It is time to get the words from the article that provoked this series of articles. We need to see the author’s own words, so those who read this series of articles, will see that we are handling his words in honesty! It is never the intent of this writer to deal with any article written by another, in any way but with honesty!
In this series of articles, we have, first, proven that no one can love God and not love righteousness! Righteousness is in the breathed-out words of God. Here is what Paul wrote: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). Notice with me, the words: “inspiration of God” which is translated from the Greek word “theopneustos.” This Greek word means: “divinely breathed in” (Strong). It is most often said that the Greek word, “theopneustos”,” means “divinely breathed out.” There is no problem as it may be expressed either way; as “divinely breathed in,” is viewing it as God breathing the word into the mind of the one who is to speak or write; while “divinely breathed out” is seeing the word coming out of the mind of God. The point being, that “all scripture,” both the Old and the New Testaments, come to the mind of man from the mind of God! Peter put it this way: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20-21). Here let us notice the words that are so often misunderstood. The words are these? First, the word “private,” which is the Greek “idios” and means: “pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self.” Second, the word “interpretation” which is the Greek, “epilusis,” means: “a loosening, unloosing.” This verse teaches that the “loosening” of the “prophecy” was not done from the mind or the tongue of man, but men “in old time” wrote and spoke as “they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Second, notice the little word “for” the first word in verse 21. It is the Greek “gar,” which may be the most unnoticed word in the inspired scripture! This little word is: “A primary particle; properly assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation …” (Thayer). In other words, the word “for” is “assigning a reason” to what has just been written. So, what had just been written? Peter had just written: “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation;” and the reason this is true, is that “prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” In short, the prophecy did not come from man but was given “to holy men of God,” who “spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit!” This is not a passage that teaches, that we (humans) have no divine right to interpret the meaning of the inspired scripture. If so, I just committed sin, but I did not do so! This passage is teaching that “holy men of God” “spake (the prophecy) as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” and it was not their own interpretation! They were not “loosing” from their own minds but the “loosing” was done “by the Holy Spirit!”
Get this please, it is impossible to love God and not love righteousness! Rightness is within the word righteousness, therefore to teach that we have “too much rightness,” is to teach that we have “too much God!” Here is our first quote from the article that we are using from which we get the term, “rightness:” “Right doctrine that leads to right actions is critically important, BUT (capital, added, the word “but” generally negates what was just written. frw) if we’ve come to the place that our RIGHTNESS (capital, added, frw) outranks Jesus in terms of where we direct our attention (and I believe we have), we have a problem.” If you study the history of the churches of Christ in America, then, you have heard words like this several times! Why it is that some believe you can have Jesus outside his teaching (doctrine) I have no idea! Think on this, can Jesus be located outside “the teaching of Christ?”
Frank R. Williams