Apostles Today & Sola Scriptura - Part 3
Timothy is a model of an apostle who submitted to the authority of the Word of God. Paul is an apostle who taught other apostles their need to submit to the authority of Scripture. Yet, this was not some new idea that Paul came up with for future generations. The supreme authority of Scripture for the apostles pre-dates even Paul's conversion.
After Jesus ascended, the apostles dealt with Judas' defection. 'Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples ... and said, "Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled..."' (Acts 1:15-16). Peter immediately pointed to Scripture! It was on the basis of Scripture that Judas was replaced.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter did the same thing - he based what he was saying on Scripture, not on his own authority as an apostle. From the very beginning, the apostles knew that Scripture was the ultimate authority.
In Acts 6:4 the apostles defined their primary responsibilities: 'we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.' Thus one of the two primary thrusts of apostolic ministry is 'the ministry of the word'. Apostles are not a substitute for Scripture - they are ministers of Scripture. One of their primary responsibilities is to expound and apply the Scriptures; and this can only be done if they are in submission to the authority of Scripture. After all, minister of the Word literally means servant of the Word!
After Jesus ascended, the apostles dealt with Judas' defection. 'Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples ... and said, "Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled..."' (Acts 1:15-16). Peter immediately pointed to Scripture! It was on the basis of Scripture that Judas was replaced.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter did the same thing - he based what he was saying on Scripture, not on his own authority as an apostle. From the very beginning, the apostles knew that Scripture was the ultimate authority.
In Acts 6:4 the apostles defined their primary responsibilities: 'we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.' Thus one of the two primary thrusts of apostolic ministry is 'the ministry of the word'. Apostles are not a substitute for Scripture - they are ministers of Scripture. One of their primary responsibilities is to expound and apply the Scriptures; and this can only be done if they are in submission to the authority of Scripture. After all, minister of the Word literally means servant of the Word!