PART 1: What Is CENI, and Where Did It Come From?
What Is CENI?
CENI is an acronym used by the Church of Christ to interpret Scripture. It stands for:
Letter: C
Meaning: Command
Claimed Function: If the Bible gives a direct command, we must obey it.
Letter: E
Meaning: Example
Claimed Function: If the early church did something, we must do the same.
Letter: N
Meaning: Necessary Inference
Claimed Function: If a conclusion must be drawn, even without a direct statement, it's binding.
They claim that only these three filters can determine how the church should function today, including:
• How to worship
• What to believe about baptism
• How to organize church leadership
• What practices are “authorized”
The Origin: Not the Bible — But 19th Century Legalism
CENI is not taught by Jesus, Paul, or any biblical writer.
Instead, it originated in the Restoration Movement in the 1800s, particularly with Alexander Campbell and early Church of Christ leaders.
It is a product of:
• Rationalism
• Legalism
• A desire for creedless authority (ironically forming a new man-made creed in the process)
There is no passage in Scripture where God says: “You must interpret my Word by Command, Example, and Necessary Inference.”
Instead, Scripture calls us to:
• Rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)
• Use context, history, genre, covenant differences, and the Spirit
• Be taught by precept upon precept, line upon line (Isaiah 28:10)
• Let Scripture interpret Scripture (Acts 17:11, Luke 24:27)
Why CENI Fails from the Start
CENI Element: Command
Fatal Problem: Not all commands apply to all believers in all eras (e.g., “Don’t eat meat offered to idols,” “Greet with a holy kiss”) - yet CoC selectively applies only some.
CENI Element: Example
Fatal Problem: Not all biblical examples are prescriptive (e.g., Jesus walked on water - should we?).
Church of Christ arbitrarily chooses which examples are binding.
CENI Element: Necessary Inference
Fatal Problem: Most dangerous of all.
What one person sees as “necessary,” another sees as speculative. This opens the door to subjective man-made doctrines.
CENI is not biblical exegesis - it is legal eisegesis (reading man-made rules into the text).
What the Bible Actually Teaches About Interpretation
• Context is King – Misuse of Scripture comes from lifting verses out of context.
Example: CoC uses Acts 2:38 without reading Acts 10, Acts 15, or Romans 4.
• The Whole Counsel of God – Doctrines must harmonize across all of Scripture, not cherry-picked verses (Acts 20:27).
• Right Division – Scripture must be interpreted according to covenant, genre, audience, and timeline (2 Timothy 2:15).
• The Spirit Guides – True interpretation is guided by the Holy Spirit, not just syllogistic deduction (1 Corinthians 2:12–14).
Summary of Part 1: CENI is Not from God
• It is a man-made framework created in the 1800s.
• It falsely claims to be the only valid way to determine God’s will.
• It ignores context, grace, Spirit, and biblical theology.
• It turns descriptive narratives into legalistic mandates.
• It results in binding where God has not bound (see Matthew 15:9).
PART 2: How CENI Produces False Doctrine Through Misuse of Its Own Categories
1. COMMAND – Misused to Enforce Selective Legalism
CoC Claim:
“If the Bible gives a command, it must be obeyed exactly and universally.”
The Flaw:
Not all commands are universal, repeated, or binding on the church. Some are cultural, covenantal, or temporary.
Examples that Contradict Their Logic:
| Command | Why CoC Doesn’t Obey It |
|---|---|
| “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (Rom 16:16) | They don’t practice it—claiming it was cultural. So not all commands are binding? |
| “Wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14) | Jesus commands it, but CoC doesn’t do it. So some commands are optional? |
| “Take no purse… nor shoes” (Luke 10:4) | CoC doesn’t require this of missionaries. Why not, if commands are universal? |
They pick and choose which commands to enforce based on their theology-not on sound hermeneutics.
2. EXAMPLE – Misused to Force Uniformity
CoC Claim:
“If the early church did something, we must do exactly the same—no more, no less.”
The Flaw:
The early church did many things that CoC doesn’t replicate—and some that were one-time events, not patterns. Descriptive narratives are not always prescriptive commands.
