The Church that Love Builds
How to Study the Bible
Before we even begin with Scripture itself, it may be helpful to state as clearly as I can what I see as the basic Lutheran assumptions about the Bible and its study. Much of what follows is easily found in a wide range of Lutheran authors, but is most recently summarized in what the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America calls the “Book of Faith” initiative. Not all of these assumptions are unique to Lutheranism, but some may be a bit different from what other traditions are used to.The Bible is a Library
The Bible is a library of books written by faithful people for the purpose of inspiring faith among others. Specifically, the Christian Scriptures (the New Testament) were written to encourage faith in Jesus of Nazareth as the Lord and Savior of humanity. The Old and New Testaments (in the form we now have them) taken together date from sometime before 1000 B.C. to about 100 A.D. The stories they relate reach back before Abraham to the dim pre-history of humanity, and take us up to the expansion of the Christian communities around the northern and eastern Mediterranean basin.
The Bible has a Genre
The Bible contains lots of kinds of literature: letters, histories, poetry, genealogies, apocalypses, prophecies, parables and biographies.
The Bible of Law and Grace
The Bible contains what Lutherans call Law and Gospel. The Law is not just the formal laws like the Ten Commandments, but refers to all the passages that make demands, restrict actions, threaten penalties, or define limitations. Gospel does not mean only the four books we call Gospels, but refers to all passages that make promises, grant grace, bestow blessings, or bring healing, freedom, or new life. While both these need to be heeded, Lutherans are convinced that the Gospel of God’s free grace offering salvation to all people is at the heart of the Bible, the ministry of Christ, and the mission of the Church.
The Bible Points to Christ
The overall purpose of the Bible for Christians is to point us to the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. Christ is the ultimate Word of God to humanity. That Word is primarily about God’s intention to save the world. The Bible is the written testimony of those who trusted in that promise. Because Scripture so faithfully points to the Word made flesh, we sometimes refer to the Bible itself as the Word of God. Lutherans (and many others) do not confuse the two. Luther said that the Bible is like the manger in which we can find the Christ. The Bible is sacred because of the one it points to. We read and study the Bible; we worship Christ.
The Bible reflects on Itself
Scripture interprets Scripture. Brief passages should be understood in light of the overall message of the whole Bible. Also, difficult texts may be best understood if looked at through the lens of themes we can see clearly.
The Bible has a Context
We are not bound by the absolute meaning of any single verse or story, but we always want to try to understand the original, plain sense of a text. It is good to try to get at what original authors and audiences might have thought a story meant before we go off looking for more elaborate meanings.
The Bible is Best in Community
Public discussion of Scripture, such as this study is meant to be, can avoid many errors that a purely private reading might render. As each of us shares our insights and questions, all of us are likely to have a better sense of how God is addressing us in a passage.
What the Bible is Not
Finally, some negatives: We do not view the Bible as a set of rules, an instruction manual, or a set of secret texts that need specialized decoding. Nor is the Bible a text book on science or history. We do not see the Bible as a dictation from God through passive human writers, but as an inspired collection of testimonies from faith for faith. While we do not elevate human reason above divine revelation, we still see human reason as a precious gift to be used rigorously to understand the Bible, history, science, our world and ourselves.
Last updated by Scott Cady Sep. 28, 2009.
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