Philosophy of Biblical Foundations - Course Paper
2006-10-02
This essay was written as a brief course summary for the Philosophy of Biblical Foundations course.
In the western world, the Word of God is often compartmentalized in various forms such as systematic theologies and alleged source hypotheses. Non-western cultures normally will not respond in saving faith when the Bible is presented this way because the foundation of the Word, the Old Testament, has been divorced from the advent of Jesus Christ. In order to fulfill the mandate of the Great Commission, one must teach the Word of God as it is written, using a foundational teaching method. To explain the necessity of this method, one must define the mandate, what the goal of this mandate is, and how a foundational teaching method will facilitate the goal of this mandate.
The Great Commission, a mandate from the Lord to all believers, is found most clearly in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” The emphasis is on going out into the world, baptizing, and teaching what Jesus commanded. Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; John 20:21; and Acts 1:8 all affirm the Great Commission.
The Great Commission involves the salvation process in both a justification and a sanctification sense. It is a process in order that people trust Christ alone for salvation, but also that they are established firmly in the Faith, pressing on toward the goal of maturity and Christ-likeness. This means that tribal people have been confronted with God’s truth, and have turned from their animistic tendencies unto the living God. This is emphasized in Jesus’ words “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
This transformation from hopeless death to eternal life cannot happen without the proper teaching of the Word. Foundational Bible teaching provides the firm foundation necessary for all of humankind to understand God’s Word. Without Old Testament instruction, the New Testament teaching will be easily confused since the latter prophetically fulfills the former. If we neglect such a foundation, how can we discuss, for example, hamartiology and soteriology, when the first hamartia is not discussed and that sin has separated all of humankind from God? Teaching begins in the very beginning of Genesis, and takes the people throughout the narrative in an extensive seven-phase instruction with the goal to ground the people in God’s Word. The Bible, a single literary unit largely written in narrative, was intentionally written this way by God, and it ought to be taught as a chronological, historical narrative. It was written about God, recording actual events, emphasizing themes about God and humankind’s relationship with Him. Teaching chronologically throughout the Word allows for God’s progressive revelation to be more easily understood in any cultural setting.
In order to fulfill the Lord’s command of the Great Commission, one must teach through the Bible foundationally. This is seen in light of what the command is, what its goal is, and how it is carried out in the foundational teaching. Since the Bible is written as a unit, it needs to be taught chronologically as a unit, just as any book is read from the beginning. Pre-literate societies therefore will understand much more from the Word as it is presented, understanding clearly the concept of sola fide and the exclusiveness of Jesus Christ, and move on toward being like Him both individually and as a local church.
Sources
Franicevich, J. Lectures for the Philosophy of Biblical Foundations course at New Tribes Missionary Training Center, Fall 2006.