Do The Scriptures Teach By Examples?
Do the scriptures teach by example? Developments in your day have made it imperative that this question be re-studied. The lack of knowledge and conviction with reference to the teaching of example is mainly to blame for the conflicting concepts of evangelism and benevolence which are disturbing the peace and threatening to disrupt the fellowship of the church. This is written with the hope that it may increase knowledge and produce conviction which will correct the bad condition which has been brought about by ignorance and doubt. This hope is entertained only with reference to the good and honest hearts. Those who are wedded to their idols will not be interested in an objective study of the problem.
In this article our main concern is with the question — Do the scriptures teach by example? It is of the utmost urgency that this question be fully, plainly, and scripturally answered, for thus only can conviction be had. Nothing less than firm conviction based on competent and satisfactory evidence will suffice. Ideas or opinions based on personal prejudices or general notoriety are not enough. It is hoped that the evidence collected and presented here will produce conviction on the matter.
Teaching In General
Nature itself teaches us that example is one of the main ways by which teaching is done. Every parent and teacher, in fact, every one who has ever taught a child anything, can attest to the vital place of example in teaching. Before the child can understand verbally expressed instructions, he is taught by example. He mimics the actions which he observes and thus is taught by example. If there was nothing revealed in the scriptures on the subject, human experience would strongly impel one toward the conclusion that God used this universal means of teaching in His revelation. My point in this is that a denial that the scriptures teach by example requires the rejection of the testimony of all human experience relative to the matter. The evidence of human experience cannot be properly rejected except as it might be at variance with divine revelation. When that evidence is confirmed by divine revelation, the conclusion is irresistible.
Evidence From The Scriptures
The design of a thing can be learned by observing the use made of it, providing the use made of it is the proper use. The use which the Holy Spirit has made of examples, in the scriptures, is acknowledged by the God-fearing, as the proper use. Hence, we can learn the design of examples by the use made of them in the scriptures. The four gospels are devoted to the account of what Jesus did and taught. Why the record of all these examples of action? What is the Holy Spirits design in preserving the account of what Jesus did? Certainly, the design must include teaching by example for the Holy Spirit says through the apostle Peter, "For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps." (I Peter 2:21.)
The contents of the books of Acts fully justifies the name attached to it. In this book we have examples of actions of apostles and also of congregations and individuals who were under the personal direction of the Spirit-guided apostles. When one denies that the will of God is reflected through these examples, he is obligated to show the design of this book of examples. No one who respects the Holy Spirit will be willing to assign a casual or incidental design to the book.
Even in the epistles we find numerous models presented. In Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12 we have the action of baptism revealed in the example of these brethren. Through the years we have relied upon these examples of baptism to teach the "babes" the will of God on the action of baptism. Does someone raise the objection that the action of baptism is taught by express command in that the word means inversion? This is granted; but how any "babes" have the knowledge of the Greek language which enables them to know the will of God in this matter? But why not look up the word in an English dictionary? In answer to that, I just suggest that you do just that and see if you can come away with positive conviction of the action of baptism! Is anyone ready to occupy the position that the knowledge of the will of God to man today is available only to those who understand Greek? Such is in direct contradiction to Christ's prayer — "I thank thee, 0 Father Lord of heaven and earth, that thou dids't hide these things from the wise and understanding and didst reveal them unto babes." (Matt. 11:25.) The fact that the revelation of God's will was designed for the understanding of the "babes" of the earth, plus the fact that the knowledge of the action of baptism is available to the "babes" only through the teaching of example, is strong evidence in support of the claim that the scriptures teach by example. The majority of the subjects of our teaching are but "babes" in knowledge of the so-called "Related fields" such as knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, Formal logic, etc. Their understanding the will of God is not dependent upon their knowledge of these subjects. The "wise and understanding" are a minority in the earth's population.
Requirements Expressed In Scriptures
The fact that the scriptures teach by example is shown in the requirements to imitate certain actions. There are a number of instances in which imitation is expressly required, each instance is cumulative evidence in support of the claim that the scriptures teach by example. According to Thayer, the English equivalents of the Greek word are "imitate, mimic." Webster's definition of imitate is "to follow as a pattern, model, or example; to copy, in acts, manners etc." He gives mimic as a synonym and says that "imitate is the general term; mimic implies exact imitation." We imitate (mimic) examples or models but if the scriptures do not teach by example, the passages which require imitation are meaningless. This is very clearly shown in I Corinthians 4:16, 17, "I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church." After charging the brethren at Corinth to be imitators of him, Paul explains the provisions which he had made to make 'it possible for them to obey his charge — he had sent Timothy to put them in remembrance of his ways. This requirement of imitation is repeated in I Corinthians 11:1 "Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ." Here both our duty to imitate and the fact that Paul himself imitated Christ are expressed. From these two passages we also learn that the extent to which we are to follow the example of the apostles is as far as their ways are "in Christ." No action contrary to Christ's expressed requirements are to be imitated.
Ephesians 5:1 requires us to be "imitators of God as beloved children." We imitate God when we follow the example of Christ by walking in love. As the love of God and Christ was manifested in forgiveness, we are to imitate the example by forgiving one another.
The brethren at Thessalonica "became imitators of the apostles and the Lord" by suffering affliction for the Word. (I Thess. 1:6.) They in turn became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia." (I Thess. 1:7.)
Hebrews 6:12 requires us to follow the example of faith and patience set by those who inherit the promise. Abraham set the example (v. 13-15) and this example we are to imitate.
II Thessalonians 3:7-9 is another place where we are required to acknowledge the teaching of example. Here the scriptures require us to imitate the behavior of an apostle. Another passage which sustains the claim that the scriptures teach by example is Hebrews 13:7-9. "Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, yea and forever. Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings..." Apostolic action is to be considered in order to imitate their faith. Their example reflects the faith for all times because "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, yea and forever." Imitating their faith prevents being "carried away by divers and strange teachings." Failure to imitate the example set forth by the apostles in imitating Christ can only result in departure from the faith — being "carried away by divers and strange teachings." Imitation is required by express statement in III John 11. "Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good." In this context Diotrephes has been presented as an example of evil and Demetrius as an example of good. The example of Demetrius is to be imitated, that of Diotrephes is not to be imitated.
Obedience to the command expressed in the word "imitate" requires that example be a way by which the scriptures teach. We are required not only to do that which is expressly commanded by the apostles, but also that which we see revealed in their examples, "The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do; and the God of peace shall be with you." (Phil. 4:9.)
Summing up the evidence which we have considered we have: (1) Evidence from the common experience of man that proves that example is a primary and fundamental way whereby teaching in general is done. (2) It is divinely designed that the scriptures teach by example as proved by the abundant use made of examples in the scriptures by the Holy Spirit. (3) The action imposed by the word "imitate" requires that example be a way by which the scriptures teach. (4) It is expressly required that we do, not only that which we hear from the apostles, but that which we see reflected in their actions. The evidence presented is competent and sufficient; hence, the unprejudiced mind accepts the proposition that, "The scriptures teach by example" as proved.