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Question 4

Bercot comments, “That, of course, is Augustine speaking, not Jesus”; what are some ways Christians practically treat famous theologians as interpretive authorities over Christ, and how can a group distinguish “historic wisdom” from “muffling God’s Word”?

Another way to ask: Bercot says, “That’s Augustine speaking, not Jesus.” How do Christians sometimes treat famous teachers as higher authorities than Jesus, and how can we tell the difference between helpful tradition and blocking God’s Word?

Direct Answer The transcript suggests Christians treat theologians as authorities when their explanations become the default meaning of Scripture, even when those explanations blunt Jesus’ direct commands. A group can distinguish wisdom from muffling by checking whether the “authority” clarifies Jesus or explains Him away.

Support from Transcript:

Bercot says Calvin “often plagiarized Augustine,” and in the oaths discussion adds, “That, of course, is Augustine speaking, not Jesus.”
He claims preachers spread Calvin’s ideas so widely that pulpits preached “Calvin’s thoughts, not those of Jesus.”
In nonresistance, Calvin warns against taking Jesus literally as “nitpicking about words,” which functions as a method to override Christ’s wording.
In loving enemies, Calvin’s framework (“Christ does not introduce new laws”) “sidestepped the radical implication” of Jesus’ teaching.
Bercot calls later commentary dependence “the blind leading the blind,” showing how tradition can become self-reinforcing.

Discussion Follow-ups When you quote a theologian, does it make you more ready to obey Jesus, or more ready to qualify Him? What practices could keep your group returning to the actual words of Christ?

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