BEWARE THAT OUR METHODS OF STUDYING THE BIBLE WILL INFLUENCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE

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.

SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE

A RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO REJECT THE BIBLE BECAUSE SOME OF IT DOESN’T AGREE WITH THEIR UNDERSTANDING:

You think that the Bible makes God look absurd. I will grant you that there are passages that I too find troubling. However, a Christian accepts the fact that many actions and words of God are perplexing, as they should be. (How can we fully get our minds around the Creator and Sustainer of this universe!)

A parallel is our belief in science in which we are confronted with many perplexing findings, even regarding the basics – the nature of light, matter, time, and space… However, we do not reject science because of these perplexities and even the findings that seem to be contradictory. Why not? Because science has proven itself in many ways, we are willing to live with the perplexities. How much more so with the perplexities of God, as presented in the Bible and even in creation!

Many of us have experienced how the Lord works transformationally through His Word. We have experienced His wisdom and have discovered many remarkable things through the Word. We have also experienced His enduring love for us. Therefore, we are willing to endure the areas of confusion, confident that they too have their resolution.

Nor do we resist by declaring, “I will not believe in the God of the Bible until everything makes sense to me.” Such a position represents the height of arrogance and an exaggerated belief in ability to truly understand. Likewise, to reject science until we understand everything is also foolish.