Sola Scriptura as the principle approach to the Sword of the Spirit raises a question of interpretation. Even if we agree that the Scriptures are the only absolute, infallible, authoritative guide for Christian life, love, and worship, how do we decide who gets to interpret the Scripture? How do we know what interpretations are true or not true? Is it merely a matter of persuasion or consensus? While Sola Scriptura is critical, it seems to raise, in some ways, more questions than answers with regard to practical Christian living.

               There have been, after all, schisms within the Church more broadly over the years and significant debate over the meanings of Scripture that need to be addressed. The importance of Sola Scriptura doesn’t go away in this case, but rather is amplified. We must recognize that Scripture is the truth of God and that there is only one true interpretation of scripture. By agreeing that there is only one interpretation, now we can begin to search, together, as a body of believers. If, instead we accept myriad interpretation, we actually undermine the Word itself because we submit to our perspective on it, rather than to the Word itself – and ultimately to God.

               The fundamental stance of Tota Scriptura – meaning the totality of Scripture – is the stance taken that recognizes two important things. First: Scripture is the authoritative interpreter of Scripture. Second: The whole council of Scripture must be taken into account, understanding its context, purposes, and narrative arcs, in order to rightly interpret what God says through Scripture about Scripture. The methodology used by New Testament authors exemplifies the usage of Scripture to interpret Scripture as well as to interpret world events and mediate disputes within the various Churches. A couple quick examples will illustrate. In Romans 1:17 Paul references Habakkuk 2:4 as the basis for his argument about the nature of righteousness and faith saying, “…as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” When Paul expresses the depravity of man in Romans 3, he does so by appealing to a compilation of Old Testament Scriptures (including Psalm 14:1-3; 5:9; 36:1; 140:3; 10:7; Proverbs 1:16; and Isaiah 59:7-8) beginning with the phrase in verse 10, “as it is written…” When Paul establishes the historical basis for the Gospel inclusion of the gentiles he quotes Genesis 12:3, “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed’” (Galatians 3:8).  And to use Paul’s letters as an example of proper methodology is itself usage of the principle that Scripture interprets Scripture, because the method used by the Apostles who wrote Scripture ought to be used as the method we use to interpret the same.

               Now a good friend of mine brought up that this might be seen as tautological, to say that Scripture is true and we define its truth by itself. The apparent tautology is removed, however, when we remember that Scripture’s authority is not purely from itself, but, as we have said before, is derived from its ultimate author – God. Since its author, the Holy Spirit, deigned to include within the text methods and approaches for its own understanding, we commit no tautology by submitting to the express guidance and intention of the Heavenly Author. Worse, if we attempt to judge the Scripture by any standard other than its own content we create something far worse than a possible tautology –  we generate a pure logical contradiction (and by extension call God a liar who claims the truth of His own Word). If Scripture is true at every point, the infallible authoritative Word of the Living God, then we must recognize it as authoritative in reflecting on itself as well as everything else. If we submit Scripture to any other authority than itself, we practically undermine the authority it possesses. It is no longer the authority, we are. By extension, God who gave the orders, is undermined in His authority as we submit His Word to our meager pretensions. This is a trap that has snared many a man and many a church body, and one that needs to be guarded against by the Grace of God through the renewing of our minds in the Word under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit.

               The only guaranteed manner in which we can be sure that it is the Holy Spirit that speaks to us about Scripture is in the use of the Scripture that He has already given. This stance of tota scriptura then requires immense study in order to ascertain the whole arc of Scripture. That study includes understanding genre, purpose, style, and cross-referencing passages from every portion of Scripture to comprehend complex topics and overarching themes. While there are trepidations that this type of study could lead to inflated intellect and self-importance – as it did for the Pharisees of Jesus’ age – a real, humble, submissive approach to Scripture is the surest defense against intellectual aggrandizement. The more you learn truly of the Word of God, the more you learn just how deep and vast it is and how little you are capable in yourself to comprehend and apply its truths. The deeper we delve into His Word, the more impossible pride becomes, when we do so with the humble submission that it is true, regardless of our feelings, our perspectives or our meager understandings. This humility is further expanded in thoughtful, critical conversation with fellow believers who are themselves digging into Holy Scripture, practicing with the Sword of the Spirit and becoming more skilled in its usage for life, love, and worship.

               Another guard against the pride that can come from intellectual study is the tempering of that study with prayer, fasting, and purpose. Prayer and fasting are simple enough to understand, though we may talk about them more in later posts, but I will address purpose right now. The purpose of one’s study of the Word must be guided by a simple but critical principle – Soli Deo Gloria. The purpose of our study, as of all human activity, is not self-knowledge or even God knowledge, but rather to glorify God alone above all. It is to magnify His Name above every name, to elevate Him, worship Him, honor Him. John gives us the words of Christ that provide the source for this point beautifully as he addresses the Pharisees in John 5:39-40 saying, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” The testimony of Scripture is the testimony of Christ. He is always the topic. If we study with His glory ever in mind, then we will not study for mere knowledge, but for the wisdom to apply the Word in order to bring Glory to the only true and Living God through Christ Jesus.

               This then is the Second Fundamental Stance of Christian Swordsmanship, that the whole counsel of the Word of God must be consulted and trusted to interpret its own truth to the Glory of the only Living God who is forever and ever.