Psa. 119:160; 2 Tim. 3:16-17Psa. 119:160; 2 Tim. 3:16-17

The “No Pattern” The “No Pattern” Theory (1)Theory (1)

Guy N. WoodsGuy N. Woods

““With much of brother Cogdill’s speech I am in With much of brother Cogdill’s speech I am in complete agreement…complete agreement…No one calls in question No one calls in question these matters which he discussed regarding the these matters which he discussed regarding the authority of the scripture,authority of the scripture, the all-sufficiency of the all-sufficiency of the church of our Lord in the matter of the church of our Lord in the matter of performing the work which God gave the church performing the work which God gave the church to do. That is to do. That is not an issuenot an issue in this debate and will in this debate and will not be.”not be.”

-The Cogdill-Woods Debate , 26 -The Cogdill-Woods Debate , 26 Lufkin: The Gospel Guardian Co., 1958Lufkin: The Gospel Guardian Co., 1958

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

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Reuel LemmonsReuel Lemmons

““Is God a God who deals in patterns?Is God a God who deals in patterns? He did He did with Noah. He did with Moses in the building with Noah. He did with Moses in the building of the tabernacle. Unless he changes his of the tabernacle. Unless he changes his nature he still deals in patterns with us. nature he still deals in patterns with us. His His patterns must be respected.patterns must be respected.

““We must go to pattern theology for our very We must go to pattern theology for our very concept of the church… Everything we read in concept of the church… Everything we read in the Scriptures enforces the pattern concept…the Scriptures enforces the pattern concept…

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Reuel LemmonsReuel Lemmons

““If we assume such a thing as pattern If we assume such a thing as pattern theology, or even theology, or even admitadmit to the existence of to the existence of patternspatterns, we are , we are forced to accept limitationsforced to accept limitations, , for for patterns limitpatterns limit. They restrict to both right . They restrict to both right and left. This forces us to accept and left. This forces us to accept God’s God’s authorityauthority in areas of in areas of silencesilence as well as in areas as well as in areas of of revelationrevelation.”.”

-One Body, Summer 1988, page 4-One Body, Summer 1988, page 4

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The Second IncarnationThe Second IncarnationRubel Shelly & Randall J. HarrisRubel Shelly & Randall J. Harris

““But there is But there is nono infallible method for interpreting infallible method for interpreting ScriptureScripture. There is no heaven-given system of Bible . There is no heaven-given system of Bible study.” (p. 19)study.” (p. 19)

““Thus Thus we rejectwe reject a rigid ‘ a rigid ‘pattern theology’pattern theology’ that simply that simply proposes to transplant religious-cultural forms from proposes to transplant religious-cultural forms from the Bible to the 20th or 21st century.” (p. 31)the Bible to the 20th or 21st century.” (p. 31)

““Our hermeneutic is therefore theological and Our hermeneutic is therefore theological and ChristocentricChristocentric.” (p. 28).” (p. 28)

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The Second IncarnationThe Second IncarnationRubel Shelly & Randall J. HarrisRubel Shelly & Randall J. Harris

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

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The Second IncarnationThe Second IncarnationRubel Shelly & Randall J. HarrisRubel Shelly & Randall J. Harris

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

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• Fundamental Fundamental differencedifference in how we in how we view & view & apply patternsapply patterns (Bible authority) is (Bible authority) is whywhy churches of Christ are churches of Christ are divideddivided, , 1 Cor. 11:191 Cor. 11:19

• If Bible teaches “no patterns” to follow, If Bible teaches “no patterns” to follow, doesn’t that make the Bible a pattern for doesn’t that make the Bible a pattern for “no patternism”?“no patternism”?

God-Given PatternsGod-Given Patterns

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Patterns Patterns inin

the OTthe OT

•Noah, Noah, Gen. 6:14, 22Gen. 6:14, 22

•Moses, Moses, Exo. 25:8-9, 40; Exo. 25:8-9, 40; 26:30; 27:8 (40:16); Heb. 8:5; 26:30; 27:8 (40:16); Heb. 8:5; Acts 7:41, 44Acts 7:41, 44

•Nadab & Abihu, Nadab & Abihu, Lev. 10:1-2Lev. 10:1-2

•King Saul, King Saul, 1 Sam. 15:3, 8, 221 Sam. 15:3, 8, 22

•Solomon, Solomon, 1 Chrn. 28:10-12, 1 Chrn. 28:10-12, 19-20 (29:1)19-20 (29:1)

•Jeroboam, Jeroboam, 1 Kgs. 12:28-331 Kgs. 12:28-33

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Patterns Patterns inin

the NTthe NT•FORM of doctrine FORM of doctrine Rom. 6:17-18Rom. 6:17-18

•PATTERN of sound PATTERN of sound words we must hold fast words we must hold fast 2 Tim. 1:132 Tim. 1:13

•PATTERN of examples PATTERN of examples to follow, to follow, Phil. 3:17 Phil. 3:17 (Titus 2:7-8)(Titus 2:7-8)

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How Divine Patterns are How Divine Patterns are Revealed in the Revealed in the

ScriptureScripture• DIRECT COMMAND / STATEMENTDIRECT COMMAND / STATEMENT

– ““Take, eat”Take, eat” – – 1 Cor. 11:24-261 Cor. 11:24-26 ((WhatWhat))• APOSTOLIC APPROVED EXAMPLEAPOSTOLIC APPROVED EXAMPLE

– ““On the first day of the week”On the first day of the week” – – Acts 20:7 Acts 20:7 ((WhenWhen))

• NECESSARY INFERENCENECESSARY INFERENCE– ““On the first day of the week”On the first day of the week” – – Acts 20:7Acts 20:7 ((FrequencyFrequency))

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Generic & Specific Generic & Specific AuthorityAuthority

COMMANDCOMMAND GENERICGENERIC SPECIFICSPECIFIC

NoahNoah WoodWood GopherGopher

NaamanNaaman WaterWater River JordanRiver Jordan

DisciplesDisciples GoGo Preach gospelPreach gospel

ChurchChurch MusicMusic SingSing

Preach, Edify, Preach, Edify, Relieve SaintsRelieve Saints

OrganizationOrganization Local churchLocal church

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Discerning Divine Discerning Divine Patterns Patterns Philippians 1:9-11Philippians 1:9-11

• Revelation from God – Revelation from God – Gal. 1:6-10; Col. Gal. 1:6-10; Col. 3:16-173:16-17

• Apostolic in its authority – Apostolic in its authority – 1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Cor. 14:37; Gal. 1:8; 1 Jno. 4:6 (cf. 1:3-4; 2:19)Gal. 1:8; 1 Jno. 4:6 (cf. 1:3-4; 2:19)

• Universal in application – Universal in application – Mk. 16:15; Mk. 16:15; 1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17; 11:16; 14:331 Cor. 4:17; 7:17; 11:16; 14:33

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Pattern of Sound Pattern of Sound Words:Words: Does it Really Does it Really

Matter?Matter?2 Timothy 1:132 Timothy 1:13

• Understanding truth, Understanding truth, Eph. 5:17Eph. 5:17• Holding fast to truth, Holding fast to truth, 2 Tim. 1:132 Tim. 1:13• Honoring Jesus, Honoring Jesus, Luke 6:46Luke 6:46• Entering heaven, Entering heaven, Matthew 7:21Matthew 7:21

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