"but having different gifts according to the grace given to us, whether prophecy, according to the proportion of the faith;" (Rom 12:6 LITV)
The Merriam-Webster, "proportion, harmonious relation of parts to each other or to the whole"
The Greek translated "proportion" is analogia which is the base in the etymology of "analogy".
"The analogy of faith is the correspondence of the several parts of divine revelation in one consistent whole. Its use is pointed out by the apostle in his direction (Rom 12:6) that “prophecy” — that is, preaching — be according to “the proportion of faith.” His rule, of course, extends to all interpretation and exposition of Scripture. The parts of Scripture must be explained according to the tenor of the whole; and, in order to his doing this, the reader must understand the design of the whole." Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
How do you know what the "whole" is concerning the faith, if you do not have a Confession of Faith by which to keep yourself between the guard rails in accurate & truthful interpretation? Having a confession of faith is certainly biblical -
"Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1Tim 6:12 NRSV)
"Therefore, brothers..., holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession," (Heb 3:1 NRSV)
"Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession." (Heb 4:14 NRSV)
Jude 3 states that we are to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints", so how do you know what that faith is that you are to contend for unless you have a confession of faith you can embrace and contend for as solidly biblical?
To glibly reply "my confession is 'Jesus Christ, and him crucified'" from 1 Cor. 2:2 has to be expanded upon to have true meaning concerning the faith. You can't lift a small phrase out of the whole Bible and say that phrase is your creed or confession, and 1 Cor. 2:2 read in context shows it must be expanded to have full meaning.
There is that other evasion, "no creed but the Bible", but EVERY believer has a creed, whether if is fully biblical or not is the question. I saw the website of an Independent Baptist church created by the Pastor of that church. He made the bold statement that read something like "the doctrines taught in this church are determined by me, the Pastor". Nowhere on the web page did he tie his doctrines to any standard of the faith, so the hearers in that church received his individualistic idea of "the faith". In other words, you are hearing a preacher using the DIY approach to the faith. Tell me, are you going to have your heart surgery performed by a doctor who approaches surgery in a DIY manner?
I do not hide the fact that I embrace the first Baptist Confession, the 1644/1646 First London Confession of Faith. The name "Baptist" is nowhere in that document, but it is the first confession of faith to teach BOTH believer's baptism AND this by immersion only. This was the Confession held by the Particular Baptists in England.
I came to embrace this Confession of Faith after years of study, and realizing what I had come to believe the biblical faith to be, was expressed more clearly in that Confession, so I can say "I believe...." and refer someone to that confession, which includes the Scriptures upon which it is based.
ntrf.org
The Merriam-Webster, "proportion, harmonious relation of parts to each other or to the whole"
The Greek translated "proportion" is analogia which is the base in the etymology of "analogy".
"The analogy of faith is the correspondence of the several parts of divine revelation in one consistent whole. Its use is pointed out by the apostle in his direction (Rom 12:6) that “prophecy” — that is, preaching — be according to “the proportion of faith.” His rule, of course, extends to all interpretation and exposition of Scripture. The parts of Scripture must be explained according to the tenor of the whole; and, in order to his doing this, the reader must understand the design of the whole." Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
How do you know what the "whole" is concerning the faith, if you do not have a Confession of Faith by which to keep yourself between the guard rails in accurate & truthful interpretation? Having a confession of faith is certainly biblical -
"Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1Tim 6:12 NRSV)
"Therefore, brothers..., holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession," (Heb 3:1 NRSV)
"Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession." (Heb 4:14 NRSV)
Jude 3 states that we are to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints", so how do you know what that faith is that you are to contend for unless you have a confession of faith you can embrace and contend for as solidly biblical?
To glibly reply "my confession is 'Jesus Christ, and him crucified'" from 1 Cor. 2:2 has to be expanded upon to have true meaning concerning the faith. You can't lift a small phrase out of the whole Bible and say that phrase is your creed or confession, and 1 Cor. 2:2 read in context shows it must be expanded to have full meaning.
There is that other evasion, "no creed but the Bible", but EVERY believer has a creed, whether if is fully biblical or not is the question. I saw the website of an Independent Baptist church created by the Pastor of that church. He made the bold statement that read something like "the doctrines taught in this church are determined by me, the Pastor". Nowhere on the web page did he tie his doctrines to any standard of the faith, so the hearers in that church received his individualistic idea of "the faith". In other words, you are hearing a preacher using the DIY approach to the faith. Tell me, are you going to have your heart surgery performed by a doctor who approaches surgery in a DIY manner?
I do not hide the fact that I embrace the first Baptist Confession, the 1644/1646 First London Confession of Faith. The name "Baptist" is nowhere in that document, but it is the first confession of faith to teach BOTH believer's baptism AND this by immersion only. This was the Confession held by the Particular Baptists in England.
I came to embrace this Confession of Faith after years of study, and realizing what I had come to believe the biblical faith to be, was expressed more clearly in that Confession, so I can say "I believe...." and refer someone to that confession, which includes the Scriptures upon which it is based.
The First London Baptist Confession of 1644/1646 - NTRF
Published in 1646 The Text used: There has been some updating of Old English words - but otherwise no changes have been made to the original texts. CONFESSI
ntrf.org
