Thoughts on Scripture Part II

Thoughts on Scripture Part II

Our Interpretation of the Bible

Because the Bible has been used and continues to be utilized to justify some of the previously mentioned atrocities, I caution us against equating our interpretation of the Bible with the “Word of God.”  Slave masters, imperialists, colonialists, misogynists, industrialists, bigots, racists, etc., using the “doctrine of divine election,” searched the Bible for verses to support their crimes against humankind.  The give-and-take of our weekly discussions is necessary for the spiritual growth and personal development of all of us.  We learn from God as we learn from each other.  Whereas God is perfect and the Bible, His Word, is also perfect, we are not.  Accordingly, we cannot equate our experience of God and our interpretation of His Word with the perfection that coheres in them.

In addition, I caution us against a “wooden literalism” in interpreting the Bible.  In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus Christ strongly recommends, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.  It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.  It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”  Were we to interpret those verses literally, the average Christian would not have his or her right eye or right hand. 

The majesty and mystery of scripture contains a lot of symbolism and hidden meanings, which the Holy Spirit reveals to us as we rightly relate ourselves to Almighty God and diligently study the Word of God. (John 14:26, 2 Timothy 2:15 and Acts 17:11)  The entire book of Revelation was written during a time of great turmoil and oppression for Christians.  John cloaks the message to the churches in the language and symbolism of the Old Testament.  The extravagant symbolism of Revelations was used to protect the Christian readers who could decipher it using the Old Testament, but if caught with the book stood the danger of being imprisoned or murdered.

However, I hasten to add that our interpretation of the Bible must adhere to the holy nature and will of Almighty God.  We cannot use our interpretation of the Bible to justify sin, our personal preferences or offenses against other people.  “God is light and in Him, there is no darkness.”  We cannot deify our personal opinions and experiences.  That error has permeated the writing of theology for the last quarter century.  Our relative experience is just that, our limited outlook on life subject to the limitations of time and circumstance.  In as much as we should not automatically digress to a “wooden literalism” when interpreting scripture, we must acknowledge that there are very clear and unequivocal directives found in the Bible about the way in which we relate to God and each other.

In the great hymn of love, 1 Corinthians 13, Paul says that love greatly surpasses knowledge, spiritual gifts, miraculous abilities, faith and hope.  In the ninth verse, he acknowledges that all knowledge is limited.  Then, in the twelfth verse, he offers this timeless, cautionary admonition, “Now we see but a poor reflection.”  In the King James Version, it says, “We see through a glass dimly.”  As creatures of time, culture, history and personal experiences, our interpretations will be flavored, favorably or unfavorably, by various circumstances and limitations.  Acknowledging those potential biases and presuppositions can yield the requisite humility to consider other’s interpretations as equal to ours.  It also helps to keep our interpretations in proper (human size) perspective.

The Word of God as Personified in the Lord Jesus Christ

The neo-orthodox, Swiss theologian, Karl Barth, posits that the Lord Jesus Christ embodies the Word of God.  The Bible testifies to God’s clearest revelation of the divine, the Person of Jesus Christ.  He is the Word of God.  The author of Colossians submits “In Him the fullness of the godhead dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9; also see Colossians 1:15-20)  The opening verses of the gospel of John assures us that the Word is God; was with God at the creation and came to earth to dwell among us.  For our purposes, Barth’s theology and these verses encourage us to utilize the Bible to further our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  In addition to our reading and interpreting scripture, we relate to the Word of God as we rightly relates ourselves to Christ, the personified Word.

I agree with Brother Lloyd C. Elam’s point that our interpretations of scripture should help us to better love, obey, understand, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.  Also, our study should help us to preach the gospel of Christ and expand the kingdom of God on the earth. 

I think that this is a very worthwhile litmus test.  Does any interpretation honor, glorify and serve Christ?  Does it seek His will and the guidance to accomplish it?  Answering those questions before settling in dogmatically would greatly aid us in sifting out our personal preferences and selfish motives.  Moreover, it would encourage us to avoid the pitfalls of equating our interpretation with the Word of God and will of God.

Additionally, the Holy Spirit leads and guides us into all truth.  He reminds us of the teachings of Christ. (John 14, 15 and 16)