THE BIBLE; Introduction
Before we enter the scripture let’s talk about our heart attitudes, mindset, assumptions and premises. I think this is often overlooked even among Bible believers. I consider a basic humility essential before opening the Bible, a humility that should be common to all mankind as we behold the creation.
I consider the creation as the first revelation of our Creator to mankind as it was given long before any scriptures. As we observe this incredible universe we might naturally conclude that its Creator must be vastly beyond our comprehension, that whatever we know of it must come through its own self revelation. As we observe the creation we can ask the heart questions like if there is a Creator would I want to know it, acknowledge it, and give thanks? Also recognizing the creation as God’s first revelation gives us basic keys to interpretation of scripture. It helps us use common sense in critical issues.
As I approach the Bible I see three themes or questions answered; who is our Creator? Who am I? And therefore what should I do, or what is the solution? We may not realize the significance of these topics but after years of Bible reading I now see them as the core issues of our human existence.
The Bible: historical, mythical or other?
As we approach the Bible we face a major issue; is this historical or mythical or other? Many of you may not even be aware of this controversy. This is a critical issue because it becomes a premise by which we view much of scripture. It affects our view of many passages on the end times, cities and temples and rivers being literal or figurative. It affects how we see language being used. The Bible is not an easy study for anyone but I encourage us to take a deep breath, relax and let it speak on its own terms.
My first and most important premise is; humility that allows the author of the Bible to have final authority over it. My friends say that I am taking authority over the Bible in deciding for myself which parts I don’t like and discarding them as non-historical. But listen, any author of any book has the right to decide what genre his book is. So especially with the Bible the Holy Spirit has authority over it. And what we are seeking here is to give reverence to the author’s intention. This is the only way to have peace over this issue; it is God’s book not mine.
A premise stated by others is; we first seek to take the Bible at it’s most literal face value, to accept the most plain obvious interpretation. I could almost appreciate this except that so much of the Bible is written in obvious allegorical style. Should I submit to the ideal that the literal interpretation is more noble and honoring to God? That the literal interpretation is using more faith? If I refer back to the phrase “He will hide you under the shelter of His wings”, is it more honoring to God to believe that God has physical wings? God forbid! It is honoring to submit to the author’s intended meaning.
You may say, “It should be literal historical if it is really the inspired word of God”. I understand the concern here. We assume that if God knows everything then obviously His scriptures would tell us the historical details. This assumption is unfounded because it goes beyond what the Bible says about itself. He does not owe us the details and that is not the purpose of His book. The purpose of the Bible is stated in 2 Timothy 3:15-17 “the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (NASB). This statement omits any reference to scientific authority. The Bible is not intended to tell us if the world is flat or round. When we try to force that upon it we do damage to ourselves and others.
My friends ask, “Once you start spiritualizing one part where do you stop?” I don’t know. I just know that this is the challenge before us. Paul gives this challenge to Timothy; “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). The King James version says “rightly dividing”. So I accept this as a lifelong challenge to approach the Bible respectfully learning to understand it as the author intended it.
Therefore do I spiritualize the miracles of Jesus and his resurrection? I remember hearing someone propose that Jesus was symbolically walking “on the sea of mankind” when he walked on the water. And it is true that Biblical symbolism uses the sea to represent mankind, Revelation 13:1 “Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea”. We should openly honestly ask that and ask it of the scriptures. But I think Paul answered it when he said, “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Cor. 15:14). There are areas of scripture that teach through metaphors and areas that teach through historical stories. Those of us who take up lifetime study of this book must take it serious and learn to rightly handle the scripture. We should pursue this study for our own benefit and as teachers for the benefit of others.
The other option beyond historical or mythical might be artistic! Many of my friends are scientific analytical temperaments and we often clash over these Bible issues. I see the literalist view as being hyper rational. In other words, could it be part of our western mindset that cannot allow the Bible to be more mystical? The artistic approach allows the Bible to be historical in those areas where it is obvious and to be mythical or teach through parable stories when necessary. We need to learn some skills to discern between these genres.
Let’s consider common literary keys such as introductions. When we see a passage introduced by saying something like “in the spirit” as in Revelation and Ezekiel’s visions we can know we will learn through metaphorical visions. When Jesus uses the phrase “let the hearer understand” he is telling us to use our spiritual ears. When we see a passage using poetic allegory from the beginning then that is setting the stage for that type of reading. We should observe the manner in which the New Testament interprets the Old Testament. There are several passages which an Old Testament literalist would be angered by the way that the New Testament writers have taken liberties with their writings. An example is the interpretation of Isaiah 53 in which Jews consider the “suffering servant” to be Israel but Christians see it as pointing to Jesus. In Acts 8:26-30 there is an example of this kind of inquiry with Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch asks, “Of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of someone else?” An adamant Jewish literalist would insist that it only speaks of Israel. But scripture itself has something within it that begs us to probe deeper. And as we now see through the Spirit, Isaiah was indeed looking ahead to Jesus. Another challenging example is Malachi 4:5, “Behold I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.” This verse says explicitly that it would be Elijah the prophet, not someone symbolic of Elijah. An Old Testament literalist would refuse any other answer. But Jesus does turn John the Baptist into a symbolic Elijah; Matt. 11:13-14, 17:12-13. The key to understanding this is found reading the story of Elijah and his transference of his ministry to Elisha. This is a foreshadowing of passing from Old Covenant to New Covenant. And as Elijah passed his mantle to Elisha so John, representing the last Old Testament prophet passes his mantle through baptism to Jesus. So we do not have Jesus twisting scripture. We have a clear foreshadow centuries before Jesus and Jesus interpreting through the Spirit. So observing the way that the New Testament spiritualizes the Old, I do not consider it a virtue to uphold Bible literalism. Another note on this Malachi passage is that it may yet be fulfilled on another day by the literal Elijah.
My friends who are the most devout literalists concede that there are parts of the Bible that are obviously metaphorical, symbolic or poetic but those parts are apparent by common sense. “He will hide you under the shelter of his wings” is obviously poetic imagery for nurturing care. So we are in agreement that poetic imagery is not an evil device. We just don’t agree about the extent to which it is used. Again let’s approach this book with humility! I am proposing that we re-read the Bible being open to God the author giving us hints to what He means. As an artist I embrace the artistic aspect of scripture. I love it and have no problems with God the artist.
Lets also read the Bible more fluidly like a novel to see the big picture and themes. The Bible was not written with chapters and verses and often these cause damage to the flow of the writing. The exalted ideal of studying and dissecting the Bible verse by verse is highly over rated.
During this study we also need to address the true nature of inspiration. We will ask the questions; how does culture contribute the Bible? Did the inspirited writers act like robots or were their personalities and culture involved? A dictation style of revelation occurs occasionally like when Moses received the 10 commandments but that is apparently the exception. This relationship between culture and inspiration is a theme we will address in this study. I might note right off that there are other religions that use the dictation style of revelation to boost the sense of authority for their scriptures; Koran and Book of Mormon. So we can also ask “what is pretense inspiration?” Is revelation more valid if received mystically on golden plates?*
* Joseph Smith allegedly received his Book of Mormon on golden plates.
As I said in my introduction, our heart attitude is critical in this. With all things there is the opportunity for abuse, in proclaiming the mercy and grace of God there is the chance for abuse. So in taking the artistic approach to the Bible there is huge chance for abuse. It will take hearts that are truly seeking to obediently honor God.
