Scripture: The Word of God or the Word of Man? Part 6

Witherington in his book “The Living Word of God: Rethinking the Theology of the Bible” (Baylor University Press, 2008), sees the importance of allowing the text to speak in the original way it was first received and places a high importance on the historical context (what I would call the word of man). In discussing the obvious contradictions and differences between the gospel writers on certain elements of Jesus’ life he writes, “under inspiration, the gospel writers appear to have followed the conventions of their own day when it comes to writing a biography of Jesus. That is, they wrote the way people in the first century wrote – not the way we write today.” furthermore, “Careful historical and contextual exegesis of the entire bible is still the best guide, even for Christians, when it comes to learning what it [the bible] says, what it means and how we ought to use it today. “

I may be hesitant myself to use the word ‘inspiration’ because of the baggage it brings, nevertheless, I would concur with the nature of his statement. The need for Ministers to engage in good forensic exegesis is important and we must allow the text to form our understanding and not our opinions to preempt our conclusions. Perhaps it is important to at least be aware of our own presuppositions. There will often come a point where our presuppositions will cause to make a leap of faith in a particular direction. Perhaps as along as we recognise these and hold them loosely we may find our selves more easily engaged with those whom we disagree. Of course the next question might be, “What do we do if our exegesis leads us down roads that are challenging and uncomfortable?”

Scripture: The Word of God or the Word of Man? Part 5

How might we better understand Scripture in order to better hear the Word of God addressed to us? I offer the following post in response to this question. If you disagree that is fine, my thoughts are not final; they are in process, therefore, if you disagree, BE NICE!

Firstly, it is helpful to understand Holy Scripture as witness; a human witness of God’s revelation within the historical reality of human history, in particular the history of Israel and the Church. It is a human witness that has been formed and shaped as a living text by a God who desires to reveal himself and make himself known.

Secondly, it is important to understand that the Bible is God’s Word to us. However, inspiration should not refer to the plenary writing of the text; rather, it is the miracle of faith that arises within us as we HEAR the Word of God addressed to us. As God reveals himself to us in Holy Scripture our faith is awakened and strengthened. Faith is not the impetus of inspiration it is the result. The Bible becomes the Word of God as we hear it…

Scripture: The Word of God or the Word of Man? Part 4

What does it mean to say that Scripture is s God’s Word? How we understand terms such as inerrancy and inspiration will effect and affect how we interpret scripture and subsequently what we believe about God. It is important that we realise that these terms are an attempt by ‘us’, not God, to explain and understand scripture as God’s Word. These terms are ‘our’ explanations of what the Bible is in its function and form. These are not terms derived from Scripture or ever intended by the biblical authors to be thrust upon their writings. Scripture is God’s Word in its creation and existence because of its relationship to the one who has spoken it and continues to make it known today; God. To say that scripture is God’s Word is in itself a big enough demand on the text and ourselves without imposing further boundary markers. Surely the term, God’s Word, in and of itself, is enough to awaken within us a deep respect for, and appreciation of, the text and demand that we listen?

Scripture: The Word of God or the Word of Man? Part 3

One of the common questions people ask me, as a minister, is how the bible can be God’s Word if it cannot be trusted historically? Over the years, many people have had pastors who have either deconstructed the text so much that they have been left wondering what is the point or, who have argued ostensively for the inerrancy of the bible’s history. Both extremes, it would seem, have led to a destabilisation of their faith in scripture as God’s word. Much to my surprise, many people tend to want to ’step of of the boat’ and explore how the Bible can be both word of God and word of man, yet feel an understandable ’shaking of the foundations’ when ministers and academics begin to question what they believe to be true about the bible. Thus it is important to approach the subject pastorally and sensitive to people’s emotion relating to the subject.

How is scripture to be understood as the word of man?
How can God be perfect if his word is not factual? Why would God lie to us about the creation of the world or who really wrote Ephesians? If we cannot trust the Bible how can we trust God? These are all fair and reasonable questions and ones I have wrestled (and continue to wrestle with) with for many years. They may seem, to the academic no doubt, to be basic or simple questions. However, they go to the heart of how the bible is understood within many of ou churches.

