How are we to interpret the Bible?
What methods do we use? A theistic evolutionist wrote: " I believe the
best way to understand the Bible is to understand the culture that produced
it."
This is the view of many
Christians who believe in evolution and want to impose it upon the Bible. If
the “truths” of the Bible are errant and culturally dependent, especially regarding
its historical and scientific pronouncements, then they can easily be dismissed.
In this way, the many teachings of the Bible, which conflict with evolution,
can be neutralized.
While I do not discount understanding
the Bible in its cultural and linguistic context, I think that there is a far
more appropriate perspective - to understand the Bible according to God intentions.
Why? Because the Scriptures inform us that even those who had written the
Scriptures acknowledged that they were not being led by their culture but by
the Spirit:
·
2 Peter 1:20-21
Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from
someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of
man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Scripture tells us to think beyond the cultural influences
to the leading of the Spirit who is the ultimate Author of the Scriptures.
Consequently, the human authors often did not understand what they were
writing:
·
1 Peter 1:10-12
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace
that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or
time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the
sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that
they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been
announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy
Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
If the writers of the Scriptures often didn’t understand
what they had written, then we have to be careful about placing the emphasis
upon their cultural influences. Therefore, to reduce the interpretation of the
Scriptures to our understanding of the culture is misguided and Scripturally
unacceptable. It will also lead us to some erroneous conclusions about its
message.
For example, some interpreters dismiss Paul’s teachings
regarding women as simply a product of his culture. However, Paul had
consistently maintained that his teachings came from the Lord.
If we only regard the cultural and human elements of the Bible, we fail to see God’s hand and intentions.
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