Examples that Prove Inconsistency:
| Biblical Example | Why CoC Doesn’t Follow It |
|---|---|
| Met daily in the temple and houses (Acts 2:46) | CoC meets only 1–2 times a week. Why not daily? |
| Sold all possessions and shared everything (Acts 2:44–45) | CoC does not require communal living. Why not, if examples are binding? |
| Took the Lord’s Supper in homes (Acts 2:46) | CoC says it must be in a building and on Sunday. But that’s not the example. |
| Met in upper rooms or homes (Acts 20:8) | CoC builds expensive auditoriums—why not follow the “example”? |
| Paul preached until midnight (Acts 20:7–9) | CoC doesn’t preach till midnight. Why not, if examples are binding? |
CoC selectively enforces examples when it fits their preferences and ignores others as “non-binding.”
That’s not consistent interpretation—that’s doctrinal cherry-picking.
3. NECESSARY INFERENCE – The Most Dangerous & Subjective Element
CoC Claim:
“If a teaching can be necessarily inferred from Scripture, it is binding—even if never stated directly.”
The Flaw:
“Necessary” is subjective—what seems necessary to one person may be invalid to another.
This opens the door for man-made doctrines to be elevated as if they’re from God.
Key Example: Instrumental Music is Sinful
Claim: “Since the New Testament never mentions instruments in worship, and only mentions singing, we must infer they are forbidden.”
The Problem:
The Bible also never mentions pews, projectors, multiple cups for communion, church buildings, or Wednesday services — yet CoC allows these.
There is no command or example forbidding instruments—only silence.
Their inference is not necessary, but legalistic.
CoC uses “necessary inference” to add laws God never gave, which violates Deuteronomy 4:2 and Proverbs 30:6.
The Real Problem: Binding What God Has Not Bound
Jesus said:
❝But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.❞ — Matthew 15:9 (KJV)
CENI turns man’s deductions and traditions into divine requirements.
That’s the very definition of Pharisaical error.
Summary of Part 2:
| CENI Category | How It Fails |
|---|---|
| Command | CoC applies some and ignores others (hypocrisy) |
| Example | CoC enforces what supports their doctrine, discards what doesn’t (inconsistency) |
| Necessary Inference | Leads to subjectivity, division, and adding to Scripture (false authority) |
PART 3: Biblical Hermeneutics vs. CENI — How Jesus and the Apostles Interpreted Scripture
FACT: No One in the Bible Ever Uses CENI
There is no verse—not even a hint—where anyone in Scripture says:
“We must determine doctrine based on Command, Example, and Necessary Inference.”
Instead, biblical interpretation is:
• Spirit-led (1 Corinthians 2:12–14)
• Contextually sound (Luke 24:27)
• Rooted in prophecy and fulfillment (Matthew 5:17)
• Intertextual (Scripture interprets Scripture)
• Grace-centered, not law-based (Galatians 3:24–26)
CONTRAST #1: Jesus Interpreted the Old Testament by Fulfillment, Not CENI
Luke 24:27 (KJV)
“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”
Jesus shows how the Scriptures point to Him, not how to create a church ritual formula.
He doesn't say:
• “Let’s find commands”
• “Let’s copy examples”
• “Let’s infer rules”
He interprets Scripture through fulfillment and typology, not wooden patterns.
CONTRAST #2: Paul Interpreted with Theological Themes, Not Patternism
Galatians 3:6–9
“Even as Abraham believed God… they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”
Paul doesn’t use CENI.
He builds salvation doctrine by:
• Going back to Genesis
• Highlighting faith before circumcision
• Using spiritual application, not pattern replication
If Paul used CENI, he’d argue: “What did Abraham do?
Let’s imitate it.”
Instead, he says: “What did Abraham believe? Let’s trust that same promise.”
CONTRAST #3: Peter Interpreted Joel 2 as Fulfilled, Not Patterned
Acts 2:16–17
“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel…”
Peter interprets Pentecost as the beginning of a prophecy, not a formula.
He doesn’t say:
• “The apostles were baptized in the Spirit and spoke in tongues, therefore everyone must imitate this example or infer a church rule from it.”
He says:
• “This fulfills prophecy”
• “This begins the last days”
• “This gift is for all who are called (Acts 2:39)”
Again, not CENI, but covenantal, Spirit-driven interpretation.
