Authority: Apostolic Example
Bible study on Authority: Apostolic Example.

1 Cor. 4:16; 1 Cor. 11:1

God commands us to follow the apostles' example.

God's word (i.e., sound words) establishes a pattern (i.e. form, standard, example) by which we must faithfully live (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

1 Cor. 4:16; 1 Cor. 11:1

We must imitate the apostles who imitate Christ. Therefore when we imitate the apostles, we are imitating Christ (cf. 1 Pet. 2:21).

We must stand fast and hold the apostolic traditions which are taught in God's word (2 Th. 2:15).

We must withdraw from brethren who do not live according to the apostolic traditions (2 Th. 3:6-15).

Heb. 7:12

Apostolic examples in keeping the Mosaic Law are not binding upon Christians. God changed the law.

It is impossible to keep the Mosaic Law today since God destroyed the Jewish temple (cf. Matt. 24:1f).

Gentiles did not keep the traditions of the Mosaic Law (Acts 15:1-29; 21:15-25).

No one may keep the traditions of the Mosaic Law as a matter of salvation (Gal. 2:21; 5:4). Keeping the traditions of the Mosaic Law is a matter of personal choice and cannot be bound upon others (Rom. 14:1-13; Col. 2:4- 8, 16-17, 23).

Paul kept the traditions of the Mosaic Law when it was expedient and he kept Gentiles traditions when they were expedient (Acts 21:24; 1 Cor. 9:19-23).

Rom. 14:1-15:6; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; 10:23-11:1; Col. 2:16-23

Apostolic examples that were cultural are not binding on Christians.

Note: Jewish cultural traditions were often connected to the Mosaic Law. Some Jewish cultural traditions were erroneously bound as if they were commands from God (Matt. 15:8-9; cf. Lk. 11:38).

Paul observed whichever cultural traditions were expedient (1 Cor. 9:19- 23). Neither circumcision nor uncircumcised is important (Gal. 5:6).

Jews could no longer observe some Jewish cultural traditions after becoming Christians (Acts 10:9-16, 28-29; 11:1-18; Gal. 2:11-16).

1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23

Apostolic examples that were expedients are not binding on Christians.

Note: On the surface, there is little difference between cultural traditions and expedients. Many cultural traditions may be expedient, but some cultural traditions transgress the law of Christ and are not expedient for Christians.

As a nation moves farther away from God, an increasing number of cultural traditions transgress the law of Christ and are not expedient for Christians.

Anything meeting the Scriptural criteria of an expedient (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23) may be employed as an expedient by Christians. By nature, expedients today will differ from expedients employed during the first century.