I wonder if it is helpful to think of scripture as, to borrow a phrase from Karl Barth, as both the word of God and the word of man? I would argue that it is important to understand scripture to be the word of man in the sense that God has worked through the authors of the various books that make up our Bible in order to shape his witness to us. Furthermore, he has worked through the collecting and organising of our New Testament canon (not, it should be noted, in a manner that involves taking control of the people involved so that they merely wrote what God dictated). God did not work outside the bounds of the culture in which these texts were written and/or formed. He has not bestowed upon the Biblical authors special powers in which they override the culture and understanding of the day in order to relate the truth of history.

In its original form the documents that make up what we now call holy scripture and the events of salvation history to which they witness, always re-count the work of God as it was understood it at the time. God has incarnated his revelation within the form of this narrative and thus some of these narratives are historically factual and some are metaphorical; nevertheless they are still true! Hence the need for good exegesis from beginning to end!

Scripture: The Word of God or the Word of Man? Part 2

Prof. James McGrath of Exploring our Matrix Blog has a review of G.K. Beale’s Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism. McGrath rightly notes that the phrasing of the title indicates that many older Evangelicals see the so called problem of ‘inerrancy’ disappearing from evangelical thought and language because of outside, presumably liberal, forces. In response to Beale’s choice of title he states, “His choice of metaphor is evocative: he believes that inerrancy is like the solid land upon which the house of Evangelicalism is built. It is in danger of being eroded by outside forces, harmful elements. I’d like to suggest that Beale is wrong. Inerrancy is dying of natural causes, or perhaps to choose a better metaphor, it is being eaten up by dry rot from within because it is inherently diseased in the very fiber of its being, in its very bones“.

McGraths language may be strong however, I do believe it to be fundamentally true. Later in the article he states that Beale, “is of course defending his doctrine of Scripture“. This is the heart of the problem. While defending doctrines of interpretation many evangelicals cling to terms such as inspiration and inerrancy because they feel the need to defend what they believe to be an orthodox view of scripture. I am sorry but that dog will no longer hunt for me. In my opinion doctrines of inerrancy can lead to an abuse of scripture in the name of God! (I should clarify what I mean here. See comments for my thoughts)

I like McGrath’s conclusion as to what is really happening to the so called doctrine of inerrancy, “the doctrine of inerrancy is crumbling because thinking Evangelicals are studying the Bible more seriously, are being more honest about what it contains, and are beginning to allow their doctrine about what the Bible is to be determined by the Bible’s contents rather than vice versa” It was helpful for me to understand how I can be faithful to the text as the word of man while remaining faithful to scripture as the Word of God first and foremost!

Scripture: The Word of God or the Word of Man?

I recently protested quite loudly, yet light heartedly, about this blog being referred to as “Very Conservative”. As a result the pseudonymous author of BilblioBlogs Top 50 graciously decided to reconsider their judgement.

Scripture, and what one believes concerning the bible, and in what way they believe it to God’s Word, probably causes more division between Christians than any other area I can think of. Arguments over words such as inerrancy, inspiration and authority have been debated ad-nauseam. At an academic level issues of exegetical and hermeneutical method will never be resolved although hopefully we can continue to develop a healthy level of respect and dialogue.

As a Minister, I am often asked what I believe about Scripture and how I believe it to be God’s Word. This can be a minefield because, what I say in answer to such questions may not be what people hear! It is important for Ministers to approach such questions with integrity and pastoral concern. People can easily feel unsettled when their Minister begins to shake the foundations of their belief in Holy Scripture.

I am passionate about Scripture, about the world and context of the text. Nothing excites me more each week of having the privilege of spending time in study and reflection on Scripture. Then, to be afforded a sacred time each week in which I can share with people around a biblical text just tops it of! Since lodging my protest I have been reflecting on how I believe Scripture to be God’s Word. I wrote an article some time ago for some of our young adults who were wrestling with this exact question. I have reworked it a little and refined my thoughts. Over the coming weeks I will share my thoughts. All I ask is that respect and dignity be shown if you disagree BE NICE! (Thanks to Steph for the suggestion).