BiblicalInsights.net

     The Praise of Folly is a book written by David Lutzweiler.  Lutzweiler reviews the life and work of Cyrus Ingerson Scofield.  Lutzweiler was once a believer in the dispensational, premillennial, Zionist theological view, but has now rejected it.  He thoroughly investigates the life of Scofield and finds many problems with his character and conduct both before and after his conversion.  He also explores the development and production of The Scofield Reference Bible which promotes the DPZ theological system.  Lutzweiler gives his own analysis of the DPZ theory and exposes its errors.  While you may not agree with everything in this book, you will be amazed by the shocking facts. 
     The title of the book is taken from a satire by Desiderius Erasmus (published in 1515).  In that book, Erasmus has the character Folly give an oration whereby he praises self-deception.  Lutzweiler applies the satire to evangelicals who are engaged in the praise of folly by endorsing Scofield and The Scofield Reference Bible.  I have just completed a book review of Lutzweiler’s work and posted it on my blog under “Book Reviews.”  Why not take a few minutes and read it.  Then, you may want to purchase and read the book.

     William Provine, a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the distinguished Cornell University has stated: “Naturalistic evolution has clear consequences that Charles Darwin understood perfectly.  1) No gods worth having exist; 2) no life after death exists; 3) no ultimate foundation for ethics exists; 4) no ultimate meaning in life exists; and 5) human free will is non-existent” (Kyle Butt, A Christian’s Guide to Refuting Modern Atheism,p. 87). Darwinian evolution affirms that there is no basis for morality.  Not all atheists agree with this premise which is somewhat surprising.  Dan Barker, a modern atheist, argues that “morality is simply acting with the intention to minimize harm.”  However, all atheistic morality is subjectively determined and consequently permits  every act including: genocide, infanticide, murder, rape, abortion, lying, stealing, etc. etc.  The ultimate appeal of Atheism is complete human autonomy.  With no universal principles guiding our conduct, we are left to decide for ourselves what is harmful or not harmful and so what is right for any individual.  The subjectivity of Dan Barker leads us right back to the affirmation of Provine concerning morality–there is no basis for ethics or morality.
     The Bible affirms that morality is linked to the nature of God.  It is inseparately connected to His love, holiness and justice.  God demands holiness (Heb. 12:14) without which no man shall see God.  God is love and love is the essence of all morality! 
     In Romans 13:8-10, Paul makes some important statements regarding love and morality.  Consider some of his main concepts.
     1.     A Christian should promptly pay all his debts, but there is one debt that he owes constantly and in all circumstances and that is to love one another.  Love is undefeatable, benevolent, goodwill.  It is a principle that one must will himself to fulfill.  It is commanded by God to man.  We choose to love or not to love.  However, we cannot please God and not love one another.
     2.     Love worketh no ill to his neighbor.  Love and law are related.  Love fulfills the law.  The verb fulfill (pleroun) means “to satisfy in full” or “to finish completely.”  It is used in the perfect tense to indicate an already finished action.  The law is entirely satisfied by love (Ceslaus Spicq, Agape in the New Testament, II, 57).  All morality is based in love!  What will atheists do with this argument?  Paul illustrates by citing five of the ten commandments and shows that the Mosaical law prohibited adultery, murder, stealing, lying and covetousness.  These actions are immoral because they violate the supreme virtue governing conduct between men–love!  Each one of these sins produces injury, harm, heartache and destruction and all are contrary to the principle of love.  The principle of love is objective and universal.  All morality is based in love.  All moral law is inclusive in love. 
     3.     Love is the fulfilling of the law.  Love is summed up (anakephalaioo) which means, “uniting several things about a single principle of harmony.”  Love is the principle.  The atheist cannot explain love!  The moral argument to prove theism is expressed in one word–love!  Discipline yourself in love and you will have the approval of God. 
     Love for God involves:  adoration given to God, attachment (covenant relationship) to God, gratitude to God where we present our bodies as living sacrifices to Him (Rom. 12:1-2), and consecration (fullness of commitment) to God.  Love for God and for our neighbor are absolutes that must be met if we are ever going to see God and be with Him eternally.
     Jesus was asked, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?”  Jesus answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:36-39).

     Commentaries on the Bible contain comments and observations on the biblical text, organized in the same order as the biblical text.  Most people turn to commentaries for an explanation of a passage or passages they are studying. 
     Commentaries include an introduction to each book of the Bible that discusses authorship, date, the circumstances in which the book was written, intended audience, and the relationship of that book to the rest of the Bible.  The introduction also includes an outline of the book or at least breaks it down into major sections.
     The introduction is followed by running commentary that moves verse-by-verse or section-by-section through the book, discussing the Bible text.  Did you know that there are different types of commentaries?  Let’s consider some of them.
     1.  Critical Commentaries.  Critical commentaries discuss in great detail the Hebrew or Greek text, interact with scholarly literature, and may use higher critical methods to investigate scripture.  Examples of this type of commentary include the International Critical Commentary series and the New International Greek Testament Commentary.
     2.  Devotional Commentaries.  This type of commentary is written as an interpretive aid or devotional guide for the common person who reads the Bible in English.  They avoid technical or textual discussions.  They focus on the interpretation and application of scripture to everyday life.  An example of this type of commentary would be the Life Application Bible.
     3.  Pastoral Commentaries, also called Homiletical Commentaries.  Homiletical commentaries focus on the needs and concerns of those in the ministry (i. e. preachers and teachers).  They aid in the preparation of sermons and Bible studies.  An example would be the Pulpit Commentary Series.
     4.  Exegetical Commentaries.  This type of commentary is text-centered but remains accessible to readers without formal language training.  Examples are the New American Commentary Series and Baker’s New Testament Commentary Series.
     5.  Eclectic Commentaries.  Eclectic commentaries draw comments on the biblical text from a variety of scholarly sources, especially other commentaries and places them side by side for comparison and analysis.  An example would be the Commentary Series by James Burton Coffman.
     Some commentaries are written by one person who may or may not be a trained professional in the field of biblical hermeneutics.  Others are written by a group of men who have been specifically selected for this purpose.  Sometimes a recognized book publisher puts together a team of writers that express a particular theological viewpoint.  Remember, every commentary written by a human being is subject to the theological bias of that person.  There is a wide range of theological viewpoints and hermeneutical skills of the writers involved in producing commentaries.  The Bible student must give careful consideration to these features before the purchase of any set of commentaries.  The best commentaries adhere faithfully to the truth of God’s Word.  Every commentary must be put to the test of truth and those that fail, must be rejected.