Sarah Mitchell
Do not go beyond what is written is a phrase from the Bible, 1 Corinthians 4:6. In the first century AD, the Corinthian church faced issues like factional divisions and favouritism. Some believers were following certain leaders (such as Paul or Apollos) instead of Christ alone. In response, Paul stated that he wanted them to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The phrase do not go beyond what is written is interpreted as a call to focus on Jesus and His Word above all else, trusting that the Bible contains all the answers and truths needed to live a holy life. However, some argue that this interpretation contradicts Paul's support for sacred traditions and instructions to follow oral traditions in his letters to the Thessalonians.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Interpretation | Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 4:6 are interpreted in various ways |
| Sola scriptura | The Bible alone is not the only source of authority for Catholics |
| Scripture | Scripture is sufficient and true, and should not be tampered with |
| Pride | Believers should not be proud or boastful, and should not elevate human teachers above Scripture |
| Judgment | Believers should not speculate about how people will be judged |
| Faction | Paul's words were a response to factional divisions in the Corinthian church |
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What You'll Learn
Paul's message to the Corinthians
In 1 Corinthians 4:6, Paul writes, "I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written". Paul's message to the Corinthians is a warning against speculation and a call to focus on Jesus and his teachings.
In the first century AD, the Corinthian church faced various issues, including factional divisions and favouritism. Some members of the church wanted to follow certain leaders, such as Paul or Apollos, instead of Christ alone (1 Corinthians 1:12). Paul challenged this mindset, expressing his desire for them to know nothing "except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). He admonished the Corinthians against speculating about divine judgment, referring to the Book of Life (1 Corinthians 4:1-5).
Paul's message emphasizes the sufficiency and truth of Scripture. He wanted his readers to understand that the words of Scripture are more important than the personalities or charisma of their teachers. By saying, "do not go beyond what is written," Paul was not advocating sola scriptura, which is the belief that only the Bible is authoritative. Instead, he was reminding the Corinthians that the Bible contains all the answers and truths needed to live a holy life (2 Peter 1:3).
Paul's letter to the Corinthians also addresses the folly of human wisdom. He speaks of the world's wisdom, which exalts human competency and cleverness, and contrasts it with the wisdom of God, which the world considers foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:22-23, 12:22-25). Paul himself lacked worldly impressiveness, but this unlocked the power of the Spirit in his ministry (1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 4:1-7).
Additionally, Paul writes about the body of Christ, describing the church as a unified whole, with each member having a significant role to play, regardless of their gifts or location (1 Corinthians 12-14). He reminds the Corinthians that they are part of a larger history, stretching back to the first man, Adam, and forward to the future return of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:21-24).
In summary, Paul's message to the Corinthians is a call to focus on Christ and his teachings, to respect the authority of Scripture, and to recognize the folly of worldly wisdom. He addresses the issues within the Corinthian church and provides guidance on speaking in tongues, the role of women in the church, and the importance of unity and harmony within the body of Christ.
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The Bible as the ultimate authority
In the first century AD, the Corinthian church was rife with factional divisions and favouritism. Some members of the church only wanted to follow certain leaders, such as Paul or Apollos, instead of Christ alone. This led to sectarianism, with some believers conducting themselves in a way that went beyond what was appropriate for followers of Jesus.
In 1 Corinthians 4:6, Paul addresses this issue:
> "I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written."
By this, Paul means that the words and teachings of Scripture are ultimately sufficient and true. He wants his followers to focus on Jesus and His Word above all else, trusting that the Bible contains all the answers and truths needed to live a holy and pleasing life before God.
Paul is not advocating for the rejection of all authority outside of Scripture. Instead, he is warning against the dangers of elevating human teachers and leaders above the Word of God, and against the sectarianism and factionalism that can result.
The Bible must be the final and ultimate authority for believers, taking precedence over the latest book, the newest cultural trend, or the most popular Christian speaker. Believers should strive to know, study, and memorise the Bible, seeking to live out its teachings in their daily lives.
However, it is important to note that Paul is not rejecting extra-biblical traditions or teachings. In his letters to the Thessalonians, for example, he instructs them to "stand firm and hold to the traditions" taught to them (2 Thessalonians 2:15). The key is to ensure that any extra-biblical traditions or teachings do not contradict or supersede the authority of Scripture.
In conclusion, when Paul says "do not go beyond what is written," he is emphasising the sufficiency and authority of Scripture, while also warning against the dangers of elevating human teachers and leaders above the Word of God. Believers are called to submit to the authority of Scripture, seeking to live in accordance with its teachings and not adding to or taking away from its inspired words.
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The folly of relying on manmade words
In 1 Corinthians 4:6, Paul writes, "I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favour of one against another". In this passage, Paul is encouraging his readers to focus on Jesus and the Word of God above all else. He is urging them to trust that the Bible contains all the answers and truths they need to live a holy and pleasing life before God.
