Expert: Dr. Ronald E. Shultz - 7/29/2009

Question
QUESTION: Greetings Dr. Shultz,
Does the Bible contain both explicit and implicit statements--and if so, are the implicit statements also considered part of what God said?

Second: If so, can what God said implicitly be binding on men today?
Thanks.

ANSWER: I wish you would have given me an example of what you call implicit.  This seems to be something along the same lines of the argument over essential and non-essential doctrines.  If God took the time to speak to an issue then it cannot be considered non-essential.  Some explicit commands like sacrificing animal are no longer binding today because Christ is the perfect sacrifice.  I have had as many commands given to me by supervisors by implicit directions as I have by explicit ones so if man can use both I cannot see why God cannot as well and why we would shrug off the implicit.  If He implies something then He felt it was worthy of implying it and figured we would catch His drift so to speak.

I believe the Bible to be verbal plenary inspired or every word in its fullness of meaning.  Unless God has explicity removed something as a requirement or it is implied by the sacrifice of Christ as being removed and therefore no longer binding I would have to say that it still is binding.  The Law or as what we call the Law had both explicit and implicit issues and Christ said that not one jot or tittle would be donme away with until all be fulfilled.  So if Christ says that jots and tittles are binding or preserved then paert of those are probably in an implicit command.  

Tithing was before the law and explicitly commanded in the Law but since we are not given anything explicitly to replace it than you might say that it is implied that the system has not changed by the silence on the subject.  Some wrongly interpret some of Paul's statements to develop a doctrine of "grace giving" but the passages they use are explicitly speaking to giving to the poor, not the care and maintenance of the Church or staff.  Christ extolled the widow who gave her last mite but He did not explicitly or implicity remove the concept of tithing for a doctrine of "living giving."   

The Word is illustrated as being better than gold or silver and you must mine and refine those metals to make them valuable.  They are not just picked up off the top of the ground in bars.  His Word is also to be studied and rightly divided to be of true value thus we must seek direct commands and principles given in analogies or parables to truly gain the wisdom to practice holiness and obedience.  If "every Scripture" is given to us then we must know each Scripture in concept and interpret "line upon line, precept upon precept" whethere explicit or implict to be thoroughly furnished as men of God.

Hopefully, this of some help to you as you study the Word and seek His will be it explicit or implied.  Maranatha.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dr. Shultz,
Thanks very much for your answer and time. Perhaps this one example and question can help clarify what I was asking.

I believe that God commands all men everywhere today to repent (Acts 17:30-31). However, I also believe, since my name (or yours, or anyone's) is not given in Acts 17:30-31 (or any verse), that we learn that we need to repent by implication. That is, we infer that we are a part of "all men" who must repent. We infer that which God implied.

With that in mind, could we say that God commanded repentance not by explicit statement, but by implicit statement? And that His implicit statement is just as binding as any explicit statement He made?

And ultimately, though we inferred the need to repent from God's explicit statements, the fact is is that God is the one who said to each of us "repent"--albeit implicitly.

Is this accurate?

Thanks,
Mdd

Answer
Yes, indeed.  The "whosoevers" of the Scripture apply to every person though we are not named specifically.  God wrote the Bible to every person and thus wrote it in way that it would speak to us as if it called us by name though obviously it does not.  We have numerous "if any man" statements both positive and negative and depending on which side of those statements we choose to stand determines explicitly how God is speaking to us though the sentence might seem implicit before we make our choice.  

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. KJV

This passage does not say if Ron or Mike be in Christ.  It speaks to any man, but because we do believe in Christ then it is an explicit promise to us while it means nothing to an unbeliever as far as the promise.  Yet, it is an implict statement even command to the unbeliever if he is looking for a new life since it tells him how he can achieve it.  It implies to him that Christ is the only way to achieve a goal he wants to realize or makes him realize that he needs a new life.  

There is technically nothing ever directly or explicitly said to us since nowhere in Scripture will you find it to say, Ron Shultz do this or do not do this, unless someone finds it in the Bible Code.  ;-) Hence though the command to repent is specific and exact I must take by implication that because I am a man/human then it is speaking to me much like me saying to you, "Sit down" with the you being understood.  You will react in obedience or not but you know I meant you unless there are more people present.  Then you might say, "Who, me?" and then I would either affirm or clarify whom I meant. If it said, "All those of German descent must repent" then I could still take it as meaning me since I am of Germanic stock but an Irishman would say he was not all included.  But, by using whosoever, if any man or you, God makes the Word as personal as if He were calling our name though our name is not there but implied by our humanity and the general terms, callings or commands are to be taken as binding as if He put our name in there.  Therefore I would say you are correct in your logic.

Thanks for the example and further opportunity to expound on the topic.  Blessings and peace unto you!