The Bible – Part 2

I think Christians often make more of the Bible than they really ought.  It’s meant to be a collection of spiritual writings relating to the Gospel in an important way.  But its status has been elevated to that of God Himself – we call it the Word of God.  When God says “My Word” in the Bible – does it relate to the Bible itself?  It does in way: when God speaks through someone or they are given genuine revelation from Him.  Other than that, well…I don’t know.  I believe the Word of God is the truth of God.  We read in Genesis that God spoke and said, “Let there be light”, and there was light.  So God’s Word could also be God commissioning something – His power being sent forth into the world.  I also know that the Bible describes Jesus as “The Living Word”.

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  It’s interesting to note that when King David wrote this Psalm, the only books of the Bible that were in existence were the Pentateuch.  The Pentateuch is the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  All the other books of the Bible that we consider to be the Word of God, were being written or yet to be written.  So it’s unlikely that David is referring to what we now know as the Bible, when he says, “Your word…”

So I see the need for the Bible being used to prevent fraudsters and otherwise deluded individuals coming along and saying they’ve heard from God and what He supposedly told them.  But the Bible as we know it is a medieval English translation of ancient Middle Eastern texts, written in Hebrew or Greek. Much of these writings were written to specific people at a specific time.

There are customs and rituals in the Bible which might not apply to us in modern, western civilisations.  An example of this is when Paul told the church at Corinth, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, “As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches.”  It’s commonly accepted amongst Christians that this was not intended as a blanket rule to all believers in all churches.  However, there’s always some over-zealous Christian who will retort by quoting 2 Timothy 3:16.

 

¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:16

 

It’s more likely that Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, was addressing a specific situation at the time.  Commonsense and experience needs to be applied in all areas of life – including the Bible.  Some Bible verses defy earthly logic, such as the miracles of Jesus, so we have to bear that in mind too.  We also need to bear in mind the history, lifestyle and customs of the time, as well as the specific people being addressed by the author.  We should always try to look to more than one Bible verse to help corroborate a particular Biblical truth.