The Present Value of Things Written Long Ago

‘For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope’, Rom. 15. 4.

Pressure is mounting on Christians to forgo their faith, lower their standards, deny their God and adopt the ways, attitudes and thinking of the world. Those who resist, find themselves increasingly isolated, marginalized, mistrusted, and, with growing frequency, vilified and persecuted. Such is the character of our ‘progressive society’, a society that has turned its back on God.

Thankfully, the timeless word of God brings much needed help in these difficult days. It teaches and equips us to stand fast, and to do so with Christlike humility and grace. It encourages and enables us to patiently endure, while always rejoicing in hope. The ancient words of scripture burst off the page with relevance and power, ever ready to meet our present need.

Things written long ago

Today, we are privileged to have the complete canon of scripture at our fingertips, comprising both the Old and New Testaments. The opening words of our text, though contextually referring to the Old Testament, can be applied to the whole Bible. The Old and New Testaments alike share the authoritative stamp of divine inspiration, 2 Tim. 3. 16; 2 Pet. 1. 21. From where we stand in history, all scripture – sixty-six books – has been ‘written aforetime’ and it is within this wide sphere of application that we consider the wisdom of Romans chapter 15 verse 4.

A chain of four links

As Paul writes the verse, he uses four carefully chosen words to describe why the Spirit of God has left on record the scriptures. Those words are learning, patience, comfort and hope. By way of illustration, consider a chain of four links. Each link is represented by one word. The picture of a chain affirms the fact that the links are inter-connected and inter-dependent. For example, extracting patience, comfort, and hope from the scriptures depends on us having learned from the scriptures. Likewise, strengthening and nurturing hope is necessarily connected to the comfort that scripture brings, and so on.

Every link in this chain is vital. A missing or defective link weakens, if not destroys, the ability of the chain to serve its purpose. It is therefore necessary that we examine these four words carefully to accurately understand and firmly grasp God’s intended purpose in giving us the scriptures.

Learning (instruction)

In order to have value and impact in the life of the believer, the truths and principles of scripture must be learned, understood, and applied. The pre-eminent need for learning is as true spiritually as it is secularly. For example, a student will never be able to perform basic arithmetic until the governing principles of arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) are grasped. The word of God has been given for our learning. Paul instructs Timothy regarding the importance of scripture in this regard, saying, ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable [beneficial] for doctrine [teaching]’, 2 Tim. 3. 16. The word translated ‘doctrine’ here is the same as that translated ‘learning’, Rom. 15. 4.

We learn from scripture by reading, by careful, consistent and diligent study, by the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, by utilizing dependable study aids and by availing ourselves of the teaching ministry of those appropriately gifted by the Holy Spirit. The point is that understanding is not acquired osmotically, it requires effort, diligence, commitment, and appetite, 2 Tim. 2. 15. If we fail to learn and thereby to grow, our lives will be spent paddling in the spiritual shallows rather than launching out into the deep. We will be weak, unstable, and liable to be ‘tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine’, Eph. 4. 14.

Patience (endurance)

To have patience, or to endure, as we navigate the Christian path is to continue steadfastly, to persevere, and to press on, even under hardship. It is to carry on, not to grow weary nor to faint or give up. In scripture, endurance is seen as an attribute of the ‘man of God’, it is the hallmark of a race well run, and it is the admirable trait of character that allows God to test and thereby grow and refine our faith.¹ Paul commended the Thessalonians for their endurance in the face of trying circumstances, saying, ‘so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure’, 2 Thess. 1. 4 NKJV. The scriptures have been given to equip us to persevere, to ‘run, and not be weary . . . [and to] walk, and not faint’, Isa. 40. 31.

Comfort (encouragement)

To be comforted, or encouraged, is to be refreshed, aided, helped, assisted, supported, exhorted, lifted up, urged on, and released from fear, doubt, weakness, reluctance, concern, and worry. In the original language, the word used is paraklēsis which is similar to the word used of the Holy Spirit as our ‘Comforter’, John 14. 16. Just as the Holy Spirit draws alongside the believer to support and help, so too the word of God brings comfort and encouragement in times of need.

