Is The Bible Enough?

I'm reading plenty of books, but the most facinating is The Bible. Lonnie

I asked my husband recently, "Is the Bible enough? Should we need any more than that to understand God's instructions to us?"

For a week (or more) I've been in Titus. Not the whole book, mind you. Only the first five verses. I don't know about you, but I usually slide past introductions to get right into the meat -- the real lesson. Not this time. Circled P's in my Bible and journal indicate prayer. This morning, my circled P was followed by, "I'm curious God. Is there a reason that You have me here?

I tried to gain what I could via cross-references and rereading. When I finally succumbed to commentaries, I asked, "Why didn't I see that?"

"Titus, like Timothy," says HarperCollins Bible Commentary," is described as a 'loyal' child, in deliberate contrast to the rebellious people disrupting the church." I'd read the description of Titus and of the Cretans, but I didn't catch the contrast.

Likewise, the Life Application Bible helped me see why Paul, in the first verses of Titus, tells his readers that God does not lie. A few verses later he writes that Cretans are well-practiced in lying. Again, I missed the contrast, but was grateful that someone brought it to my attention. Paul wanted his audience (then and now) to know that the Word of God is absolute truth, and not to be taken lightly.

So, I have to ask again: Is The Bible Enough?

Several thoughts are flashing through my head. Please add yours to mine.

The Bible. . . plus the Holy Spirit. (He teaches and counsels. John 14:26)
Bible . . . plus the Body of Christ. (He has given us teachers and pastors . . . some write; some speak and many do both. Ephesians 4:11)

" . . . the Bible is meant to be interpreted within the context and accountability of faithful community."
Forgotten God by Francis Chan, p.29


If the Bible is all we have, it will be enough. Having pastors and study helps is a tremendous blessing AND a tremendous responsibility. Men are fallable and opinionated. Sometimes people (even educated ones) are WRONG. We must discern.

A pastor told us once, that anything beyond the text is man's thoughts. Commentary is below the line, and while helpful, it is not inspired.

My thought is that the root word of commentary is "comments."

But . . .

the final Word is this: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Ever Growing,
Lonnie