The Christian Foundation

"You know," they tell me, "the Bible disagrees with you about the Bible being the authority."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes! Look at 1 Timothy 3."

If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth." (1 Tim 3:15)

Game, set, match. The Bible disagrees that the Bible is the primary authority in the Christian faith and practice. We can all go home now.

But wait! Are we claiming that the Bible teaches that the church of the living God is the final authority in matters of faith and practice? Well, of course, the Roman Catholics are (or something like it), but what about the rest of us? (Truth is, none of those who argue against sola scriptura will argue that the Church is the sole authority in matters of faith and practice ... even though that Scripture seems to say so.) I mean, if we're going to see the Bible as authoritative (even if not the final authority), don't we have to agree with the Catholics? Well, no, not if we're biblical.

Why? Well, consider Paul's words to the church at Ephesus.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone." (Eph 2:19-20)

There's that "household of God" thing again. So, starting with agreement that "the household of God which is the church of the living God" is in view as "the pillar and buttress of the truth", to what is Paul referring? Paul says that the foundation of the church is "the apostles and prophets" with "Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone." So the "household of God" that Paul references in his letter to Timothy is "the church" and the church is not founded in thin air. It is set true by the cornerstone, Christ, and founded on the apostles and prophets ... which we have in Scripture. So the foundation of the church which has authority is Christ and the Scriptures. Thus, the ultimate authority -- the bedrock of Christianity -- is Christ and the Scriptures.

Oh, didn't see that coming.