How do we safely read the
Bible without overlaying our own thoughts,
theology and interpretation onto it? Do not
get me wrong - theology and interpretation are important features of Bible reading.
However, it needs to be remembered that these
flow from the Bible and not the other way around.
The Bible is the nervous system of divine
knowledge, networking the whole of the issue of theology and interpretation. The
writers of the books of the Bible may not have set out to write “set
theological pieces,”[1]
but they did. The various theological concepts, interpretive principles and application
are outworked differently through each book of the Bible but make up a whole.
Yet there are those who see a
conflict between the Bible and theology and the Bible and interpretation. How
can this be, when the Bible is God’s revealed theology to be interpreted within
the community of faith? Remember that the chief reason behind theology revealed
in the Bible and
interpretation is to know God. This can be seen through His plan of salvation, unfolded
by means of Jesus Christ, and how the redeemed
are to live the life of salvation. If that is not theological and interpreted
through Jesus Christ, then what is?
Pause in His presence for a moment and think
this over…
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