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| Herman Bavinck (1854-1921) |
Nowadays, the truth of the sufficiency of Scripture is often used as a catchphrase that is supposed to sound biblical and devout. Scripture is sufficient, but sufficient for what? For absolutely every single thing, activity, and work in life? If we don't qualify what does it mean that Scripture is sufficient, if we don't qualify for what Scripture is sufficient and that Scripture is sufficient for what is meant to be sufficient (see 2 Tim. 3:16-17), we may sound pious and spiritual but we are being illogical; we may sound like honoring Scripture as the Word of God, but we are actually misunderstanding its purpose and abasing it to the level of an instruction manual. Herman Bavinck seems to have known this quite well.
"Does special revelation swallow everything that lies before us in nature and history, such that, in order to know everything about it (nature and history), we need to do nothing other than to investigate the Scriptures? There are indeed those who theoretically reason this way, but at the same time they contradict the practice in their own life. After all, they go to school, receive instruction in the subjects that they need for life, and permit themselves to receive training for that trade or calling which they wish someday to practice in society. Agriculture, animal husbandry, business, industry, etc.—they are all learned from nature in school and in life. This instruction, too, comes to them from God, but they do not receive this instruction from Scripture, but from nature. God instructs them in the way they must act through the nature of things; and this also comes from the Lord of hosts who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working (Isa. 28:23–29)." ~ Herman Bavinck, Biblical and Religious Psychology (Jenison, MI: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2024), 8.
That said, although Scripture does not say everything that can be said about everything, Scripture still says something about all things, in one way or another. Therefore, Scripture plays a vital role in all disciplines and activities practiced by mankind.
"But on the other side, are the Scriptures so detached from nature that they never in any way concern themselves with, never speak of, and shed absolutely no light on it? Is Scripture alone a light on the path to heaven, and is it in no respect a lamp for our feet as we walk in the paths of this earth [Ps. 119:105]? This is equally contrary to reality, because Scripture by no means limits itself only to purely religiousethical and heavenly things; but each moment it also deals with those matters that concern earthly life. As you know, it tells of the creation of heaven and earth, the origin of man, of man’s sin and misery in this life. In its first chapters, Scripture takes the whole of humanity into consideration; it lets special revelation flow forth through the prophets and in Christ to the whole of humanity, and it ends with the prediction that one day there will come a new heaven, but also a new earth in which righteousness dwells [2 Pet. 3:13]. And in the unfolding of this rich and broad history, it descends again and again to all kinds of particulars, to phenomena in nature, to events in general history, to chronologies and genealogies, to definite expressions about the nature of man, about his soul [ziel], his spirit [geest], and his heart [hart]. On all sides, special revelation penetrates deep into the natural life of humanity." ~ Bavinck, Biblical and Religious Psychology, 8-9.
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Updated: March 5, 2024