Paul is cautioning his readers against elevating human teachers and leaders above God's word. In the first century AD, the Corinthian church was plagued by factional divisions and favouritism. Some believers only wanted to follow certain leaders, such as Paul or Apollos, instead of Christ alone. Paul challenges this mindset, stating his desire among them was to know nothing "except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). He emphasises that truth is not dependent on the personality or charisma of those who teach, but on the teachings of Scripture, which are sufficient and true.
The interpretation of 1 Corinthians 4:6 as a rejection of sola scriptura is supported by several arguments. Firstly, Paul frequently quotes the Old Testament and adds commands "from the Lord", indicating that he values sacred traditions and oral teachings. Secondly, in his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul instructs his readers to "stand firm and hold to the traditions" taught to them, demonstrating that he does not reject all sources of authority beyond the written Word of God. Finally, the context of 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 is divine judgment, suggesting that Paul is admonishing the Corinthians against speculating about how people will be judged, rather than advocating for sola scriptura.
In conclusion, the folly of relying on man-made words is that they can distract from the truth and sufficiency of God's Word. By focusing on human teachers and leaders, believers risk elevating man-made words above the Scriptures, which should be considered sacred and not tampered with. While the Bible may not address every specific situation or question, it provides the ultimate authority for believers and should be the foundation for their faith and life.
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The sufficiency of God's word
In 1 Corinthians 4:6, Paul writes, "I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favour of one against another." This is often interpreted as a call to focus on Jesus and His Word above all else, trusting that the Bible contains all the answers and truths needed to live a holy and pleasing life before God. In other words, God's word is sufficient, and we should not invent more of it.
Paul was addressing the Corinthian church, which in the first century AD was plagued by factional divisions and favouritism. Some in the church only wanted to follow certain leaders (such as Paul or Apollos) rather than Christ alone. As a result of their sectarianism, some believers conducted themselves in a way that "went beyond" what was appropriate as followers of Jesus. Paul challenged this mindset, stating his desire among them was to know nothing "except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2).
By saying, "Do not go beyond what is written," Paul wanted his readers to understand that the words and teachings of Scripture are ultimately sufficient and true. Truth is not dependent on the personality or charisma of those who teach. Believers should strive to know and trust the Bible as God's Word, without adding to or subtracting from it (Revelation 22:18–19).
However, some argue that Paul's instruction not to go beyond what is written is in tension with his statements about the value of sacred traditions. For example, in 1 Corinthians 11:2, he commends the Corinthians for following traditions, and in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, he instructs believers to "stand firm and hold to the traditions" taught to them. This suggests that Paul did not intend to reject all extra-scriptural sources of authority.
In conclusion, while "do not go beyond what is written" emphasizes the sufficiency and authority of God's Word, it does not necessarily preclude the importance of sacred traditions in the Catholic understanding.
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The contradiction with sacred traditions
The phrase "do not go beyond what is written" is found in 1 Corinthians 4:6, where Paul states:
> "I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favour of one against another."
This phrase has been interpreted in various ways, with some arguing that it supports the Protestant doctrine of sola scriptura, which asserts that only the Bible is the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice. However, this interpretation has been disputed by Catholics, who believe that Paul's statement cannot be used to support sola scriptura.
Furthermore, in First Corinthians 11:2, Paul commends the Corinthians for following traditions: "I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you." Here, Paul expresses his approval of the Corinthians' adherence to sacred traditions, which seems to contradict the interpretation of "do not go beyond what is written" as a rejection of all authority beyond the Bible.
To resolve this contradiction, it is important to understand the context of Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 4:6. At the time, the Corinthian church was facing issues such as factional divisions and favouritism, with some believers elevating certain leaders above others. Paul's instruction, therefore, was aimed at addressing this sectarianism and encouraging believers to focus on Jesus and His Word above all else, rather than the teachings of any particular leader.
In conclusion, while "do not go beyond what is written" may appear to contradict the Catholic belief in sacred traditions, a closer examination of the context reveals that Paul was addressing specific issues within the Corinthian church. His statement does not reject the authority of sacred traditions but rather emphasizes the sufficiency and truth of Scripture as the ultimate authority for believers.
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Frequently asked questions
"Do not go beyond what is written" means to focus on Jesus and His Word above all else. It means to trust that the Bible has all the answers and truths we need to live a holy and pleasing life before God. Believers should strive to know and trust the Bible as God’s Word and not be influenced by the latest book, the newest cultural trend, or the most popular Christian speaker.
"Do not go beyond what is written" is derived from 1 Corinthians 4:6, where Paul admonishes the Corinthians against speculating about how people will be judged, leaving it up to “what has been written” in the Book of Life.
Paul wanted to address the sectarianism in the Corinthian church, where some believers were listening to the words of their preferred leader more than they were to the words of Scripture itself. Paul wanted to emphasize that the words and teachings of Scripture are ultimately sufficient and true, and that truth is not dependent on the personality or charisma of those who teach.
