There is hardly a week where this verse is not quoted somewhere in a church of God. In and of itself, it stands as a great admonition and rule of thumb for everyone in the congregation. However, as with all verses, they do not stand alone. I bring this point out in my sermon, Full Immersion, wherein I show this scripture as being tied to many other scriptures that deal with our righteousness in the Salvation Process.
First, let me point out that “all things” does not mean all things under the sun, but all those things pertinent to the Salvation Process. The same meaning applies to 1 John 2:20 which states that we have unction of the Holy Spirit and “know all things.” We know all things pertaining to the Salvation Process. The Word of God is our handbook to that process. Notice an excerpt from my sermon concerning 1 Thess. 5:21:
Let us go through an example of “Getting all the Scriptures” using a verse we hear all the time:
1 Thess 5:21
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
If this is the only verse we know or use, we are only getting our feet wet. Let’s get fully immersed:
Listen as I read, line upon line:
Matt 7:15-16
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Point: “fruit” here is defined as adherence to scripture, so you must know the scriptures.
Rom 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Point: We must be “renewing” our minds (a process). A part of proving all things is proving what the will of God is.
1 Cor 2:11
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Point: Proving we must have God’s Spirit.
1 Cor 14:27-28
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
Point: Part of proving things is talking to God.
Phil 1:10
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Point: We must be sincere and without offence.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Point: We must try spirits including our thoughts which often come from spirits.
Rev 2:2
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Point: We must prove our teachers and ministers.
Acts 17:11
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Point: The key
here is “readiness of mind”. The only way we can have readiness of mind, the
only way we can “prove all things” is to IMMERSE ourselves in the Word of God.
--end of excerpt--
Notice now the commentaries on this verse. Barnes is much more involved than
Clarks but say essentially the same thing. Both are instructive.
[Prove all things] Whatever ye hear in these prophesyings or preachings, examine by the words of Christ, and by the doctrines which, from time to time, we have delivered unto you in our preaching and writings. Try the spirits-the different teachers, by the word of God.
[Hold fast that which is good.] Whatever in these prophesyings has a tendency to increase your faith, love, holiness, and usefulness, that receive and hold fast. There were prophets or teachers even at that time who professed to be of God, and yet were not. ~ Clarke
Note: We prove the
preaching we receive [sermons, Bible studies,
booklets, papers and tapes] by the Word of God. This is also how we
prove the ministry [See
Matthew 7:15-20]. True ministers are in close adherence to the Word of
God. We hold fast or make a part of our faith and character those things we
know, prove and reprove from time to time.
In the next commentary, I will highlight key points in
bright red.
[Prove all things] Subject everything submitted to you to be believed to the proper test. The word here used dokimazete (NT:1381), is one that is properly applicable to metals, referring to the art of the assayer, by which the true nature and value of the metal is tested; see notes, 1 Cor 3:13. This trial was usually made by fire. The meaning here is, that they were carefully to examine everything proposed for their belief. They were not to receive it on trust; to take it on assertion; to believe it because it was urged with vehemence, zeal, or plausibility. In the various opinions and doctrines which were submitted to them for adoption, they were to apply the appropriate tests from reason and the word of God, and what they found to be true they were to embrace; what was false they were to reject. Christianity [the Word of God] does not require people to disregard their reason, or to be credulous. It [the Word of God] does not expect them to believe anything because others say it is so. It does not make it a duty to receive as undoubted truth all that synods and councils have decreed; or all that is advanced by the ministers of religion. It is, more than any other form of religion, the friend of free inquiry, and would lead people everywhere to understand the reason of the opinions which they entertain; compare Acts 17:11-12; 1 Peter 3:15 [see these below].
[Hold fast that which is good] Which is in accordance with reason and the word of God; which is adapted to promote the salvation of the soul and the welfare of society. This is just as much a duty as it is to "prove all things." A man who has applied the proper tests, and has found out what is truth, is bound to embrace it and to hold it fast. He is not at liberty to throw it away, as if it were valueless; or to treat truth and falsehood alike. It is a duty which he owes to himself and to God to adhere to it firmly, and to suffer the loss of all things rather than to abandon it. There are few more important rules in the New Testament than the one in this passage. It shows what is the true nature of Christianity, and it is a rule whose practical value cannot but be felt constantly in our lives. Other religions require their votaries to receive everything upon trust; Christianity asks us to examine everything.
Error, superstition, bigotry, and fanaticism attempt to repress free discussion,
by saying that there are certain things which are too sacred in their nature, or
which have been too long held, or which are sanctioned by too many great and
holy names, to permit their being subjected to the scrutiny of common eyes, or
to be handled by common hands. In opposition to all
this, Christianity [the Word of God]
requires us to examine everything-no matter by whom
held; by what councils ordained; by what venerableness of antiquity sustained;
or by what sacredness it may be invested. We are to receive no
opinion until we are convinced that it is true; we are to be subjected to no
pains or penalties for not believing what we do not perceive to be true;
we are to be prohibited from examining no opinion which
our fellow-men regard as true, and which they seek to make others believe.
No popular current in favor of any doctrine; no influence which name and rank
and learning can give it, is to commend it to us as certainly worthy of our
belief. By whomsoever held, we are to examine it
freely before we embrace it; but when we are convinced that it is true, it is to
be held, no matter what current of popular opinion or prejudice maybe against
it; no matter what ridicule may be poured upon it; and no matter though the
belief of it may require us to die a martyr's death.
~ Barnes
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the
scriptures daily, whether those things were so. -Acts 17:11
But sanctify the
Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that
asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
-1 Peter 3:15
Note: The meaning is
clear. We are not to believe something because of
slick argument or because some man, or group or organization says it is
true. We are to believe the preaching and writings we hear and see because they
are out of the Word of God. We can only do this if we know what the Word of God
says. We must be immersed in the Word of God. We must think in terms of
scripture. The Word of God is the mind of God and this is to be our mind.
Lesson 31:
Instructions –
Prove all things. Hold fast
that which is good.
1] Know the scriptures.
2] Know and review often, the doctrines of the church.
3] Renew your mind by full immersion into the Word of God, thus proving
what the will of God is [Rom 12:2].
4] Speak to God [pray] (1 Cor 14:27-28).
5] Be sincere and without offence (Phil 1:10).
6] Try all spirits and all your thoughts (1 John 4:1).
7] Prove your teachers and ministers (Matt 7:15-20 and Rev 2:2).
8] Have readiness of mind by being immersed in the Word of God (Acts
17:11).
9] Do not believe anything, including sermons, papers, booklets, tapes,
doctrinal explanations, ministers or teachers until you prove it yourself with
your Bible.
10] Never become a victim of a slick but false argument or a powerful and
dynamic but false speaker or teacher.
11] Know the difference between
Good and Bad theology.
12] Hold fast and protect what you have proven as true. Embrace it.
Make it a part of your mind and character.