Comments on: What is the Bible? God’s Word? http://adamlehman.us/faith/3-questions-that-im-interested-to-hear-your-answers/ Just another WordPress site Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:19:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Graham Buck http://adamlehman.us/faith/3-questions-that-im-interested-to-hear-your-answers/#comment-487 Graham Buck Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:18:09 +0000 http://www.adamlehman.us/?p=1547#comment-487 Some responses... 1) @Brian In as much as parts of the Bible claim to speak God's words (I will grant that not every biblical writing does this) then either they claim wrongly or they are God's words as well as he wanted them written. Parts of Jeremiah show this well. Interestingly, first is Jer1.1-2 "The words of Jeremiah... The word of the LORD came to him...". The equation is typical for the prophets especially. However, lest we overstate our case, Jer36 offers us an example of how God's word could be both a dictation and an organic synthesis between the Lord and his prophet (in the general sense). I'd be interested to hear more of your view on the nature of scripture. I guess, in more technical terms, what I'm asking is are your views more in line with Brueggemann or Barth? @Angela If God's word is, ultimately, ineffable how then can we be assured of our faith convictions. That is, where are the points of contact and analogy that allow a finite creature some semblance of understanding of the infinite's word? 2) @Brian I totally agree with you on the varied time and contexts of the biblical writings, but the anthologists saw something which ties this variegated collection together. This is somewhat in line with what I said about 'Depends on which section you ask.' What do you think that common thread is, if it even exists at all? 3) @Brian Talk to me about the difference between God's word being revealed and God's character/nature being revealed. Because I think we're speaking the same thing here, that God 'speaks' through all of creation, both the natural and the creative experiences of humanity, but, as far as evangelical christian technical terms are concerned, to speak of God's 'word' is to imply an authoritative revelation from him, whether written, spoken (as he did to prophets, or the prophets/apostles did), or of Jesus himself. It's fine if we want to redefine terms, I've no problem with that, but we need to be clear about what we mean by 'God's word' and 'revealed'. Thanks for interacting with me on these. This is how I learn! Some responses…

1)
@Brian

In as much as parts of the Bible claim to speak God’s words (I will grant that not every biblical writing does this) then either they claim wrongly or they are God’s words as well as he wanted them written. Parts of Jeremiah show this well. Interestingly, first is Jer1.1-2 “The words of Jeremiah… The word of the LORD came to him…”. The equation is typical for the prophets especially. However, lest we overstate our case, Jer36 offers us an example of how God’s word could be both a dictation and an organic synthesis between the Lord and his prophet (in the general sense).

I’d be interested to hear more of your view on the nature of scripture. I guess, in more technical terms, what I’m asking is are your views more in line with Brueggemann or Barth?

@Angela

If God’s word is, ultimately, ineffable how then can we be assured of our faith convictions. That is, where are the points of contact and analogy that allow a finite creature some semblance of understanding of the infinite’s word?

2)
@Brian

I totally agree with you on the varied time and contexts of the biblical writings, but the anthologists saw something which ties this variegated collection together. This is somewhat in line with what I said about ‘Depends on which section you ask.’ What do you think that common thread is, if it even exists at all?

3)
@Brian

Talk to me about the difference between God’s word being revealed and God’s character/nature being revealed. Because I think we’re speaking the same thing here, that God ‘speaks’ through all of creation, both the natural and the creative experiences of humanity, but, as far as evangelical christian technical terms are concerned, to speak of God’s ‘word’ is to imply an authoritative revelation from him, whether written, spoken (as he did to prophets, or the prophets/apostles did), or of Jesus himself. It’s fine if we want to redefine terms, I’ve no problem with that, but we need to be clear about what we mean by ‘God’s word’ and ‘revealed’.

Thanks for interacting with me on these. This is how I learn!

