Photo credit: Godfrey Kneller (1646 – 1723) ‘Old Scholar (Vanitas Allegory)‘
A helpful quote on how to think through the relationship of reading the truth of scripture and what scholars also have to say about it.
During the series of Bible studies which originally led to the writing of this book, one girl (actually a member of a well-known cult) objected that I’d offered a number of opinions on the meaning of particular passages. She didn’t want ‘opinions’, she just wanted ‘the truth’! So perhaps I should make it clear where I stand on discovering the truth about what the Bible teaches.
In 2 Timothy 2:7 Paul wrote, ‘Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.’ Dick Lucas, a leading English evangelical, helpfully emphasizes the combination here of our thought and the Lord’s help in reaching a true understanding of the Bible. As an evangelical who is not a liberal I believe there is one truth. However, I also believe that, until we are sure what the truth is, Christians may properly differ in their opinions. Furthermore, as an evangelical who is not a fundamentalist, I believe that human reason* is essential to reaching that truth. Finally, as an evangelical who is not a post-modernist, I believe that the truth of a text lies ultimately in the meaning of the author – which in the case of Scripture includes both the human and the divine ‘authors’. I am aware of the questions raised by the study of hermeneutics, but I simply note that even the most ardent enthusiasts of post-modernism still express their opinions in books. (let the reader understand – and those who don’t needn’t worry about it!)
Some readers may feel I have given too much weight to the opinions of ‘scholars’ (though others will recognise I mention far too few). Scholars don’t hold all the answers, but scholarship helps determine the extent to which opinions should be heeded. Evangelical scholarship accepts the authority of the Bible and the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. However, it also recognises that since God has chosen to reveal himself through particular words in a particular context, we need to use our reasoning skills to understand what has been revealed. A scholar is simply someone familiar with the relevant material (including the multitude of books and articles, and the opinions of others concerning the subject in hand) who has properly weighed the evidence and demonstrates the plausibility of his or her conclusions.
John Richardson, ‘Revelation Unwrapped. Revealing the blessing of John’s vision‘ (2009) The Good Book Company, UK. p7-8
* As a reformed evangelical I also believe that our human reason is also stained by sin (the doctrine of Total Depravity) and is therefore not perfect, nor totally free from selfishness, nor completely neutral on all matters. Therefore I also believe that reason must be subject to scripture and while reason is useful it is also to be used humbly, acknowledging that reason may not resolve all scriptural differences between Christians.
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