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Hi Braden, if you re-read the section that Matthew has helpfully highlighted you'll notice that the Directory is actually saying the opposite of what you thought it was saying! (Let me see if I can explain this.)
They're drawing a comparison. They're saying that "Just as the Pastor is the one who interprets and explains the Scriptures in the church, so the Father should interpret and explain the Scripture in the home." They are drawing a connection between the church and the family and giving voice to the Reformation belief that the family is a "little church." So the point is not that only ordained ministers are to read and interpret the Word - in fact the opposite is in view! They are urging every family, every household, to take up the daily task of reading, interpreting, and applying the Word of God to their daily lives.
To quote again:
" As the charge and office of interpreting the holy scriptures is a part of the ministerial calling, which [you]none[/you] (however otherwise qualified) should take upon him in any place, but he that is duly called thereunto by God and his kirk;"
It quite clearly states that none except duly called ministers may interpret the holy scriptures to others. It is making an analogy within respective spheres: As the minister must not neglect the ordinary duty of interpreting/preaching the Word, so the family and especially the head must not neglect the ordinary duty of reading and conferring over the Word.
It is also establishing an important distinction. Contra Doug Wilson and other patriarchalists, as well as the Quakers and Brownists of the time of the Directory, the husband/father is not a minister in the home and ought not to preach or interpret to his family as one with ordained authority, nor is the home a church. Nevertheless there is an analogical duty to read the word in the family and to reprove and exhort according to the plain meaning of it. The distinction and priority between public worship and family worship must be maintained.
so the Father should interpret and explain the Scripture in the home
I don't believe that is a fair reading of the passage. In fact, it appears to be well contrary to what was written.
And the father has a particular role in leading his family in the reading and study of the Scriptures (which, I think we can agree, is clearly what the Directory has in view).
and it is commendable, that thereafter they confer, and by way of conference make some good use of what hath been read and heard.
Edward,That suggests a discussion by all, not a leader - follower session.
In all which the master of the family is to have the chief hand;
Again, I would suggest that that is a strained reading.
That suggests a discussion by all, not a leader - follower session.
(who reads the word and exhorts his family with the word)
Not at all. I think you are trying to split a hair that I do not have.Again, I would suggest that you are reading into it the exact opposite of the language posted by the Rev. McMahon. The language seems clear that the head of the household is to be the discussion leader, not the exhorter.
as also, admonition and rebuke, upon just reasons, from those who have authority in the family.
As, for example, if any sin be reproved in the word read, use may be made thereof to make all the family circumspect and watchful against the same; or if any judgment be threatened, or mentioned to have been inflicted, in that portion of scripture which is read, use may be made to make all the family fear lest the same or a worse judgment befall them, unless they beware of the sin that procured it: and, finally, if any duty be required, or comfort held forth in a promise, use may be made to stir up themselves to employ Christ for strength to enable them for doing the commanded duty, and to apply the offered comfort. In all which the master of the family is to have the chief hand;
The language seems clear that the head of the household is to be the discussion leader, not the exhorter.
That suggests a discussion by all, not a leader - follower session
What do you mean when you say/read:
1) interpret
2) exhort
For exhort, I'll just go with the dictionary definition:
"It derives from the Latin verb hortari, meaning "to incite," and it often implies the ardent urging or admonishing of an orator or preacher."
as also, admonition and rebuke, upon just reasons, from those who have authority in the family.
You mean like this?
Obviously I wasn't clear in what I wrote so let me see if I can clarify what I was aiming at in my original post.
I think my use of the word "interpret" is what's causing confusion. So let's scratch that and let me explain what I mean.
The Larger Catechism Questions I quoted above say that all men are to read the Word diligently: "with desire to know, believe, and obey the will of God revealed in them; with diligence, and attention to the matter and scope of them; with meditation, application, self-denial, and prayer." There is obvious study, analysis, and attention involved with this. We are to wrestle with the text and are to work to uncover its meaning. So in that very general sense, yes, all men are called to read and "interpret" the Bible. (What's the alternative here? To read your Bible without thinking about what it's saying? Of course not.). And the father has a particular role in leading his family in the reading and study of the Scriptures (which, I think we can agree, is clearly what the Directory has in view).
Now here is what that does NOT mean:
1) It does NOT mean that the father is some sort of authoritative Pastor/priest in his home a la Doug Wilson/FV teaching.
2) It does NOT mean that every individual takes the task of interpretation on their own shoulders with the "me-and-my-Bible" attitude described above.
Hopefully that explains what I meant by the word "interpret" above.
Great question brother. Let me see if I can clarify my stance.
All Christians share in Christ's office-bearing in some way (this is well attested in the Scriptures and the Reformed Tradition). I think Wilson et al. takes these historic categories and uses them in new ways. So I have no issue with Matthew Henry (or William Gouge, or Richard Baxter's) use of the prophet/priest/king paradigm for fathers in the home.
But I've seen disciples of Wilson (who I did not call a heretic by the way) use these ideas in ways that deny the authority of the church and of ordained ministers of the gospel. That's all I was trying to guard against.
(prayer, catechizing, reading the word, exhorting them in the word, and signing psalms).
of course.....duh (corrected)
I think it's pretty cool, honestly.of course.....duh
Thank you for the considerate response. Maybe I should have addressed my question to the group rather than you. I know that you did not call Doug Wilson a heretic and I apologize for the accusatory tone. That was not really my conscious intention. Although I may have meant it without meaning to. Regardless I apologize.
I do get a bit irrated however, when people on PB are so quick to discount everything that Doug Wilson does and says, yet they continually make excuses for or are absolutely silent with regard to Tim Keller and the likes.
I am not a Doug Wilson disciple but I will tell you that his book called Federal Husband is the best thing on the covenant family/father/husband that I have ever read. It crushed me. It destroyed my pride. And God used it to drive me to repentance. So for that I feel indebted enough to at least not allow folk to blow him off when he brings such a valuable resource to the family and church. ( And he is currently giving it away at that.)
I have never used what I have learned with regard to the federal husband/father to dismiss the authority of the the church or her ordained ministers. I have not seen that from Doug Wilson either. (I'm not saying that doesn't exsist) What I am saying is that if someone has a gripe with prophet/priest or federal husband/father in the "little church" in my house and me seeing that as my role, show me from scripture. Book. Chapter. Verse.
Peace and Grace,
Santos