]]> By: Angela Harms http://adamlehman.us/faith/3-questions-that-im-interested-to-hear-your-answers/#comment-486 Angela Harms Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:53:46 +0000 http://www.adamlehman.us/?p=1547#comment-486 Oh! I want a do-over, where I copy Brian's answer to number 3. :) Oh! I want a do-over, where I copy Brian’s answer to number 3. :)

]]> By: Brian http://adamlehman.us/faith/3-questions-that-im-interested-to-hear-your-answers/#comment-485 Brian Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:11:07 +0000 http://www.adamlehman.us/?p=1547#comment-485 1) Firstly, I like to remind folks that we refer to it as the "word" of God and not "God's words." For me, the Bible is a human text that reflects a human understanding of how our spiritual ancestors beleived they were experiencing God's presence in their world. 2) I avoid claiming "The Bible Says..." simply because it is not really a single text but a collection of books by different peoples writing in different places, times and contexts. For me, suggesting "The Bible says..." is like saying "The Library says" when what you really mean is "This particular book in the library says..." 3) I think God's word is revealed all over the place -- in creation, art, poetry, experience, relationships, etc. All that said...I'm always open to other people's opinions and other ways of thinking about all this! 1) Firstly, I like to remind folks that we refer to it as the “word” of God and not “God’s words.” For me, the Bible is a human text that reflects a human understanding of how our spiritual ancestors beleived they were experiencing God’s presence in their world.
2) I avoid claiming “The Bible Says…” simply because it is not really a single text but a collection of books by different peoples writing in different places, times and contexts. For me, suggesting “The Bible says…” is like saying “The Library says” when what you really mean is “This particular book in the library says…”
3) I think God’s word is revealed all over the place — in creation, art, poetry, experience, relationships, etc.

All that said…I’m always open to other people’s opinions and other ways of thinking about all this!

]]> By: Angela Harms http://adamlehman.us/faith/3-questions-that-im-interested-to-hear-your-answers/#comment-484 Angela Harms Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:09:01 +0000 http://www.adamlehman.us/?p=1547#comment-484 Hi, Adam! I'll give it a go... 1. I try not to say that the bible is God's word. God's word, to me, is ineffable, but it seems connected to creation, to God's breath (a lovely metaphor) and the Christ, who is, in the words of a guy who really resonates with me, the word of God made flesh. 2. The Bible seems to me to be a collection of stories, not very self-referential. 3. See #1. Hi, Adam! I’ll give it a go…

1. I try not to say that the bible is God’s word. God’s word, to me, is ineffable, but it seems connected to creation, to God’s breath (a lovely metaphor) and the Christ, who is, in the words of a guy who really resonates with me, the word of God made flesh.

2. The Bible seems to me to be a collection of stories, not very self-referential.

3. See #1.

]]> By: Graham Buck http://adamlehman.us/faith/3-questions-that-im-interested-to-hear-your-answers/#comment-483 Graham Buck Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:53:24 +0000 http://www.adamlehman.us/?p=1547#comment-483 1. The Bible as God's Word means that it is his powerful (what it does), meaningful (what it says), self-expression (who he is) to the world. Those words coincide, respectively, with God's control, authority, and presence in this world as the Author of all things. 2. Depends on which section you ask... Implicitly, though, one could say that it simply declares itself to be theopneustos (God-breathed), and the sole source for the inculcation of, and improvisation for, Godly life. 3. In some respect everything that is reveals God's person and character (Rom1). If we take the definition of the Word from answer 1 and also John's jazz improv in John1 then God's powerful, meaningful, self-expression is most poignantly localized in the person of Jesus (Heb1.1-3). The issue is one of degree and clarity. The Word, Scripture and Jesus, are the sole source for faith and practice, though all else can, in some sense, be used for illustration. 1. The Bible as God’s Word means that it is his powerful (what it does), meaningful (what it says), self-expression (who he is) to the world. Those words coincide, respectively, with God’s control, authority, and presence in this world as the Author of all things.

2. Depends on which section you ask… Implicitly, though, one could say that it simply declares itself to be theopneustos (God-breathed), and the sole source for the inculcation of, and improvisation for, Godly life.

3. In some respect everything that is reveals God’s person and character (Rom1). If we take the definition of the Word from answer 1 and also John’s jazz improv in John1 then God’s powerful, meaningful, self-expression is most poignantly localized in the person of Jesus (Heb1.1-3). The issue is one of degree and clarity. The Word, Scripture and Jesus, are the sole source for faith and practice, though all else can, in some sense, be used for illustration.

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