WHEN ARE NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES BINDING?
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. The Bible teaches by examples.
1. We are to follow the example of Christ. 1 Pet. 2:21
2. We are to follow the example of Paul. 1 Cor. 11:1; Phil. 4:9
3. There are many disapproved examples in the N.T.; e.g.,
those of the Scribes and Pharisees, Ananias and Sapphira,
Elymas the sorcerer.
B. Of course, the only way we can follow the examples Jesus and
Paul is by means of the sacred writings which reveal their
examples.
C. Through the years, there has been great difficulty for some
brethren in determining which N.T. examples are binding and
which are not.
1. We list some common-sense ideas that hopefully will help.
I. Some examples are binding. (See chart below)
A. We follow the example of the saints in Troas who came together
on the first day of the week to break bread. Acts 20:7
1. The entirety of God's word is truth. Psalm 119:160
2. In as much as Acts 20:7 is the only passages which reveals
the day on which the early Christians partook of the Lord's
Supper, it is wrong to meet on any other day to partake of
it.
3. If we partake of the Lord's Supper on any other day, we
transgress God's word.
B. A church or churches sent wages to preachers. Phil. 4:15-16; 2
Cor. 11:8-9
1. It is wrong for a church or churches to send to a Missionary
Society which in turn sends wages to a preacher.
II. All examples are not binding.
A. There are many examples in the N.T. which are not binding.
1. This becomes evident as we study the holy Scriptures.
III. All binding examples must be supported by background information
of some sort.
A. We are commanded to partake of the Lord Supper. 1 Cor. 11:23-
26
1. The example of Acts 20:7 shows us when we are to partake
of it.
B. The example of Jesus washing the disciples feet is not binding.
John 13:12-15
1. "Washing feet" was part of the home activities. 1 Tim. 5:9-
10
2. Washing the saints feet was not a church ordinance.
a. N.T. principles are binding, not the customs of N.T.
times.
C. Jesus' example of humble service to one another is binding.
John 13:14-15
IV. Binding examples must not contradict other Biblical principles,
but must harmonize with all truth.
A. Someone asked, "If you bind 'the first day' in Acts 20:7, why
don't you bind "meeting in the upper room' in Acts 20:8?"
1. We know from other passages that the disciples met in many
different places.
a. In a school. Acts 19:9
b. In the temple. Acts 2:46; 5:19-20
c. In a synagogue. James 2:2 The word "assembly" is the
word "synagogue" in the original Greek.
d. In homes. Rom. 16:3-5; 1 Cor. 16:19
2. Jesus taught that the time was coming when the place of
worship would not matter. John 4:19-24
V. Uniformity of details in other examples must be consistent for any
binding example.
A. For example, if there was an example of the disciples meeting
on other days to partake of the Lord's supper, the first day
would not be binding.
B. The disciples were commanded to go preach. Matt. 28:18-20
1. They used various methods in going: by ship, walking, etc.
Acts 20:6,13
2. Thus, today, we can use various methods in going;
automobile, airplane, etc.
VI. No example is binding in situations other than those set forth in
the inspired record of the action.
A. The early Christians had a communion of goods. Acts 2:44-45;
4:32-35
1. They had a sharing of goods because of the present need.
a. Many of the devout Jews had come from a distance and
their sojourn was longer than expected.
b. It is similar to a family going to a certain place on a
two-week vacation, and, due to the unseen circumstances,
staying in that place for several months.
c. Their funds would soon be depleted.
2. After the death of Stephen, they began returning home and
preaching everywhere. Acts 8:3-4
B. The example of those early disciples (a sharing of goods) is
binding when the circumstances are the same.
1. In other words, when there is a particular need, Christians,
who have the ability, should sell various things in order to
provide for the needs of their brethren.
VII. A divinely given example excludes all humanly devised actions.
A. A binding example constitutes the only way a thing can be done.
1. We are not to go beyond what's written. 1 Cor. 4:6; 2 John
9; Matt. 15:9; Gal. 1:6-9
B. The example of baptism "in water" is binding. Acts 8:36-39
1. There is no passage which says that we should baptize "only"
in water. All we have is the example of it being done in
water.
2. I heard of a situation where a young preacher who was with
some young people at a ski resort. When some of the young
people wanted to be baptized, the young preacher baptized
them in snow because, supposedly, it was the only thing
available at the time.
C. The example of elders (more than one) in every church is
binding. Acts 14:23
1. There is no command to have a plurality of elders in every
church.
2. However, because in every example in the N.T. there were
"elders" in churches, it is binding on us to have "elders"
(more than one) in our churches today.
D. As we mentioned, there are examples of churches sending wages
to preachers. Phil. 4:15-16; 2 Cor. 11:8-9
1. To have a sponsoring church arrangement where churches
send to a church (a sponsoring church) which in turn sends
to preachers, is from man not God.
2. There are no examples in the N.T. of churches sending to
other churches to preach the gospel.
Concl.
A. I truly believe that brethren can be united on which examples
are binding, and which are not, if they have a genuine desire
to do so.
1. Love of truth and a strong determination not to transgress
the word of God are vitally important.
B. It has been my experience in the past, when brethren want to
justify something there are already doing, they raise all kinds
of questions and doubts regarding binding examples.
1. Binding examples exclude all humanly devised practices;
thus, they reject binding examples.
2. The problem is that they want their humanly devised
practices.
C. Remember 1 Pet. 2:21; Phil. 4:9
1. We can determine which examples are binding - if we have a
sincere desire to do the will of God.
2. Let us love God and abide in His truth.
Chart:
When are new testament examples binding?
1. Some examples are binding.
2. All examples are not binding.
3. All binding examples must be supported by background information
of some sort.
4. Binding examples must not contradict other Biblical principles,
but must harmonize with all truth.
5. Uniformity of details in other examples must be consistent for any
binding example.
6. No example is binding in situations other than those set forth in
the inspired record of the action.
7. A divinely given example excludes all humanly devised actions.