MEANING OF THE BIBLE
LUKE 24:13-32
WORKING DEFINITION OF THE BIBLE:
THE BIBLE IS A LIBRARY OF WRITINGS THAT ARE BOTH DIVINE AND HUMAN, THAT TOGETHER TELL A UNIFIED STORY, WHICH LEADS US TO JESUS.
DO YOU TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY?
TWO OPTIONS;
1. READ THE BIBLE LITERALLY
2. READ THE BIBLE METAPHORICALLY
REAL QUESTION: INTERPRETATION
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN?
2 PETER 3:15-16
WE ARE TO READ THE BIBLE LITERARILY.
“THE BIBLE IS FULL OF PASSAGES WHICH REALLY DO INTEND TO DESCRIBE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE REAL WORLD – AND FOR THAT MATTER, TO COMMAND AND FORBID VARIOUS TYPES OF ACTIONS WHICH OCCUR IN THE REAL WORLD. THE GOD OF WHOM THE BIBLE SPEAKS IS, AFTER ALL, THE CREATOR OF THAT WORLD. PART OF THE POINT OF THE WHOLE STORY IS THAT HE LOVES THAT WORLD AND INTENDS TO RESCUE IT, THAT HE’S PUT HIS PLAN INTO OPERATION THROUGH A SERIES OF CONCRETE EVENTS IN ACTUAL HISTORY, AND THAT HE INTENDS THIS PLAN TO BE WORKED OUT THROUGH THE CONCRETE LIVES AND WORLD OF HIS PEOPLE … BUT THE BIBLE, LIKE VIRTUALLY ALL OTHER GREAT WRITING, REGULARLY AND REPEATEDLY BRINGS OUT THE FLAVOR, THE MEANING, THE PROPER INTERPRETATION OF THESE ACTUAL, CONCRETE, SPACE-TIME EVENTS BY MEANS OF COMPLEX, BEAUTIFUL AND EVOCATIVE LITERARY FORMS AND FIGURES, OF WHICH METAPHOR IS ONLY ONE.”
NT WRIGHT, SIMPLY CHRISTIAN
STORY OF GOD:
CREATION
FALL
COVENANT
JESUS
CHURCH
RESTORATION
“THE REASON FOR OUR CONFUSION (OVER THE BIBLE) IS THAT WE USUALLY READ THE BIBLE AS A SERIES OF DISCONNECTED STORIES, EACH WITH A ‘MORAL’ FOR HOW WE SHOULD LIVE OUR LIVES, IT IS NOT. RATHER, IT COMPRISES A SINGLE STORY, TELLING US HOW THE HUMAN RACE GOT INTO THIS PRESENT CONDITION, AND HOW GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST HAS COME AND WILL COME TO PUT THINGS RIGHT.
TIMOTHY KELLER, COUNTERFEIT GODS
HERMENEUTICS 101:
(ART OF INTERPRETING THE BIBLE)
OBSERVATION – WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY?
INTERPRETATION – WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN?
APPLICATION – HOW DO I LIVE OUT THIS TEXT?
THE POINT OF THE BIBLE:
TO LISTEN TO GOD SO WE CAN LOVE HIM MORE DEEPLY AND LOVE OTHERS MORE COMPLETELY.
SCOTT MCKNIGHT, BLUE PARAKEET; RETHINKING HOW YOU READ THE BIBLE
TWO WAYS OF SEEING THE BIBLE;
1. THESE WORDS ARE AUTHORITATIVE, AND I AM CALLED TO SUBMIT TO THEM.
2. YOUR WORDS ARE DELIGHTFUL, AND I LOVE TO DO WHAT YOU ASK, I LOVE YOUR INVITATIONS, I LOVE YOUR WORDS …
PS.119:16,20,35,45,47,55,68,72,103
“IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE TO COME TO THE BIBLE IN TOTAL SINCERITY, RESPONDING TO THE INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGE IT GIVES, OR FOR THE MORAL GUIDANCE IT OFFERS, OR FOR THE SPIRITUAL UPLIFT IT PROVIDES, AND NOT IN ANY WAY HAVE TO DEAL WITH A PPERSONALLYREVEALING GOD WHO HAS PERSONAL DESIGNS ON YOU … TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, NOT EVERYONE WHO GETS INTERESTED IN THE BIBLE AND EVEN GETS EXCITED ABOUT THE BIBLE WANTS TO GET INVOLVED WITH GOD. BUT GOD IS WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT.
EUGENE PETERSON, EAT THIS BOOK
“CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING IS INSEPARABLE FROM A CERTAIN KIND OF ‘EUCHARISTIC’ LIFESTYLE AND PRACTICE. IT IS TO THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO LIVE AND ACT AS JESUS DID THAT THE WAY JESUS UNDERSTOOD GOD AND SCRIPTURE IS MOST LIKELY TO MAKE SENSE.
RWL MOBERLY, BIBLE, THEOLOGY, AND FAITH
