About R. Scott Clark
R. Scott Clark is the President of the
Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several
books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University.
Read more» He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.
Dr. Clark, very good to hear you expound on the authority of Scripture, the only authority we as reformed believers accept. We as reformed churches, or should I say church, also run the risk of falling into the trap of tradition, of history, of veneration. Although we have large respect for Calvin’s Institutions or the Belgique Confession, Dordt or Heidelberg Cathecism, or the writings of the early church fathers, we have to realize that all those, i.e. the writings of man, are and must remain subservient to the authority of Scripture. All these writings are founded on Scripture, they are a help to better understand Scripture, they can never override or replace Scripture.
Professor Doctor,
Thank you for a beautifully articulated and robust defense of the Holy Scriptures as the primary and ultimate standard in all matters of faith and practice.
Warm fraternal regards,
Rev. Ron L. Beabout, Evangelist
Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic (OPC)
A very big “Amen” to all the above. But don’t let us make it say that the Holy Spirit’s ministry in the affairs of men & women were severely curtailed by the completion of the NT canon. The Spirit was promised us by Jesus to carry on among us what His ministry among us had been.
Allan, I don’t understand what you mean. Surely you are not saying that the Holy Spirit is giving us new, direct revelation from God?
John 14:16-18. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” Her did not leave us without His presence, and nothing had really changed, He is with us today just as really as He was. “Lo I am with you ’til the end of the world.”
Allan, thank you for that wonderful scripture text. The Holy Spirit indwells us, regenerating us in the image of Christ. He is the down payment guaranteeing our acceptance with God. He is our comforter and teacher who reminds us of Christ and all He has done for us. He uses the written Word, read and preached, and the administration of the sacraments to point is to Christ. He helps us pray and even intercedes for us. He uses these ordained means, He does not go beyond the written Word to give us new, private revelation directly from God. Does this agree with what you are saying?