A very busy college student who happens to find time to listen to the podcast named William

also found time to write us this question, Pastor John. I'm an undergraduate student studying

English, philosophy, ancient Greek, and Latin. I hope to attend seminary and use my education

to help others see the glory of Christ, but my reformed roots are always pushing me to

want to do it by the book. Although God's Word is sufficient and in errands, it does not

encompass all knowledge. For example, we do not throw out the law of gravity just because Jesus

never explained why apples fall from trees. So how do you navigate what to keep and what to get rid

of? Say, if Aristotle makes some points about epistemology that the Bible doesn't explicitly affirm,

but also doesn't deny, is it okay for me to say it is true? Pastor John, what would you say to

William? The doctrine of the sufficiency of scripture, which he's alluding to in part, is not

designed to discourage us from gaining knowledge from the natural world. That doesn't

knowledge that doesn't come through the Bible. It's just you coming from observation. It's not

designed to discourage us from getting that kind of knowledge. Rather, the doctrine is designed

to protect us from seeking or receiving more supernatural knowledge, more supernatural revelation.

In other words, God's Word to us in scripture does not need to be supplemented by more words of

God from anyone claiming to be God. The point is that the scriptures are sufficient revelation

from God to accomplish what the revelation was designed to do and does not need to be supplemented

by any more revelation. So Jude in his book near the end of the New Testament says, I found it

necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to

the saints. There is a finality about God's revelatory word through Jesus Christ in his apostles.

There is a once for all deposit of truth. There's a completed whole council of God. There's a faith

once for all delivered. And the doctrine of the sufficiency of scripture is meant to safeguard

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