Subject: What is the Bible for? |
Bible Note: In another thread, I was asked, more or less, what my views on the Bible are. I had unwittlngly offended several people with my statements about the Bible. If I'm going to offend people, I'd like to at least be sure that they're offended by what I really think, not by a mistaken impression. ;-) In that thread, I often referred to 2 Timothy 3:15-17 - "15 ... you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." [NKJV] I love the Bible and I read and study it regularly. But I don't love it for itself. So let me sum up my view of the Bible. I apologize in advance for any further offense I may give. I believe that, having created us and knowing us intimately, God desires us to also know him and to spend eternity in fellowship with him. Because of the Fall, our only means to that end is Jesus, foretold in Genesis 3:15. It appears that early people (Enoch, Noah, Job, Melchizedek, Abraham, and others) received instruction in righteousness directly from God. After the Exodus, instruction was given to Israel through the Law (and, had they been faithful, to the world through their example). Further instruction is revealed in the history of Israel and Judah, the prophets, and the wisdom literature. Throughout OT times people failed to live up to the instructions and so failed to achieve the righteousness required by God for fellowship with him. But as the book of Hebrews tells us, God's grace was active even then. For the faithful, their faith was "credited to them as righteousness". When Jesus came to Earth, the object of that faith was revealed and God's grace was fully disclosed in him. In addition to the accumulated instruction in the OT, instruction in righteousness is now given in the example of Jesus' life, in the gospels and epistles, and in God's law written upon our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). I believe that the Bible is God's progressive revelation of his character, holiness, and grace, given for the purpose of leading those who will believe and obey to that final reconciliation through Christ. The Bible is absolutely authoritative in matters of faith and practice. The Bible informs our faith so that we can have a right relationship with God. It informs us of how to live our faith so that we can have a right relationship with other believers and with the world. I believe that this purpose is revealed in the passage cited above. Please note the word "complete" in verse 17; there is no part of our lives that is not subject to this instruction. This is how Jesus used scripture. Of course, the Bible often provides comfort, encouragement, advice, hope, even ammunition for theological discussions. But those things flow from God's faithfulness, mercy, love, power, and other aspects of his character. Knowledge of those attributes and the response this knowledge elicits within us still fall under the purpose described in the passage. I suppose I'd better duck now. Peace and grace, Steve |