Musings: Notes From My Daybook

Jim Neal has launched a class at Northlake on interpreting scripture.  Jim is a good student and teacher (they go hand in hand!) and I'm excited about the class.  What follows below is a series of statements that shape the process of listening well to the Bible.  An early version was posted on this blog; however, Jim has improved them greatly with additional reflection from the sources cited at the end of these statements.

 If you would like to see what Jim is up to, then head over to his blogsite for the class.  He as posted some really thoughtful information and quotes.  Click here.

 1. We recognize that the Bible is divine words. Scripture is “of God.” Scripture is God-breathed; it is God-given. We study and obey Scripture because Scripture is divine revelation.

2. We recognize that the Bible is human words. God chose to disclose his will to us through human beings who wrote material in human literary forms. Though Scripture is divine, God has accommodated Himself to human expression, words, and ambiguities. Therefore:

a. Scripture can be misunderstood

b. Scripture requires our best efforts to understand God’s message to us.

3. Scripture is rightly understood as a coherent narrative of God’s work in bringing grace to humanity through creation, rebellion, redemption, and the ultimate communion to come. The Bible contains many voices and speaks in many forms, with tensions, digressions, and subplots, yet Scripture finds its unity in the overarching story of God.

4. Scripture is not an end, but the means to a greater end: entering and nurturing a relationship with God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Scripture is the tool that God has chosen to disclose his love and gracious kindness to us.

5. Faithful interpretation of Scripture requires engaging the entire narrative: the New Testament cannot be rightly understood apart from the Old, nor can the Old be rightly understood apart from the New. We should read “back to front” - understanding the whole narrative in light of its climax in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We should also read “front to back” - understanding God’s revelation in Christ in light of the history of God’s self-revelation to Israel.

6. The study of Scripture takes God seriously and takes understanding the original contexts of Scripture seriously. We must set Scripture in its historical context in order to hear God’s divine message clearly and accurately.

7. The true meaning of the biblical text for us is what God originally intended it to mean when it was first spoken. So to understand Scripture and thus to hear God’s voice in Scripture, asking the question “what did it mean?” comes before “what does it mean today?”

8. To learn from Scripture we must appreciate the way in which it communicates and not attempt to fit our preconceived notions upon it. This can not be done perfectly. We all have some bias and we all have some limitations.

9. Picking and choosing texts is not an option. Neither is choosing one text, pulling it out of context, and using it as the standard by which everything else must be interpreted.

10. Some things have changed significantly since the first century. For example, we live in a culture where slavery is roundly condemned; Paul lived in a culture where slavery was commonly practiced. Such cultural shifts must be negotiated.

11. Some things have not changed since the first century. Sin is still sin, humankind still struggles for meaning, and God is still at work in the world. Such continuities must be affirmed.

12. We must learn that there are some things more important in Scripture than others - as Jesus himself understood (Matthew 22.34-40).

13. Because we are human we will not all agree on the various interpretations of Scripture. Humility, patience, kindness, and gentleness are indispensable virtues to frame our discussions of Scripture.

14. Interpretation is a conscious effort of spiritual growth, and growth needs the nurture of Christian community. The Christian community provides insight, example, encouragement, and counsel vital to shaping our understanding of Scripture and thus our Christian character.

15. Scripture calls the church to ongoing discernment, to continually fresh re-readings of the text in light of God’s continuing work in the world.

Adapted from:

“Scripture Basics” & “The Bible Tells Me So: A Primer on Bible Interpretation”

Carson Reed, http://www.carsonreed.squarespace.com

“Nine Theses on the Interpretation of Scripture,” The Scripture Project

The Art of Reading Scripture, Ellen F. Davis & Richard B. Hays, ed.

Eerdmans Publishing, 2003

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart, 3^rd edition.

Zondervan, 2003