"To substitute Scripture for the self-revealing Spirit is to put the dead letter in the place of the living Word"
- Sebastian Franck
About this Quote
This quote by Sebastian Franck is a warning against relying too greatly on the composed word of the Bible. Franck is warning against utilizing Scripture as a substitute for the self-revealing Spirit, which is the living Word of God. He is recommending that if we rely exclusively on the composed word of the Bible, we are losing out on the power of the living Word of God. The written word of the Bible is important, but it is inadequate. We need to be open up to the assistance of the self-revealing Spirit in order to truly understand and experience the power of the living Word. Franck is advising us that the written word of the Bible is just a part of the equation which we should also be open to the guidance of the self-revealing Spirit in order to really comprehend and experience the power of the living Word. By relying entirely on the composed word of the Bible, we are missing out on the power of the living Word of God.
"The Lord knows that I could not open scripture; he must by his prophetical office open it unto me. So after that being unsatisfied in the thing, the Lord was pleased to bring this scripture out of the Hebrews"
"There have been no sects in the Christian world, however absurd, which have not endeavoured to support their opinions by arguments drawn from Scripture"
"All anger is not sinful, because some degree of it, and on some occasions, is inevitable. But it becomes sinful and contradicts the rule of Scripture when it is conceived upon slight and inadequate provocation, and when it continues long"
