and need of a Savior. [Romans, chapter five, contains a number of verses that deal with the spiritual
significance of the fall.]
THE
VIRGIN BIRTH
The fact that Christ is called, “The mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6), “The Son of God”
(Luke
[NOTE: In regard to His birth, we are also told that He is, “From everlasting”
(Micah 5:2), that He existed, “From the beginning” (Isaiah 48:16), and that,
“All things were made by Him” (John 1:3,14).]
CHRIST’S
DEATH ON THE CROSS
The Bible reveals the spiritual significance of Christ’s death when it tells us
that He was, “Wounded for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5), “Offered to bear”
our sins (Hebrews 9:8), and, “Died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3). It goes
on to tell us that we are cleansed, “From all sin”, “justified”, and, “Made
righteous”, “By His blood” (1 John 1:7, Romans 5:9&19). Moreover, the fact
that His death is described as a “sacrifice,” an “atonement,” a “propitiation,”
and a “redemption” further reveals the meaning of His death, while telling us
what that death accomplished in regard to our own salvation (Hebrews 9:26,
Romans 5:11, 1John 2:2 and 4:10, Colossians 1:14).
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD
Words such as, “If Christ, be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in
your sins,” or “Who was… raised again for our justification,” reveal the
spiritual significance of Christ’s resurrection, (1Corinthians
CHRIST’S ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN
The spiritual significance of Christ’s ascension into heaven consists of three
things. First, it is only because Christ ascended into heaven that the Holy
Spirit was sent into the world (John 16:7-13). Second, since Christ sits at the
right hand of God, He is our “advocate with the Father,” and as our advocate
[lawyer] makes “intercession for us” (1John 2:1, Romans
CHRIST’S RETURN
The spiritual significance of Christ’s return is revealed in the fact that all
men will be judged “according to their works” (Revelation
In regard to the day of Judgement, the Bible tells us
that Christ will judge both the, “living and the dead” (2Timothy 4:1), both
believers and unbelievers (Matthew 25:31), on the day of “His appearing”
(2Timothy 4:1). We are also told that judgement shall
take place on “the last day” (John
I began this section by explaining that we must first learn those truths that
are sure and certain before we can bring our thinking into accord with them. I
then attempted to illustrate how Bible history provides us with a framework for
understanding its doctrinal truths. Once we have learned those doctrinal
truths, “line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little,” we
are then able to straighten out our own thinking by judging and rejecting all
of the wrong thoughts that creep into our mind (1Corinthians
While false prophets always pass their own opinions and interpretations off as
the Word of God, those who are truly Christ's disciples limit their teaching to
those doctrines explicitly set forth in Scripture (John 8:31).
CONCLUSION
Scripture alone, is, and always must be, the formal
principle of Evangelical theology, for it is only as we eliminate the human
element from our theology, bringing our thoughts into accord with the Word of
God, that the truth of the gospel shines forth unobscured
by human error.
Moreover, it should be self-evident that God wants us to
teach the doctrines that He has given us to teach, not our own opinions or
doctrines devised by men. And we can never hope to teach what He wants us to
teach, until we learn what His Word actually says, while bringing our own
thinking into accord with it. Therefore, in order to eliminate error from our
doctrine we must first eliminate the human element. We must judge our own work
and purge our doctrine of all assumptions, conclusions, deductions, and man-made
explanations that are so easily read into the Word of Truth (1Corinthians
“SCRIPTURE ALONE”