CONTRAST #4: Stephen Interprets with Thematic Redemptive History
Acts 7 (Stephen’s Sermon)
Stephen gives a long sermon tracing:
• Abraham
• Joseph
• Moses
• The prophets
He never says:
• “We must follow their examples as law”
• “Let’s extract commands”
• “Let’s infer the proper form of worship”
His goal is to show Israel’s rejection of truth across redemptive history—not build a church policy manual.
Biblical Interpretation in Summary:
| Biblical Method | What It Emphasizes |
|---|---|
| Jesus – Luke 24 | Fulfillment, typology, promise |
| Paul – Galatians 3, Romans 4 | Faith over law, grace over ritual, context over patterns |
| Peter – Acts 2 | Prophetic fulfillment, Spirit outpouring, ongoing application |
| Stephen – Acts 7 | Redemptive history, covenant faithfulness, Christ-centered interpretation |
CENI Is Nowhere in the Bible
| CENI Category | Used by Jesus or the Apostles? |
|---|---|
| Command | Only when contextually applicable (not universally) |
| Example | Never elevated to binding law |
| Necessary Inference | Never used to build doctrine — always context + Spirit |
Part 3 Summary:
CENI is foreign to Scripture.
No prophet, apostle, or teacher used it.
True interpretation in the Bible is:
• Spirit-guided
• Christ-centered
• Covenant-based
• Fulfillment-focused
The Church of Christ’s CENI system is legalism masquerading as precision - it adds burdens that Scripture never gave.
PART 4: CENI Fails the Fruit Test — It Divides and Destroys the Body of Christ
Matthew 7:16 (KJV)
“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
Jesus teaches that true doctrine will bear good fruit-unity, love, truth, holiness. But false teaching brings:
• Division
• Legalism
• Bondage
• Confusion
• Pride
1. CENI Has Created Hundreds of Splinter Groups
Despite claiming to restore “New Testament Christianity,” the Church of Christ has split into countless subgroups, each applying CENI differently.
| Church of Christ Faction | Divided Over |
|---|---|
| Mainline Church of Christ | Use of multiple communion cups, Sunday-only worship |
| Non-Institutional Church of Christ | Oppose church-supported orphanages or mission works |
| One Cup Church of Christ | Only one communion cup allowed in worship |
| Non-Class Church of Christ | No Sunday school—view it as an unauthorized addition |
| A Cappella vs. Instrumental Church of Christ | Instrumental music—some see it as sin, others allow |
All of these divisions come from differing CENI inferences.
Fruit check:
Love? No - they disfellowship anyone who disagrees.
Unity? No - divided over cups, classes, buildings, and songbooks.
Truth? No - if the method were true, they’d all agree.
Grace? No - salvation is conditioned on correct CENI conclusions.
2. CENI Turns Silence Into Law
The Church of Christ teaches:
“If the New Testament is silent about something, that silence forbids it.”
But this leads to:
• Condemning musical instruments
• Condemning multiple communion cups
• Condemning church kitchens or fellowship halls
• Condemning paid preachers from multiple churches
• Condemning women teaching children’s classes in a separate room
Yet they allow:
• Electric lights (not mentioned)
• Church buildings (not in NT)
• Wednesday night services (never commanded)
• Songbooks and PowerPoints (never shown by example)
This is selective legalism, not Spirit-led interpretation.
3. CENI Produces Fear-Based Obedience, Not Joyful Fellowship
CENI leads many to say:
• “If I misunderstand an inference, I could go to hell.”
• “If we use a second communion cup, we’re sinning.”
• “If someone sings with a guitar, they are condemned eternally.”
This leads to:
• Fear of losing salvation over minor differences
• Suspicion of other churches
• Isolationism and sectarianism
• No assurance of salvation
The New Testament calls us to liberty in Christ, not legalism:
“Stand fast… in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free…” (Galatians 5:1)
4. CENI Makes Doctrinal Unity Impossible
| Biblical Unity (John 17:21) | CENI Unity (Man-Made) |
|---|---|
| Centered on faith in Christ | Centered on agreement over inferences |
| Taught by the Spirit | Demanded by logic and deduction |
| Allows room for conscience (Romans 14) | No room for conscience — only exact form |
| Unites all believers into one body | Fractures believers over non-essentials |
The Church of Christ says, “Unity is only possible when everyone agrees on CENI.”
