I enjoy memes, but there’s a risk in making memes that quote men without context, citation, or reference. A popular meme shared on social media has provoked conversation, including unjust criticism.
This quote was by Thomas Watson (c. 1620-1686) who said. “The two testaments are the two lips by which God hath spoken to us.” Some of the comments by those who misunderstood Watson are postmortem slander or libelous postmortem. And it seems his critics are dispensationalists and Arminians.
But context and hermeneutics matter.
The origin of this quote came from Watson’s book A Body of Divinity (pg. 26). I generally do not defend man, but I don’t believe Watson was being “facetious,” or “sarcastic” as some said. Nor was he alleging that God the Father “had two lips.” Nonetheless, when engaging in Theology Proper, we must tread lightly. So don’t just read the memes read and enjoy the books. Albeit the Bible should be our number one top shelf read.
Watson was a covenantal theologian, so he understood there is only one true God, with one consistent voice, who has the same voice transcending throughout all time. Today there is only one way God speaks to us, or one way we hear from God, and that is through His Word.
For context, that quote is an excerpt from part 2 of his introduction to A Body of Divinity, where Watson was commenting on question 2 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. Isaiah 8:20; 2 Tim. 3:16; Eph. 2:20; 1 John 1:3-4; Luke 16:29,31;
His commentary (below) was on 2 Timothy 3:16 which was used in the Catechism as a Scripture reference. As Watson said,
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,’ By Scripture is understood the sacred Book of God. It is given by divine inspiration; that is, the Scripture is not the contrivance of man’s brain, but is divine in its origin. The image of Diana was had in veneration by the Ephesians, because they supposed it fell from Jupiter. Acts 19:95. The holy Scripture is to be highly reverenced and esteemed, because we are sure it came from heaven. 2 Pet 1:11. The two Testaments are the two lips by which God has spoken to us.”
Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity, (Pennsylvania: Banner of Truth, Inc. 1692/1958), 26.
Watson was displaying reverential respect for God’s Holy Word, that His Scriptures have a “Jus Divinum,” as our “divine authority,” as our rule of Law, and the regulation of His church.
And since I’m a Baptist, the Baptist Catechism by Benjamin Keech said,
Q. 4. What is the Word of God?
A. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Isaiah 8:20).
Here’s where I become Biblically divisive.
It is the aforementioned Dispensationalists who often speak out of both sides of their mouth as if they had two sets of lips. As I’ve said before, dispensationalism is the mothership that leads to many other errors.
Unlike dispensationalists and their dispensationalism, covenantal theologians (like Watson) do not believe the New and Old Testaments or the covenants among them are separated by timelines (aka dispensations). Instead, we (covenantal theologians) believe the covenants overlap each other. Nor do we see the “Isreal” mentioned in the Scriptures as the geo-political nation of Israel that we hear about today on Fox News. And no, that is not “Antisemitism.” That is worshipping the God of the Scriptures more than a nation and loving His blood-bought spiritual Israel (Israel the church) more than a nation. Yes, doctrine matters, context matters, and covenant theology matters. Only by the grace of God so go the wretched man I am.
Below are some of the many verses on the importance of doctrine. The word doctrine is mentioned approximately 50 times in the Bible, and the doctrine (didaskalia) 21 times. It is an authoritative act to teach, instruct, and teach doctrine.
“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” - Titus 1:9
“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:” - Titus 2:1
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” - 1 Timothy 4:6
“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” - 1 Timothy 4:16
“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,” - 1 Timothy 6:3-4
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” - 2 Timothy 4:2-3
The meme “The two testaments are the two lips by which God hath spoken to us” taken from Thomas Watson
I enjoy memes, but there’s a risk in making memes that quote men without context, citation, or reference. A popular meme shared on social media has provoked conversation, including unjust criticism.
This quote was by Thomas Watson (c. 1620-1686) who said. “The two testaments are the two lips by which God hath spoken to us.” Some of the comments by those who misunderstood Watson are postmortem slander or libelous postmortem. And it seems his critics are dispensationalists and Arminians.
But context and hermeneutics matter.
The origin of this quote came from Watson’s book A Body of Divinity (pg. 26). I generally do not defend man, but I don’t believe Watson was being “facetious,” or “sarcastic” as some said. Nor was he alleging that God the Father “had two lips.” Nonetheless, when engaging in Theology Proper, we must tread lightly. So don’t just read the memes read and enjoy the books. Albeit the Bible should be our number one top shelf read.
Watson was a covenantal theologian, so he understood there is only one true God, with one consistent voice, who has the same voice transcending throughout all time. Today there is only one way God speaks to us, or one way we hear from God, and that is through His Word.
For context, that quote is an excerpt from part 2 of his introduction to A Body of Divinity, where Watson was commenting on question 2 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
His commentary (below) was on 2 Timothy 3:16 which was used in the Catechism as a Scripture reference. As Watson said,
Watson was displaying reverential respect for God’s Holy Word, that His Scriptures have a “Jus Divinum,” as our “divine authority,” as our rule of Law, and the regulation of His church.
And since I’m a Baptist, the Baptist Catechism by Benjamin Keech said,
Here’s where I become Biblically divisive.
It is the aforementioned Dispensationalists who often speak out of both sides of their mouth as if they had two sets of lips. As I’ve said before, dispensationalism is the mothership that leads to many other errors.
Unlike dispensationalists and their dispensationalism, covenantal theologians (like Watson) do not believe the New and Old Testaments or the covenants among them are separated by timelines (aka dispensations). Instead, we (covenantal theologians) believe the covenants overlap each other. Nor do we see the “Isreal” mentioned in the Scriptures as the geo-political nation of Israel that we hear about today on Fox News. And no, that is not “Antisemitism.” That is worshipping the God of the Scriptures more than a nation and loving His blood-bought spiritual Israel (Israel the church) more than a nation. Yes, doctrine matters, context matters, and covenant theology matters. Only by the grace of God so go the wretched man I am.
Below are some of the many verses on the importance of doctrine. The word doctrine is mentioned approximately 50 times in the Bible, and the doctrine (didaskalia) 21 times. It is an authoritative act to teach, instruct, and teach doctrine.
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About The Author
Bill Rhetts
An ordinary sinner saved by an Extraordinary Savior. Radically saved, and radically changed, by a Radical God. For more details, see the above 'About me' tab.