Authority of the Bible
This must be stated in light of Bishop Hanson's Comments about Fundamentalism from this post on June 10
But Bishop Hanson stated " he rejects a literalistic view of the Bible "in this culture so dominated by fundamentalism." Instead of relying on a "bibliocentric" version of Christian faith, "I believe in a triune God who reveals God's self to me in Scripture," Hanson said, "who is revealed in Christ, and who is revealed for us in the bread and wine" of Communion."
A second set of great quotes is given by Bishop Margaret Paine of the New England Synod who said in
" We see the Bible not as a handbook for moral behavior, but as a source of wisdom for life in the compassion and peace of Christ. "
So in an age where things like this I feel compelled to respond, by stating what the Confessions and Scriptures do state in regard to the authority of the Bible.
The Second of the Smalcald Articles stated in Kolb/Wengert 304.15 states "This means that the Word of God-and no one else not even an angel-should establish articles of faith.
Article IV of the Large Cathecism in KW 464.57 states that "Because we know that God does not lie. My neighbor and I-in short, all people-may deceive and mislead, but God's Word cannot deceive."
We have only one guiding rule for our Faith and Life as stated in the Preface of the Epitome of the Formula of Concord which states the Old and New Testament are the only guiding principle.
Luther refered to the scriptures courtesy of John Theodore Mueller's Christian Dogmatics pg.116 as "God's Letter to Men". Luther spoke of scriptures as in error due to only people's flawed intrepretation of them which took away from Christ. Luther as Mueller states on page 117 did point to Christ above scriptures, but these were flawed intrepretations of the scriptures by the papists or enthuiasts of his day. Luther as Mueller points out on Page 118 speaks of how scripture is apostolic not from who teaches it, but from its proclaimation of Christ.
But the problem has became this pointing to a Christocentric intrepretation of the Bible. It is true the Lutheran Confessions do refer to the aim of the Bible as pointing us to Christ. But this role is served by all 66 Books, not in just select passages.
For the Scriptures states in 2 Timothy 3:16- That all Scripture is inspired by God. 2 Peter 1:21-Says scripture is the voice of God. In John 10:35-Jesus says the words of scripture cannot be broken. Romans 3:2-states that the Jews received the very words of God. On the Road to Emmamus, Luk3 24:27-states that Christ explained how from Moses and the Prophets and all of scriptures related to him. In John 5:39- Jesus pointed out how the Scriptures testify about him. The Gospel accounts cite the Old Testament 121 times. While other New Testament Books cite Old Testament scripture 158 times. This is courtesy of http://www.theology.edu/b310.htm. So it is fair to say that in the New Testament the Old Testament was regarded as authoriative.
Here are some such as all passages of scriptures aren't equally important?
This is true, this is an accusation levied against those with a high authority of the Bible. I have never heard someone say 1 Timothy 5:23 is equally important as John 3:16. Although, it is not our judgement to really have any say why the Bible would say this, due to our depraved nature. This depraved nature leads us to want to make theological doctrines pleasing to man, even when they directly contradict the Word of God. One shouldn't be able to hold that the Bible cannot address details for minor life situations. But what people like to take this and turn this into is the deleting elements of God's Law people feel uncomfortable with or making them unclear. For the Law works on turning us from our sin, and leading us to Christ. (Romans 4:15, Romans 5:20, Smalcald Article:Concerning Law KW 311-312) .
What about inaccuracies in Science? Well the Bible I have never claimed it's main intention to be a science textbook. I would never put the claims of Physcology above the claims of God's Word regarding Human Nature. The reason is that our nature is important in convicting us of our sin. This being said their might be inaccuracies in how people in the Old Testament saw the world (Job 37.18, Ps 75:3, 104:2, Gen 7:11, Gen 1:14). Although it can be stated that God could have left this views in the Bible to communicate the truths of his word to people in an BC context. The reason being that God wanted the truths of his word communicated, not engaging in the sceintific understanding of one's day. But either God's Word is authoriative in matters of Faith and Life or it is not. There is really no middle ground, so when so called scientfic teachings try to give "Sin and Wink" and a nod, we must reject them.
What about Groups like the Jesus Seminar? Well they start out with a bias against the Supernatural, so the inspiriation of scripture is not important. They then like to take historical study as shaped by the wishes of their own reason to try to figure out the true teachings of Jesus, influenced further by their humanistic world view. When you start out with the bias of your own reason, you have already stated what is your authority, and it isn't the Bible.
We must take the general tone of the Bible to assert what it teaches? Never mind that Christ and His apostles use scripture to debunk false arguments (Matthew 4:4-10, Romans 1:17). These people never engage in what scripture does teach, but use selective quotes for what they ascert scripture should teach. Reason is flawed in its application as a source for scripture due to our depraved nature (Romans 8:7, I Corinthians 2:14), which is in direct contrast to the teachings of the scriptures.
Conclusion: Scripture's Authority is the prime issue in the Church today. Once the authority of scripture is defined, all other issues can be quickly addressed. My view of scripture is that it is infalliable in matters of faith and doctrine. This is how Jesus viewed it, this is how the Bible views it, and this is how the Confessions view it. This new appeal to Christo-Centric translation is really an appeal to Rationalism in how we think of what the scriptures should really say. This is not to deny the Bible is Christo-Centric in how its aim is to reveal Christ. But this does not mean as Schleimacher developed that faith is defined by overview to the world. If you read Brateen and Jensen's Christian Dogmatics, they do address Biblical events as defined by their meaning. Although, they do keep the Cross and Resurrction as non-negotiable. My point in this writing is not to condemn others, but state what I see as the Historic Lutheran witness in regard to the truths of scripture.
