Our topic this morning is “Generic and Specific Commands.” This subject may sound like a very technical one; but it is, in fact, a very practical one. A study of this topic is valuable, not merely for its own sake, but also because it throws light on many other questions, and is designed to help in the study of some lessons which are to follow:
The Bible teaches that man must not add to, or subtract from, the word of God. For instance, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deut. 4:2).
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18-19).
I
A Problem in Application
These Scriptures show very plainly that one must neither add to nor subtract from the word of God. This fundamental principle is taught in both the New Testament and the Old Testament. However, some have difficulty in applying this teaching to many questions arising today. Because of this difficulty we find people who object to such things as a baptistry in the church building, Sunday morning Bible classes, individual cups, song books, collection baskets, etc. These objections arise from a misunderstanding of the basic principle announced in the Scriptures just quoted. We hope that what is to follow will help.
First of all, let it be understood that a commandment authorizes everything essential to obeying that commandment. For instance, the commandment to meet and worship God authorizes a place and an hour of meeting. The Bible does not tell us where to meet to eat the Lord’s supper or upon what hour of the day to meet, but the very commandment to observe this institution authorizes some place and some hour for the meeting.
This leads us to consider the difference between a generic or general commandment and a specific one. A generic commandment is one that authorizes or commands a certain action, but does not give the details as to how that commandment shall be carried out. The difference between generic and specific commandments must be recognized in applying the Scriptures that have been mentioned. Let it be remembered that a commandment may be mixed, partly generic and partly specific. It may be generic with respect to certain details which it comprehends, and specific in reference to others.
II
Examples
1. The best way I know to make these distinctions clear is by giving a number of examples. God told Noah to build an ark. He specified the kind of wood that should be used. He told Noah to use gopher wood. That authorized gopher wood and eliminated every other possible kind of wood. Since God specified that gopher wood should be used, it would have been wrong for Noah to have used any other sort of wood. It would have been a sin for him to have used cedar wood, or oak, or any other kind which might be named. God also told Noah to put a door in this ark, in the side of it. But he did not tell him in which side to put it. Hence, the commandment to build an ark was generic as to the side in which the door should be located.
God specified the dimensions of the ark. He told Noah to build the ark 300 cubits long. It would have been a sin, therefore, for Noah to have built it 301 cubits long or 299 cubits long, or any other length except the one which God specified. God also told Noah to build some rooms in this ark, but did not tell him how many to build. This commandment, therefore, was generic as far as the number of rooms was concerned. On that point Noah was free to build the number of rooms which he thought was best.