Thomas of Everyday Liturgy and I have run out of steam on the “postmodern apologetics” series, so we’re starting a new one on “Reading the Text(s) of Scripture.” Thomas and I both were educated in (he: Philadelphia Biblical University; me: Gordon College), and worship and fellowship in, the evangelical world, so we’re both aware of the hornet’s nest any discussion of the doctrine of scripture can stir up. We’re hoping, though, that this will not be taken as another set of broadsides in the “battle for the Bible,” or as picking fights, but rather that it will represent the reflections of two textual scholars from outside the theological guild (he: literature and literary theory; me: case law, statutes and constitutions), with a missional sensibility, on the nature of the Biblical texts.
We’ll approach this as follows: we’ll first offer a quote from a systematic theology text / book / article on the doctrine of scripture and/or Biblical hermeneutics, or a passage directly from scripture about scripture, and then we’ll offer our personal reflections on the quote.
As a lawyer, I often feel compelled to append disclaimers to everything, so let me add one here: we are both very imperfect, but serious, Christians, and so we both take the Bible to be “scripture.” Whatever precise statements, definitions, qualifications, and such we each might feel comfortable with concerning the doctrine of scripture and hermeneutics, at the end of the day we both seek to submit to and be transformed by God as He speaks through scripture. If there are any elements of “deconstruction” of any of the definitions we discuss — and I’m not prejudging that there necessarily will be — that is only for the purpose, we hope, of understanding more fully, expressing more articulately, and representing more faithfully and truthfully the power and majesty of the scriptures.
Coming up next…. the first quote.
5 replies on “New Series: Reading the Text(s) of Scripture”
I’ll look forward to this series. Sounds like it’ll be quite interesting.
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KJV 1 Corinthians 13:11-13
11. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
This is actually an example of an elementary Biblical study. It appears to be a difficult text to understand. And it is. Like most text, when we rely upon human wisdom we will never see the depth of the subject.
The spiritual meaning of this text is easily found simply by following the word glass through the Bible. The interpretation is even given in order.
The first text (1 Corinthians 13:11-13) makes it clear we begin our understanding as a child. He next text (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) tells us we need to change.
KJV 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
17. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The next text tells us what we need to change and what to expect when we do change. We go from being a child to being a man.
KJV James 1:22-24
22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Of course God loves to remind us of His promises. The next four text in the book of Revelation remind us of our reward when we do become changed. We begin as a child and when we are grown we no longer see our image but we see the image of Jesus reflected.
KJV Revelation 4:6-7
6. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
KJV Revelation 15:2-3
2. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
KJV Revelation 21:17-18
17. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
KJV Revelation 21:21-22
21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Dennis — thanks for the comment — I’m not clear on what you’re getting at, though.
Hi Anna, thanks for stopping by. You can see the rest of the “Text(s) of Scripture” series here: http://www.tgdarkly.com/blog/?cat=38
I can see that you’re really struggling with some things. I’d encourage you to take all those wounds to Jesus. That sounds kind of simplistic, I know. But one of the purposes of the physical, emotional and spiritual wounds Jesus suffered on the cross was to enter into the wounds you and I suffer. Seek out how that is so, seek out the friendship of people who have learned a little of how this is so, and I know that you’ll find even deeper meaning in what it is to “see through a glass darkly” with the hope of one day seeing more clearly.