But Bishop Hanson stated " he rejects a literalistic view of the Bible "in this culture so dominated by fundamentalism." Instead of relying on a "bibliocentric" version of Christian faith, "I believe in a triune God who reveals God's self to me in Scripture," Hanson said, "who is revealed in Christ, and who is revealed for us in the bread and wine" of Communion."
A second set of great quotes is given by Bishop Margaret Paine of the New England Synod who said in
" We see the Bible not as a handbook for moral behavior, but as a source of wisdom for life in the compassion and peace of Christ. "
So in an age where things like this I feel compelled to respond, by stating what the Confessions and Scriptures do state in regard to the authority of the Bible.
The Second of the Smalcald Articles stated in Kolb/Wengert 304.15 states "This means that the Word of God-and no one else not even an angel-should establish articles of faith.
Article IV of the Large Cathecism in KW 464.57 states that "Because we know that God does not lie. My neighbor and I-in short, all people-may deceive and mislead, but God's Word cannot deceive."
We have only one guiding rule for our Faith and Life as stated in the Preface of the Epitome of the Formula of Concord which states the Old and New Testament are the only guiding principle.
Luther refered to the scriptures courtesy of John Theodore Mueller's Christian Dogmatics pg.116 as "God's Letter to Men". Luther spoke of scriptures as in error due to only people's flawed intrepretation of them which took away from Christ. Luther as Mueller states on page 117 did point to Christ above scriptures, but these were flawed intrepretations of the scriptures by the papists or enthuiasts of his day. Luther as Mueller points out on Page 118 speaks of how scripture is apostolic not from who teaches it, but from its proclaimation of Christ.
But the problem has became this pointing to a Christocentric intrepretation of the Bible. It is true the Lutheran Confessions do refer to the aim of the Bible as pointing us to Christ. But this role is served by all 66 Books, not in just select passages.
For the Scriptures states in 2 Timothy 3:16- That all Scripture is inspired by God. 2 Peter 1:21-Says scripture is the voice of God. In John 10:35-Jesus says the words of scripture cannot be broken. Romans 3:2-states that the Jews received the very words of God. On the Road to Emmamus, Luk3 24:27-states that Christ explained how from Moses and the Prophets and all of scriptures related to him. In John 5:39- Jesus pointed out how the Scriptures testify about him. The Gospel accounts cite the Old Testament 121 times. While other New Testament Books cite Old Testament scripture 158 times. This is courtesy of http://www.theology.edu/b310.htm. So it is fair to say that in the New Testament the Old Testament was regarded as authoriative.
Here are some such as all passages of scriptures aren't equally important?
This is true, this is an accusation levied against those with a high authority of the Bible. I have never heard someone say 1 Timothy 5:23 is equally important as John 3:16. Although, it is not our judgement to really have any say why the Bible would say this, due to our depraved nature. This depraved nature leads us to want to make theological doctrines pleasing to man, even when they directly contradict the Word of God. One shouldn't be able to hold that the Bible cannot address details for minor life situations. But what people like to take this and turn this into is the deleting elements of God's Law people feel uncomfortable with or making them unclear. For the Law works on turning us from our sin, and leading us to Christ. (Romans 4:15, Romans 5:20, Smalcald Article:Concerning Law KW 311-312) .
What about inaccuracies in Science? Well the Bible I have never claimed it's main intention to be a science textbook. I would never put the claims of Physcology above the claims of God's Word regarding Human Nature. The reason is that our nature is important in convicting us of our sin. This being said their might be inaccuracies in how people in the Old Testament saw the world (Job 37.18, Ps 75:3, 104:2, Gen 7:11, Gen 1:14). Although it can be stated that God could have left this views in the Bible to communicate the truths of his word to people in an BC context. The reason being that God wanted the truths of his word communicated, not engaging in the sceintific understanding of one's day. But either God's Word is authoriative in matters of Faith and Life or it is not. There is really no middle ground, so when so called scientfic teachings try to give "Sin and Wink" and a nod, we must reject them.
What about Groups like the Jesus Seminar? Well they start out with a bias against the Supernatural, so the inspiriation of scripture is not important. They then like to take historical study as shaped by the wishes of their own reason to try to figure out the true teachings of Jesus, influenced further by their humanistic world view. When you start out with the bias of your own reason, you have already stated what is your authority, and it isn't the Bible.
We must take the general tone of the Bible to assert what it teaches? Never mind that Christ and His apostles use scripture to debunk false arguments (Matthew 4:4-10, Romans 1:17). These people never engage in what scripture does teach, but use selective quotes for what they ascert scripture should teach. Reason is flawed in its application as a source for scripture due to our depraved nature (Romans 8:7, I Corinthians 2:14), which is in direct contrast to the teachings of the scriptures.
Conclusion: Scripture's Authority is the prime issue in the Church today. Once the authority of scripture is defined, all other issues can be quickly addressed. My view of scripture is that it is infalliable in matters of faith and doctrine. This is how Jesus viewed it, this is how the Bible views it, and this is how the Confessions view it. This new appeal to Christo-Centric translation is really an appeal to Rationalism in how we think of what the scriptures should really say. This is not to deny the Bible is Christo-Centric in how its aim is to reveal Christ. But this does not mean as Schleimacher developed that faith is defined by overview to the world. If you read Brateen and Jensen's Christian Dogmatics, they do address Biblical events as defined by their meaning. Although, they do keep the Cross and Resurrction as non-negotiable. My point in this writing is not to condemn others, but state what I see as the Historic Lutheran witness in regard to the truths of scripture.
posted by Stew at 7:07 PM
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