Do Calvinism And Systematic Theology Go Beyond Scripture?
Q: Does 1 Corinthians 4:6 forbid going beyond Scripture, and does that critique Calvinism or systematic theology? This verse says not to even think beyond what is written. If so, would you say Calvinism violates this command? Do systematic theologians violate this command from God, sidestepping what God wants and doing their own thing, in a sense, making stuff up as they go, over-spiritualizing, rationalizing, or over-valuing the logical conclusions of men by calling these conclusions God’s word, instead of theories that may or may not be true?
1 Corinthians 4:6 – Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
A: We need to understand the difference between what the Bible says and what we say about what the Bible says. What God says is inspired. What we say about what God says is only inspired in so far as it correlates with what God has actually said. exactly. We really have to keep this in mind. This can be a factor in anybody’s theology; it’s not confined to any one theological system. We each need to discipline ourselves and constantly return to what the Bible says.
Now, do some people in the Calvinist or Reformed camp do that? I’m sure that they do sometimes. I don’t think it’s inherently wrong to go beyond what the Bible says in something or to speculate to some degree. However, you need to be very clear with yourself and with those whom you’re teaching that that’s what you’re doing. Be clear when you are sharing your own opinion and let your listeners know that they are free to take or not take the same position.
When I’m preaching directly from the words of Scripture, I don’t come to it with the attitude saying, “Hey, you can believe this or not, whatever.” No way! I come to that passage and inform my hearers, “This is God’s word, and you’d better believe it. This is the truth.” But when I’m talking about things that are more speculative in nature and that aren’t directly the Word of God, then I would say, “This is my take on it. Other people are going to disagree with me on this. Sort through it and decide for yourself.”