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NASB | 2 Timothy 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Timothy 2:25 He must correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it], |
Subject: SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH |
Bible Note: Hi, Brother Lionheart... You're right! Indeed, one might proclaim, quite correctly, that unless our Christianity is experiential, it is not valid! (cf Matthew 7:22-27; John 17:3, 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2) We must carefully define, however, what we mean by experiential. Looking carefully at the definition of the term, we see that it has its roots in a Latin word, "experimentum," which comes from a verb meaning to "try, test, prove, or put to the test". The same root verb can also mean "to find or know by experience", giving rise to the word "experientia", meaning "trial, experiment, and/or the knowledge gained by experiment." John Calvin, for example, used experiential and experimental interchangeably. From the standpoint of Biblical preaching, both words indicate the need to examine or test experienced knowledge by the standard of Scripture (Isaiah 8:20). Yet, we can firmly assert, that the Holy Spirit causes the objective truths about Christ and His work to be experienced in the heart of sinners (i.e., His elect). (cf Romans 5:1-11) The problem arises when we use experience to validate Scripture -- or anything else! What we are saying, then, would be that experience has greater authority! The Word is true because it is the Word! Period! To try to persuade anyone of truth based on experience is repudiating the veracity of God! In Jewish tradition, when men wanted to affirm the verity of a truth that they just heard spoken they would say, "Amen, amen!" Christ, not needing the affirmation of men, stated "Amen, amen, I say to you" before He even asserted the truth! The Word of God is our plumb-line, our standard, our judge, our guide, and our teacher. It is both sufficient and necessary for leading lives pleasing to our Lord. "He Lives! He Lives! You ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart." is a great song, but it is lousy theology. :-) Thank you, brother Lionheart, for your comments. In Him, Doc |