Going Beyond What Is Written

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I am new around here, so I don’t know if this issue has been tackled in this forum.

I Corinthians 4:6 quotes the maxim, which says “Do not go beyond what is written.” But what is written or what writing is being addressed here?

Some Bibles consider this maxim If we read this text in context (the text in relation to the whole), it has reference to being proud. Hence, Saint John Chrysostom, in his homily on First Corinthians, implies that this maxim refers to what was written on the sayings of the Lord on humility.

Another context would refer us to the issue of judging others. Hence, others (I could not remember the reference) opined that the writing being alluded to was the Book of Judgment that would be opened on judgment day.

Of course, we are familiar with the sola scriptura argument that uses this verse as a proof text that only that which is written should be believed and adhered to. However, I know that this is a conclusion that would only wind up contradicting other texts in the Bible and is not supported by Church history until Luther, and therefore could not have been a conclusion intended by Saint Paul.

What are the other interpretations of this text?

What are the literary, historical, grammatical and theological contexts of this text?

I beg your forgiveness if this has been tackled here already, but could you please lead me to the thread. For a Johnny-come-lately guy in this group, I am having difficulty navigating my way through the labyrinth of topics and posts in this forum.

Thank you and God bless!
 
Even John Calvin mentioned that the said verse has nothing to do with Sola Scriptura.
 
wbarquez said:
I am new around here, so I don’t know if this issue has been tackled in this forum.

I Corinthians 4:6 quotes the maxim, which says “Do not go beyond what is written.” But what is written or what writing is being addressed here?

Some Bibles consider this maxim If we read this text in context (the text in relation to the whole), it has reference to being proud. Hence, Saint John Chrysostom, in his homily on First Corinthians, implies that this maxim refers to what was written on the sayings of the Lord on humility.

Another context would refer us to the issue of judging others. Hence, others (I could not remember the reference) opined that the writing being alluded to was the Book of Judgment that would be opened on judgment day.

Of course, we are familiar with the sola scriptura argument that uses this verse as a proof text that only that which is written should be believed and adhered to. However, I know that this is a conclusion that would only wind up contradicting other texts in the Bible and is not supported by Church history until Luther, and therefore could not have been a conclusion intended by Saint Paul.

What are the other interpretations of this text?

What are the literary, historical, grammatical and theological contexts of this text?

I beg your forgiveness if this has been tackled here already, but could you please lead me to the thread. For a Johnny-come-lately guy in this group, I am having difficulty navigating my way through the labyrinth of topics and posts in this forum.

Thank you and God bless!
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Shot in the dark: do not stray from holy scripture.

Remember, writing in antiquity was as restricted as literacy (very) and books (scrolls, later codices) were expensive. Veneration of the book is ancient and medieval, first…

It is easy to imagine the importance of writing to ritual in what was an oral culture.
 
Thomas Aquinas cross-referenced that with Wisdom 4:19 in regards to not going beyond what is written about certain arrogance. (if the link doesn’t work try again in a few hours or another day…that site goes in and out)

And by the way, this is another boost for the Deuterocanon since Aquinas wrote long before the Reformation and was using Wisdom. 😃
 
The Jewish teachers of the day who could find more applications of a scripture text was considerred to be a cleaver fellow. Going beyond what is written was considered a positive thing. For example, we today would take the fact that God is the creator as an argument against abortion. Quoting the saying was simply a way of accusing someone of being too literal, wooden in their interpretation of a text.
 
I’m going to go with the Law of Men…follow the law of God, not the law of men…
So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
6Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
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It seems pretty clear to me just in the context of the verse. However, the idea of and teaching on Apostolic Tradition teaches us that this verse does not refer to sola scriptura or anything else…
 
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