[Glossary] The Bible, Logic and Good and Necessary Consequence

1. (Clark 1965, 19-20): "Though we are not to add to the Scripture -- no sign of the cross, no bowing at the second phrase of the Apostles' Creed, no holy days or saint's days, no kneeling at the Lord's Supper -- nonetheless we are not restricted to the explicit words of Scripture. God is wisdom, and Christ is the Logos or Reason of God; we were created in his image, and are therefore required to accept conclusions deduced from Scripture 'by good and necessary consequence.' "

"Christ himself, in arguing against the Pharisees, frequently drew out the implications of the Old Testament. John 10:34-36 is such as argument. Another example of implication, though not from the words of the Old Testament, is found in John 8:42. Paul in Rom. 3:20 draws a conclusion from a series of Old Testament verses. There are many other examples; and, to use the language of college textbooks, we 'leave as an exercise for the student' the discovery of several of them."

"This process of implication, which characterizes the New Testament, must also be applied today. Really, the trouble is not the justification of logic. Who can deny that when Scripture says, all men are sinners, we must, because we are men, draw the conclusion that we are sinners? Or, when Jesus says, 'Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out,' and we add the minor premise, I come to Jesus, the logical, necessary, inescapable conclusion is, Jesus will not cast me out. No, the trouble is not the justification of logic. The trouble is that some people doubt logic."

"The neo-orthodox Brunner says logic must be curbed. Barth, at least in his earlier writings, insisted on Paradox. Some other people assume an appearance of piety and talk about 'our merely human logic,' which is so different from God's higher thoughts and ways. In effect these people deny that we have been created in God's image. But aside from their denial of the doctrine of creation, we wonder how they can talk, argue, or preach at all. Do they tell us, 'all have sinned, but any implication that this means you [are a sinner] is mere human logic and is not to be trusted.'? "

"Away with such illogicality! Let us pay no attention to these confused people, no matter how pious they seem. The Confession is right, clearly and obviously right, in accepting what 'by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture.'"

We are not restricted to the explicit words of the Bible.

We are required to accept conclusions deduced from the Bible by good and necessary consequence.


Reference:

Clark, Gordon H. 1965. What Do Presbyterians Believe? The Westminster Confession: Yesterday and Today. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company.

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