Chapter XXIII: The object of Scripture is all human beings without exception, § 481. From this, it is concluded deductiv
CHAPTER XXIII: ON THE OBJECT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE
§ 481. The object of Holy Scripture, namely, those to whom it was given, is all humans without exception. This is proved: (I) From the material of Scripture. The teaching of the Law and Gospel that is handed down in Scripture pertains to all human beings. Scripture itself, therefore, pertains to all human beings. The logical connection is proved because Scripture was given to this end: that people might learn from it the teaching of the Law and Gospel and might be made wise to salvation from it. (2) From the preaching of the prophets and apostles. The prophets, Christ, and the apostles preached to all people. Therefore they also wrote for all or for the use of all. The logical connection is proved because the very thing that they first proclaimed orally they later put into Scriptures by the will of God to be the foundation and pillar of our faith. (See Irenaeus, bk. 3, c. 2.) (3) From the general commandment about reading the Scriptures, about which there will be more later. (4) From Scripture’s end. Scripture was given “to instruct us for eternal salvation” (John 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:15). But this end is general, pertaining to all people without exception. Therefore, though in the Old Testament the people of Israel were elected by God in particular to be His “peculiar treasure” (Exod. 19:5; Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18), nevertheless the books of the Old Testament pertain to all people. Rom. 3:2: “The Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God,” but not to keep and hide them for themselves alone, but for the sake of the faithful protection, testimony, and propagation of them. Also, though the forensic and ceremonial laws pertained only to the Jews in the Old Testament with regard to obligation (as was demonstrated in our treatise On Ceremonial and Forensic Laws [Commonplace XVI]), nevertheless with regard to instruction these laws are universal and pertain to all people without exception.