Encouragement and endurance are intimately and inseparably linked. Encouragement is the fuel that feeds endurance, the light that dispels darkness, the strength that overcomes weakness and the promise that banishes doubt. Encouragement is the arm that draws us near to God, telling us ‘Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest’, Josh. 1. 9.

One commentator says with regard to the comfort of the scriptures, ‘to make strong in heart, resolved in will, and incapable of being overborne or crushed in spirit by sorrow – that is a purpose worthy of the Book, and the God who speaks through it’.²

Hope (assurance)

Unlike how the word ‘hope’ is used in common parlance, in a Christian context hope carries no hint of doubt or uncertainty. Our hope resounds with absolute assurance and complete confidence. It encompasses all that lies ahead by way of future promise, prospect, and blessing. It brings light to bear on our earthly pathway and illumines heaven with an assuring glow. It rests on the certainty of the word of God, the immutability of the character of God, and the power of God to do all He has promised, Heb. 6. 18, 19. It stands upon the person and work of Christ, the sufficiency of His death, the reality of His resurrection, the certainty of His imminent return, 1 John 3. 2, 3, and the absolute security of our standing in Him, John 10. 27-29. It tells us that ‘we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God . . . Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need’, Heb. 4. 14, 16.

And furthermore

It is no coincidence that the outcomes of instruction from the scriptures, namely patience, comfort and hope, are also attributes of God. In Romans chapter 15, God is uniquely described as the ‘God of patience and comfort’, v. 5 NKJV, and the ‘God of hope’, v. 13. As God delights to be patient, so we are enabled to be patient. As God delights to comfort, so we enjoy the comfort of the scriptures. As God delights to ignite hope, so we are blessed with an unquenchable hope.

Recall the chain

Romans chapter 15 verse 4 can be read in two ways. The first is to see endurance as an attitude we bring as we learn from scripture. Alternatively, endurance may be seen as an attribute enabled by the instruction of scripture. In this latter sense, endurance is a result of the encouragement of scripture rather than an attitude used in approaching it. Of course, both views are true, but I lean to the second. Learning brings encouragement, encouragement enables us to endure, and thereby hope is confirmed, Rom. 5. 3-5.

An example

In Luke chapter 24 verses 13 to 35, we read of two disciples trudging their way back to Emmaus from Jerusalem, disappointed, and dejected after the death of Christ and confused by early reports that He had risen from the tomb. The Lord Jesus, though unrecognized by them at the time, drew near and accompanied them on their journey. As they walked, He asked them to explain why they were sad. At length, they described to Him the events that led to the Lord’s crucifixion. With a mild rebuke for their slowness to learn, He turned them to the scriptures and revealed that what they deemed to be a reason for discouragement and sorrow was in fact grounds for rejoicing and hope.

Bearing in mind the four-link chain of Romans chapter 15 verse 4, notice how the Lord Jesus instructed them from the scriptures, encouraged them, motivated them to persevere, and nurtured renewed hope to cheer their downcast hearts:

• Jesus Himself taught them from the scriptures, v. 27 (instruction)
• Their hearts burned with renewed joy, v. 32 (encouragement)
• They returned to Jerusalem to resume following Christ, v. 33 (perseverance)
• They excitedly reported their encounter with the risen Christ, v. 35 (hope)

Conclusion

We have considered the present value of that which has been purposefully written and carefully preserved for us in our Bibles. To bow our hearts in gratitude for such a provision would be an appropriate response to the author and protector of this great book. In particular, a consideration of Romans chapter 15 verse 4 has reminded us of a chain of four links which illustrates how the scriptures help us to understand, prepare for, and face difficult times. In summary, the Bible has been given as a basis for instruction (link 1). That instruction encourages (link 2) us and equips us to ‘run with patience (link 3) the race that is set before us’, Heb. 12. 2, energized by the hope (link 4) that ‘he is faithful that promised’, Heb. 10. 23 and knowing that ‘hope does not disappoint’, Rom. 5. 5 NKJV.