ARE PAUL’S EPISTLES THE ONLY BOOKS FOR DOCTRINE TODAY?

Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

October 10, 2015

We are told over and over again by dispensationalists that Romans through Philemon are the only books for doctrine today. But is this true? Let’s ask the man himself. Paul, are your epistles the only books for doctrine today? Paul says no. We then ask him; what books of the Bible should we use to teach and preach doctrine to God’s people today? Paul answered that question years ago in 2 Timothy 3:16: In this one verse Paul told us what books of the Bible we should use to teach doctrine today. He said: ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Do you see what books of the Bible are profitable for doctrine today? According to Paul the apostle of the gentiles, ALL SCRIPTURE is profitable for doctrine. He did not say my epistles only as these hyper dispensationalists teach. He said ALL SCRIPTURE is profitable for doctrine.

This is why he quotes the Old Testament between 150-200 times in his epistles. This is why he uses the expression, as it is written, referring to the Old Testament, 33 times in his epistles. This is why he bases at least 55 church doctrines on the Old Testament scriptures. This is why major doctrines of the church are based upon the Old Testament scriptures such as: the Gospel, Justification by Faith, Righteousness by Faith, The Promise of the Indwelling Spirit of God, and the Resurrection of the Dead, and Translation of Living saints at Christ’s coming, and many more.

Another fact is this; when Paul preached and taught the word of God during his life time what books of the Bible did he have in his possession? Some people think he had all 66 books of the Bible in his hands like us. But the fact is, the only books of the Bible that Paul and all the apostles and Christ preached and taught from were Old Testament books especially the prophets like Isaiah the most quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament.

So who are you going to believe? The hyper dispensationalists who say Romans through Philemon are the only books for doctrine today, or the apostle Paul who said ALL SCRIPTURE is profitable for doctrine today?

I think I will believe Paul. How about you?