Jesus says, “They shall be one… that the world may believe” - not “they shall agree on cups and instruments.”
Part 4 Summary: The Fruit of CENI is Rotten
| Fruit | What CENI Produces |
|---|---|
| Unity | No — it creates dozens of factions |
| Love and grace | No — it results in judgment and exclusivism |
| Doctrinal clarity | No — even CENI churches can’t agree among themselves |
| Spiritual maturity | No — believers live in fear of minor “violations” |
| Christ-exalting focus | No — focus is on forms and patterns, not Jesus |
PART 5: The True Biblical Method — Context, Covenant, Christ, and the Spirit
What Does the Bible Say About Interpreting the Bible?
God never told us to interpret His Word by CENI.
Instead, He gave us a rich, multi-layered method that includes:
• Context – Literary, historical, grammatical
• Covenant – Where in redemptive history the text sits
• Christ-centered fulfillment – All Scripture points to Him
• Spiritual illumination – The Holy Spirit teaches believers how to understand truth
1. CONTEXT – Scripture Without Context is a Weapon of Legalism
“Rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
Biblical interpretation must ask:
• Who is speaking?
• To whom?
• Under what covenant?
• In what setting?
CoC Misuse:
Acts 2:38 is ripped from its Pentecost-Jewish context and made a universal formula, ignoring Acts 10 and Romans 4.
Proper Use:
Read the whole chapter, understand the audience, and compare Scripture with Scripture (Acts 17:11).
2. COVENANT – Rightly Divide Law from Grace
“The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ… but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” — Galatians 3:24–25
We must interpret Scripture through the lens of progressive revelation:
• Some commands and patterns were for Old Covenant Israel.
• Others were for the transitional early church.
• But we now live in the New Covenant, under grace (Hebrews 8:6–13).
CoC Error:
Treats every narrative example in Acts as a timeless binding command—even though Acts records transitional moments.
Tries to recreate first-century forms without acknowledging New Covenant freedoms.
3. CHRIST – All Scripture Points to Him, Not Rituals
“And beginning at Moses… he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” - Luke 24:27 (KJV)
Jesus is the center of Scripture:
• The Law points to Him
• The Prophets predict Him
• The Gospels reveal Him
• The Epistles explain Him
• Revelation glorifies Him
CoC Error:
The center of their theology is water, forms, and patterned church conduct—not Christ crucified and risen.
Paul said, “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)
CENI can operate with or without Jesus. Biblical interpretation cannot.
4. THE SPIRIT – He Leads Us Into Truth, Not Inference
“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God… but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.” — 1 Corinthians 2:14,10 (KJV)
True understanding of Scripture requires the indwelling Holy Spirit, not just human reasoning.
The Spirit:
• Illuminates truth (John 14:26)
• Teaches believers (1 John 2:27)
• Helps us discern error (1 Corinthians 2:13)
CoC Error:
Treats Scripture like a legal code to be deduced, not spiritually discerned.
Rejects the Spirit’s ongoing ministry and replaces Him with a manual of human logic.
TRUE BIBLICAL METHOD SUMMARY
| Biblical Element | Description | Verses |
|---|---|---|
| Context | Historical, literary, covenant, audience | 2 Timothy 2:15, Acts 17:11 |
| Covenant | Old vs. New, Law vs. Grace, Israel vs. Church | Galatians 3, Hebrews 8 |
| Christ-Centered | All Scripture fulfilled in and points to Jesus | Luke 24:27, John 5:39 |
| Spirit-Led | Illumination and discernment by the Holy Ghost | 1 Corinthians 2:10–14, John 14:26 |
FINAL VERDICT: CENI is a Man-Made Lie — The Bible Offers a Better Way
| CENI | Biblical Method |
|---|---|
| Legalistic logic | Spiritual illumination |
| Selective pattern enforcement | Contextual, redemptive understanding |
| Human-centered interpretation | Christ-centered interpretation |
| Produces division and fear | Produces unity and liberty in the Spirit |
| Invented in the 1800s | Modeled by Jesus, Paul, Peter, and the early church |