Many liberal theologians engage in hermeneutics, the study of interpretation and application of Biblical texts. They may reject literal interpretations in favour of establishing general rules from the Bible, thus maintaining that the Bible is not the inspired word of God, but simply a text from which we can learn about God and Christian teaching, and then apply this knowledge to our own lives. Considering that this view overcomes the apparent contradictions in the Bible by, for example, claiming that the account of God sending the Israelites to fight is intended to portray his desire for justice, it holds strong. Nevertheless, it fails to account for the fact that teaching within the Bible itself asserts that Biblical text is the word of God.
Interpreters must be wary before referring to ‘the teaching of the Bible,’ for as John Locke asserts, “the scripture serves but, like a nose of wax, to be turned and bent, just as may fit the contrary orthodoxies of different societies’. People have a natural tendency to read into the scriptures their own prejudices and maintain that they are biblically justified. Furthermore, it is important that we realise that the understanding expressed in some parts of the Bible is based on a mature experience of life and is subsequently likely to be fully appreciated solely by mature persons.
Amongst others, Thomas Aquinas holds that Christians partially rely on Revealed Theology for guidance since it is impossible to discover certain truths, such as the Incarnation and the Resurrection, through human reason. In response to Hegel’s claim that Christianity has been adopted to explain the existence of the universe, Kierkegaard takes a similar stance, maintaining that the Christian message could not have been constructed by man. Christians assert that divine proclamations were firstly revealed through the prophets, and then through Christ and the Apostles. Such teachings are allegedly authoritatively recorded in the Bible. In light of this, those that adhere to the ‘Propositional’ view of revelation believe that the Bible reveals truths about God and is thus the inspired word of God. Nevertheless, there is much disagreement between Protestants and Catholics as to whether the Bible is the sole source of divine revelation, for the Catholic Church also emphasises the importance of tradition. Catholicism holds that the Pope’s teaching should also be considered to be inspired by God. It should, however, be noted that both Churches stress the importance of the Scriptures in revealing divine truths.
On the contrary, David Pailin asserts that the Bible should not be considered the word of God, since it is only such in the sense that Jesus portrays the nature of God. It certainly does reveal much about our creator, namely His omnipotence, omniscience and omni-benevolence, but it is surely the living word of God in the sense that it directs the Christian in everyday life, providing guidance in decision- making and encouraging a relationship with God. It is inevitable that we will be puzzled by Jesus’ teaching on occasions. However, this should not be taken as evidence that God did not inspire the writing, for our knowledge is limited to that which God has given us. When faced with apparent contradiction in teaching we should pray for the correct understanding of the relevant scripture. It is clear that Biblical text was written to meet specific needs, the authors being wholly unaware that their work would be scrutinised by future Christians. For example, St. Paul’s letter the Ephesians with regard to wives submitting to their husbands may have been written solely in view of eliminating increasing conflict between married couples at the time. Thus it is possible that such teaching should not be applied in today’s society. It may be that, whilst anyone can read the Bible, only those with a wholehearted desire to know God can truly receive His divine revelation when reading the Scriptures, leading to correct interpretation; Biblical text may become the word of God for those with faith.
Pailin maintains that “authentic Christian faith is a living response to God, which uses the Bible as a means of perceiving the divine.” This perspective centres on the belief that one can come to understand the reality of God through the reading of human interaction in the Bible. The view that Biblical text is not, as such, the word of God is generally adopted by those who take a ‘non-propositional’ approach to revelation. Those who adhere to this view hold that the Scriptures are not timeless words from God, but rather written by authors of who are affected by their culture and are products of their time. Emphasis is placed on the Bible’s basic message being the outcome of experience.
Gabriel Moran claims that the Bible becomes a source of revelation from God through personal relationship with Jesus. The Bible thus becomes the word of God to the believer. It is with this belief that I relate most fully, since the atheist may read the Scriptures but will not necessarily become a Christian as a result. A genuine desire for closeness to God is needed for God to guide a believer reading the Bible. Issues of exegesis are overcome since interpretation is undertaken with the help of divine intervention. Furthermore, if the meaning of passages remains unclear, then it would seem that they are of little importance or God would have clearly revealed their meaning. We certainly cannot reject the teaching in 2 Timothy that “all scripture is the inspired word of God.” As for more liberal approaches, it is necessary to recognise that not scripture should be viewed literally, but God will guide the believer as to how texts should be addressed.
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The Bible, 2 Peter 1:20-21
John Locke, A Second Vindication of Reasonableness of Christianity (1768).
Author of The Groundwork of Philosophy of Religion.
Author of Theology of Revelation
