Al Mohler quotes a Christianity Today interview with John Stott. Al notes that much of what John Stott said was right on. However, he has this one point of issue:

We believe in the authority of the Bible because Christ has endorsed its authority. He stands between the two testaments. As we look back to the Old Testament, he has endorsed it. As we look forward to the New Testament, we accept it because of the apostolic witness to Christ. He deliberately chose and appointed and prepared the apostles, in order that they might have their unique apostolic witness to him. I like to see Christ in the middle, endorsing the old, preparing for the new. Although the question of the New Testament canon is complicated, in general we are able to say that canonicity is apostolicity.

There is much good here as well — but there is also a nagging question. What access to Jesus and the apostles do we have apart from Scripture? The “apostolic witness to Christ” is found in the New Testament — not outside of it. Where else could it be found? Furthermore, Jesus does not merely prepare for “the new” — He is the new.

I think we are on very dangerous ground when we speak of the authority of Christ and the apostles outside of Scripture. The New Testament is our authority for knowing Christ and the apostles.

I guess my question to Al would be, “Can we give John Stott a chance to elaborate?” Sometimes words can be a bit limited in a short interview. I don’t want to give JOhn Stott a “pass” when it comes to biblical faithfulness simply because he’s John Stott. However, I also want to give him the opportunity to explain fully what he means when sometimes things can be misrepresented or misspoken simply out of the fact that he cannot take back words he has spoken.

I know I have done that as well, said something in explaining a theological position and then step back and think, “Did I just say that like that?” Those things do happen.