Taking every thought captive for obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10.5)

Disciplines
Reading Scripture with Our Forebears
Daily Scripture reading and meditation is a foundational discipline of the life of faith. The Word of God is His gift of love to equip us for good works of service in His Name. Daily reading and meditating increases delight in Scripture and love for God, which, in turn, lead to a more earnest and eager pursuit of the knowledge of Christ in His Word.

Two disciplines can help our reading and meditation in God’s Word be more enjoyable and fruitful. Theologians refer to these as the analogy of Scriptureand the analogy of faith. Making use of each of these can greatly improve our understanding of and love for the Word of God.

By the analogy of Scripturewe listen for and submit to the Holy Spirit as He leads us to compare Scripture with Scripture, bringing light from other sections of the Word to bear on and help illuminate whatever we may be studying at present (1 Cor. 2.12, 13). Many Bibles provide helpful cross references, and we can benefit from taking the time to consult these and add them into our meditation on that day’s text. If you read and meditate in Scripture daily, and check cross references or incorporate Scriptures that come to mind as you’re reading, you are practicing the analogy of Scripture.

Many Christians also make use of the analogy of faith, but may not be aware this is what they’re doing. If you use a devotional guide for your daily reading and meditation, you are practicing the analogy of faith. By the analogy of faith we look to other believers, past and present, to share their insights with us, so that we may learn from others as the Spirit is pleased to use them for our instruction. One of the purposes of our Scriptorium columnis to provide an analogy of faith resource to help in your daily reading.

Pastors practice this discipline in their sermon preparation as they consult various commentaries to gain insight to the text they are preparing. We expect pastors to make sure their teaching is in line with orthodox tradition, and so we appreciate the time they take in using the analogy of faith in their preparations.

But all believers can benefit from regular use of the analogy of faith along with the analogy of Scripture, so it’s important to know which resources can be trusted.

One tool I have found especially helpful over the years is the Ancient Christian Commentary series, published by InterVarsity Press. Each volume in the series provides a pastiche commentary on a book of the Bible, using excerpts from pastors and theologians from the first 800 years of Church history. The the individual volumes in the series can be a little pricey, but one or two volumes per year should be within the reach of most serious Bible students.

Very often I find the views of our forebears arresting, illuminating, and even challenging, so much so, that I make a point to copy in a notebook quotes from those excerpts that speak to me and that I will want to review and meditate on over and over.

Reading through that notebook from time to time enables me to bring those thoughts together into sharper focus in ways that remind me of important matters of faith and practice. For example, the following quotes from early-fifth century pastors Cyril of Alexandria (on John 5.44) and John Chrysostom of Constantinople (on Isaiah 14.13) emphasize the importance of doing all things for the glory of God, and not our own:
Cyril: “It is almost always necessarily the case that those who hunt for honors from people fail when it comes to the glory that comes from above and from the only God.”

Chrysostom: “The less we are filled with pride the more we advance in virtue, for this more than anything else is virtue, to hold ourselves in check. Just as the sharper our sight is, the more fully do we realize how far we are from the sky, so the more we advance in virtue, so much more do we learn the difference between God and ourselves. This is no small part of wisdom, to be able to know our own worth; for he knows himself best who accounts himself to be nothing.”

The analogy of Scripture and the analogy of faith are important protocols for improving your understanding of Scripture. Make sure you have tools available to help you make good use of these disciplines.

For reflection
1.  Have you established the daily discipline of reading and meditating in God’s Word? Why is it important that every believer take up this practice?

2.  Give an example of something important you’ve learned by using the analogy of Scripture.

3.  Give an example of something important you’ve learned by using the analogy of faith.

Next steps: Talk with some fellow believers about resources they have found helpful to improve their use of these two important Bible study disciplines.

T. M. Moore

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