As we have been discussing hermeneutics and how to interpret the Bible, much of our focus has been on what is or is not authorized. In this article, we will study what the Bible teaches about patterns. These patterns allow us to take several things that are authorized and put them together as a complete system, such as how the church is organized or what our worship should look like. God has always used patterns to instruct His people, and we will notice a couple of examples in the Old Testament. But the pattern we follow today is found in the New Testament.
Why the New Testament?
The concept of a “New Testament pattern” is found in Paul’s second letter to Timothy:
“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13, NKJV).
The “pattern” consisted of what the apostle Paul and the other inspired New Testament writers taught. This message was given by inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16) and received from the Holy Spirit, as Paul explained to the brethren in Corinth:
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13).
Because their message was received from heaven, Paul was able to say, “The things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment” (1 Corinthians 14:37). And what Paul taught the brethren in Corinth, he taught “everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:17), which clearly shows that there was a universal teaching for all churches to follow. When Jesus gave His apostles the Great Commission, He told them to teach the “disciples of all the nations…to observe all that I commanded” (Matthew 28:19-20). As disciples of Christ today, we follow the same instructions and, thereby, conform to the same pattern.
But why do we go to the New Testament for this pattern rather than the Old? Paul explained that the old law was “taken…out of the way” and “nailed…to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). We can use the Old Testament for examples (seeing how God dealt with His rebellious people – 1 Corinthians 10:11), definitions (seeing what God expects when He instructs us to dress modestly – 1 Timothy 2:9), or as a reason to take comfort or hope in God’s promises (Romans 15:4); but the Old Testament is not what we use to find authority for a practice as we serve the Lord in His church today. Yet some try to do this. Notice two common examples:
- Instrumental music – Worship in the temple included the use of instruments, and this was done by “the command… from the Lord” (2 Chronicles 29:25). Yet as we discussed in the previous article, the New Testament contains no such command to use instruments in our worship, and the only instructions relate to singing (Colossians 3:16).
- Sabbath-keeping – The children of Israel were to “remember the sabbath day” (Exodus 20:8). Those who violated this law by doing work on that day would “surely be put to death” (Exodus 31:15). Yet the law was clear that this requirement was for “the sons of Israel,” as it was a sign between God and them (Exodus 31:16-17). Nowhere is this carried over into the New Testament and made a requirement for Christians.
If we attempt to go to the old law for our authority – for these or other practices – we obligate ourselves to obey all of it, including the instructions about animal sacrifices and dietary laws. James wrote, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (James 2:10). If we use instruments of music in our worship because they were part of the temple worship authorized under the old law, on what basis could we ignore the laws about the various feast days (including travel to Jerusalem)? The Law of Moses had so many requirements that Peter described it as “a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear” (Acts 15:10). Thankfully, we follow the Lord’s commands in the New Testament, which are “not burdensome” (1 John 5:3), and seek to follow the pattern revealed there.
God Has Always Used Patterns
When Moses was to build the tabernacle, God gave him a pattern to follow: “See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain” (Exodus 25:40). The Hebrew writer explained that this was meant to be an example for us:
“…who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, ‘See,’ He says, ‘that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain’” (Hebrews 8:5).
To show just how important this pattern was, he explained that Jesus could not serve as a priest under the old law because it would have violated the pattern (Hebrews 8:4). We discussed the example of Jesus and the priesthood in the previous article to show that if something is specified, everything else is prohibited (cf. Hebrews 7:11-14). In this case, the Levitical priesthood was part of the pattern given to Moses, while priests from other tribes did not fit that pattern.
Similarly, God gave Noah a pattern to follow in building the ark, which included the type of wood to use, the dimensions, the number of windows and doors, and the number of animals to bring (Genesis 6:13-7:3). Noah followed this pattern and “did according to all that the Lord had commanded him” (Genesis 7:5). The Hebrew writer cited this as an example of faith (Hebrews 11:7).
Today, we are to follow the pattern revealed by the apostles (2 Timothy 1:13). Paul wrote, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Philippians 3:17). This is not to be done in a formulaic, “check all the boxes,” “going through the motions” kind of way. Instead, we serve God in faith, from the heart, and according to the pattern He has given us in His word.
Examples of Patterns
First, notice the plan of salvation. We obey a “form [pattern, NIV] of teaching” (Romans 6:17). We can read about this pattern in several places in the New Testament:
- In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47) – In these passages, Jesus described salvation being offered to those who believe, repent, and are baptized.
- In the preaching at Pentecost (Acts 2:36-38, 41) – There, we see that many in the crowd believed, so they were told to repent and be baptized.
- The “form” of teaching we obey (Romans 6:17, 3-4) – The “pattern of teaching” (NIV) we follow was outlined by Paul earlier in this chapter. It included belief (which is implied), repentance (becoming dead to sin), and baptism (which is into Christ).
If we want to be saved, we have to follow this pattern.
Second, consider the worship of the church. We are to worship God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). How did the early church worship? We can look to the New Testament to find the pattern:
- Singing and prayer – “What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also” (1 Corinthians 14:15).
- Preaching and teaching – “What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification” (1 Corinthians 14:26).
- Observing the Lord’s Supper – “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). As we noted in an earlier article, they did this on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
- Giving (taking up of the collection) – “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save [lay by him in store, KJV], as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
Notice that all of those are found in Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. And remember what we noticed earlier: Paul taught the same things “everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:17). If we want our worship to be acceptable to God, we must follow the pattern.
Third, let us think about the organization of the church. Paul explained that the body (the church) is ordered as God designed (1 Corinthians 12:18). This includes overseers (elders), deacons, and saints (Philippians 1:1). This pattern was consistent throughout the New Testament (cf. Acts 14:23; 20:17; 1 Peter 5:1-3). However, the church was not to place just anyone in these roles; they had to meet certain qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). If we want the local church to be structured as God intended, we must follow this pattern.
Conclusion
By rightly dividing the word of God, we can see what He requires of us in the New Testament. By identifying the pattern found in the New Testament, we can see what to do to please Him. By looking at the complete picture of what He has revealed, we can know how to faithfully serve Him.
