1. Psa. 119:160; 2 Tim. 3:16-17 The “No Pattern” Theory (1)

2. Guy N. Woods “With much of brother Cogdill’s speech I am in complete agreement…No one calls in question these matters which he discussed regarding the authority of the scripture, the all-sufficiency of the church of our Lord in the matter of performing the work which God gave the church to do. That is not an issue in this debate and will not be.” -The Cogdill-Woods Debate, 26 Lufkin: The Gospel Guardian Co., 1958 -The Cogdill-Woods Debate, 26 Lufkin: The Gospel Guardian Co., 1958 2

3. Reuel Lemmons “Restoration assumes patternism. If there is no pattern to lose there is none to restore. The very validity of the Restoration principle rests upon the preclusion that God wanted certain things certain ways, and men have ignored what God wanted. What is it that we are going to restore? Is it not the restoring of doing Bible things in Bible ways? It seems to me that if this principle is ignored then we have no real reason for trying to restore anything… 3

4. Reuel Lemmons “Is God a God who deals in patterns? He did with Noah. He did with Moses in the building of the tabernacle. Unless he changes his nature he still deals in patterns with us. His patterns must be respected. “We must go to pattern theology for our very concept of the church… Everything we read in the Scriptures enforces the pattern concept… 4

5. Reuel Lemmons “If we assume such a thing as pattern theology, or even admit to the existence of patterns, we are forced to accept limitations, for patterns limit. They restrict to both right and left. This forces us to accept God’s authority in areas of silence as well as in areas of revelation.” -One Body, Summer 1988, page 4 5

6. The Second Incarnation Rubel Shelly & Randall J. Harris “But there is no infallible method for interpreting Scripture. There is no heaven-given system of Bible study.” (p. 19) “Thus we reject a rigid ‘pattern theology’ that simply proposes to transplant religious-cultural forms from the Bible to the 20th or 21st century.” (p. 31) “Our hermeneutic is therefore theological and Christocentric.” (p. 28) 6

7. The Second Incarnation Rubel Shelly & Randall J. Harris “Is the activity or methodology under contemplation consistent with the person and work of Jesus Christ? If we do this, will the people who see it think we reveal Christ? Will we be doing what people would expect to see Christ doing in this situation?” (p. 29) 7

8. The Second Incarnation Rubel Shelly & Randall J. Harris “This principle (Christocentricity, jrp) has broad consequences for ecclesiology. It says, for example, that the church need not have either explicit mandate or permission for everything it wishes to do. The church may confidently ground its activities of compassion and service in the character of its head.” (p. 29) 8

9. Fundamental difference in how we view & apply patterns (Bible authority) is why churches of Christ are divided, 1 Cor. 11:19 Fundamental difference in how we view & apply patterns (Bible authority) is why churches of Christ are divided, 1 Cor. 11:19 If Bible teaches “no patterns” to follow, doesn’t that make the Bible a pattern for “no patternism”? If Bible teaches “no patterns” to follow, doesn’t that make the Bible a pattern for “no patternism”? God-Given Patterns 9

10. Patterns in the OT Noah, Gen. 6:14, 22 Noah, Gen. 6:14, 22 Moses, Exo. 25:8-9, 40; 26:30; 27:8 (40:16); Heb. 8:5; Acts 7:41, 44 Moses, Exo. 25:8-9, 40; 26:30; 27:8 (40:16); Heb. 8:5; Acts 7:41, 44 Nadab & Abihu, Lev. 10:1-2 Nadab & Abihu, Lev. 10:1-2 King Saul, 1 Sam. 15:3, 8, 22 King Saul, 1 Sam. 15:3, 8, 22 Solomon, 1 Chrn. 28:10-12, 19-20 (29:1) Solomon, 1 Chrn. 28:10-12, 19-20 (29:1) Jeroboam, 1 Kgs. 12:28-33 Jeroboam, 1 Kgs. 12:28-33 10

11. Patterns in the NT FORM of doctrine Rom. 6:17-18 FORM of doctrine Rom. 6:17-18 PATTERN of sound words we must hold fast 2 Tim. 1:13 PATTERN of sound words we must hold fast 2 Tim. 1:13 PATTERN of examples to follow, Phil. 3:17 (Titus 2:7-8) PATTERN of examples to follow, Phil. 3:17 (Titus 2:7-8) 11

12. How Divine Patterns are Revealed in the Scripture DIRECT COMMAND / STATEMENT DIRECT COMMAND / STATEMENT – “Take, eat” – 1 Cor. 11:24-26 (What) APOSTOLIC APPROVED EXAMPLE APOSTOLIC APPROVED EXAMPLE – “On the first day of the week” – Acts 20:7 (When) NECESSARY INFERENCE NECESSARY INFERENCE – “On the first day of the week” – Acts 20:7 (Frequency) (Frequency) 12

13. Generic & Specific Authority COMMANDGENERICSPECIFIC NoahWoodGopher NaamanWater River Jordan DisciplesGo Preach gospel ChurchMusicSing Preach, Edify, Relieve Saints Organization Local church 13

14. Discerning Divine Patterns Philippians 1:9-11 Revelation from God – Gal. 1:6-10; Col. 3:16-17 Revelation from God – Gal. 1:6-10; Col. 3:16-17 Apostolic in its authority – 1 Cor. 14:37; Gal. 1:8; 1 Jno. 4:6 (cf. 1:3-4; 2:19) Apostolic in its authority – 1 Cor. 14:37; Gal. 1:8; 1 Jno. 4:6 (cf. 1:3-4; 2:19) Universal in application – Mk. 16:15; 1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17; 11:16; 14:33 Universal in application – Mk. 16:15; 1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17; 11:16; 14:33 14

15. Pattern of Sound Words: Does it Really Matter? 2 Timothy 1:13 Understanding truth, Eph. 5:17 Understanding truth, Eph. 5:17 Holding fast to truth, 2 Tim. 1:13 Holding fast to truth, 2 Tim. 1:13 Honoring Jesus, Luke 6:46 Honoring Jesus, Luke 6:46 Entering heaven, Matthew 7:21 Entering heaven, Matthew 7:21 15