Featured The greatest gift given to humanity

I have a little bit of time before a meeting (stuck working at home). Here are a few passages that come to mind that demonstrate we can in fact know about God apart from Scripture (sometimes it seems we get stuck in the Enlightenment). But I would agree Scripture is the greater revelation, and Christ the greatest Revelation, of God to man. Scripture is also our standard for evaluating doctrine. While I am not belittling Scripture, it is certainly not the greatest gift God has gifted mankind.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun,

Job 12:7-10 But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?

 

This is not quite accurate. Paul presents Creation as accurately testifying to God and His Truth.

Romans 1:20-21 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

 

My concern is that the view of Scripture could lead some to relying on human knowledge (under the misunderstanding that spiritual knowledge is the acceptance of this data as being true) rather than God and missing the true gospel of Christ. It is eerily similar to the approach of the pharisees who worshiped the letter of the Law without approaching a spiritual understanding.

(Not accusing anyone of that error, but that is one reason I am concerned about some of the claims here).

 

We know of several things that God has gifted humanity.

In John 3 we learn that God gifted humanity His own Son as an act of His love.

In Psalm 119 we know that God gifts his “lovingkindness” and “salvation”.

The OP does seem to say that Scripture is God’s greatest gift to humanity.

As there are other gifts in Scripture from God, and Christ is one of these, it does appear that the OP is claiming Scripture a greater gift than the gift of the Son and the gift of Salvation.

We cannot ignore the fact that people have been saved apart form Scripture (in the NT). Even if no one else was saved that would make God giving of Himself to save those people the greatest gift (even if we were doomed).

One strange thing is the OP offers as evidence a quote speaking of the Law at a time when Scripture was not completed.

Another issue is the OP seems to be in opposition to other passages which speaks of Christ Himself being foremost in everything.

 

On a similar topic (one that also fits here):

What is more important, Scripture as a whole (Genesis to Revelation) or the gospel message (the message, for example, that Paul would have preached at the Acropolis?

I do not mean to devalue Scripture in any way, but what is more important - the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation or Scripture as a whole which explains so much about God to those who are already saved?

 

Absolutely!!! So often I think that people get caught up in theologies and ultimately miss the gospel itself. In a way, I understand. There is an appeal to gain knowledge. We want to be "like God".

But I have met people who are so much spiritually mature than I yet have a deficit in theological (and even biblical) knowledge. This is not advocating dismissing Scripture. Those people could benefit from studying God's Word. But this is not a spiritual issue. We know more about God by studying His Word. But we are not drawn into a deeper relationship with God through knowledge of His Word. We are drawn into a deeper relationship with God spiritually, by having the "mind of Christ' and practicing those things that are godly and good.