Thoughts on Scripture Part IV - The Conclusion

Thoughts on Scripture Part IV – The Conclusion

Weathershead’s Thoughts on the “Will of God”

A Protestant theologian, Weathershead characterizes God’s will in three distinct perspectives.  He argues that there are three dimensions to God’s will: (1) God’s intentional will, (2) God’s circumstantial will and (3) God’s ultimate will.  Others have described these classifications as God’s direct, permissive and eventual or redemptive will.  Nevertheless, human action does not always result in God’s intentional will.  The fiasco of the Garden of Eden illustrates this point.  God intended to enjoy an eternal and blissful relationship with humankind.  Though he foreknew the fall of humankind, God did not intend nor did He cause it.  In His largesse of love and benevolence, God’s permissive will allowed the fall to occur.  In the Law and Prophets and the redemptive work of Christ, God’s ultimate will emerges.  The atoning work of Christ reconciles humankind to Almighty God (2 Corinthians 5:10-6:2). 

The Notion of “Higher Biblical Criticism”

You recall that we spent some time discussing the method in which scripture evolved.  Some members of the class pointed out that the events concerning Joseph’s life were written years after they occurred.  The stories were transmitted orally through the generations until they were finally recorded on scrolls possibly during the exilic period.  In addition, there are theories that predominate in seminaries about the multiple biblical authors and their objectives in writing.  These hypotheses have been used to undermine the validity of scripture.

I do not adhere to them.  The process of “higher biblical criticism” is primarily built on a deck of cards, essentially.  None of the persons who ascribe to such notions have any concrete evidence to support the theories.  They attempt to utilize logic and analysis to prove the point that the Bible is just another book written by forty very human authors with personal, historical and cultural biases.  These purported higher biblical critics have imposed upon themselves epistemological quandaries that that they fail to answer.  As a result, they spend their careers polishing the theories.  Interestingly, one of my New Testament professors who adhered to these theories granted that the Bible possessed a power that “biblical scholarship” could not negate.

I posit that Almighty God in His infinite wisdom, knowledge, will, majesty and mystery carefully coordinated the writing of scripture.  It is amazing that forty different persons would contribute to a compilation of writings that offer a coherent and enduring message of salvation for humankind.  The core of the message is God’s eternal covenant of love for humankind as embodied in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The same God who meticulously designed the intricacies of the universe and the natural order chose to just as majestically, mysteriously and inexplicably manage the development of the Bible.

The Rule and Guide for Faith

Summarily, the Bible is the revealed Word of God.  It is the rule and guide for the Christian faith.  All Church practice must be biblically based.  The wisdom of the principles of Almighty God as outlined in the scriptures greatly exceeds the human understanding embedded in the corporate, secular, and humanistic society in which we live.  We cannot elevate the shadowy thoughts of humankind to the level of the Creator  (Isaiah 55:9-11). 

Regardless of your interpretation, you will find wisdom in the Word of God.  I have thoroughly enjoyed our discussions on this critical issue in the Church.  I pray that all of us will imitate the spiritual practice of the Bereans who searched the scriptures daily to verify the truth of the apostles’ teaching.