Making It Up

 

Making It Up

Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary

Scripture Text: Galatians 3:10 and 2 Timothy 2:14–18

Series: Comments on Galatians

Today's Scripture Jigsaw

Luther found himself dealing with critics who supported their views by proof-texting. They had a dogma they wanted to prove, and went in search of a Bible passage that seemed to support their position. Reading a single verse, or often just a phrase, is not the way to know what Scripture is teaching. 

A lay preacher who once spoke at my church said, “It’s right there in the Bible. I didn’t make this up!” This is similar to what others have said: “God said it; I believe it; and that settles it.” 

Except, sometimes that is not what God said, and in fact, you did make up your interpretation of the passage. This often occurs when we have heard a doctrine that sounds good to us and go in search of Bible verse to support that teaching. Luther dealt with this tendency to proof-text with those who wanted to prove we had to earn God’s favor, as well as those who taught we have to be baptized when of an age to comprehend God’s promise. We must also deal with such things, of course, but with many more teachings, as did Luther. We must take pains to so by rightly handling the Word, so that are not babbling a bout a proof text that upsets people’s faith. 

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