Monday, August 23, 2010
Semantics
In my last Bible study at Rajbhavan road in Hyderabad, I used a wrong word and that left me sleepless. I wanted to say that the question of "Inerrancy" in the Bible is purely theoretical since we do not have the original texts, and the texts we do have differ from each other. Unfortunately I used the word "infallibilty" instead of "in errancy" which has a totally different connotation and meaning!! I believe in the infallibility of the teachings of the Bible and have no question in my mind on that. The debate on verbal inerrancy is to me inane.
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Uncle, I have a query. Pls clarify.
ReplyDeleteIf we give way to inerrancy, why can't we give way to infallibility too ? This is like saying that a mighty king (who just returned home after slaying his enemy king) fell dead in a battle with a 6-yr old kid;-)
When God inspired the scriptures (Heb1:1) in order for us to experience it's truth, wouldn't it have been any difficult for HIM to preserve HIS truth too ? Afterall,truth remains (by excluding others) while fables and man change !
Inerrancy looks for word for word accuracy of the Bible - which given the fact that we do not have the original script becomes a redundant debate. Infallibility looks for accuracy of the teachings in the Bible as whole. An error in a word (like the age of a person) does not change the teaching of the Scriptures. In fact all the variations in text do not affect the major teachings of the Bible, which are infallible. But teachings built on questionable text (Mark 16:9ff) will not be infallible. Hence I prefer to look on the teachings of the Bible as what it says as a whole, and not just what it says in one questionable passage.
ReplyDeleteIn the Bible, truth is historical and not just philosophical. Since the variance in the text does not change the history, but only the details, the teachings are not affected.
Billy asks why God did not keep the original texts intact, which He could well have. To some extent this enters the area of free will and divine sovereignty which is a paradox which we accept but do not fully understand.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to our discussion on the gifts in class this morning I wanted to ask how we should understand Ephesians 4:11 & 12. "It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ will be built up." Should we try to serve through ways that we are stronger (i.e. as an evangelist). . . should we just serve and naturally, or through others' recognition, we will realize where we are stronger in one area than another . . . should we just serve and not think about these roles/gifts . . . ?
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Bible is the Word of God within the definitions given by both Apostles Paul ("ALL Scripture is God breathed..." 2 Tim 3:16) and Peter (2 Pet 1:21 "for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God"). Now for those of us who live in times when the closed canon has been announced, some might get to thinking that the black print on white pages of the Bible is the literal Word of God. The Bible is Scripture no doubt.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the pages of the Bible clearly reveals how the Sovereignty of God (as Uncle Lee rightly points out) meshes and blends and is so tightly interwoven with human choices and its consequences.
Therefore, I have come to believe that the Word of God is understood / believed / held in-tension as the situation may warrant. A Holy Spirit led intense focus on the Sovereign meta narrative within the obvious human foibles is necessary. And for this reason and more, I believe, the infallible, unchanging, immortal God wrapped Himself in 'mortal' flesh, WHO is Truly the very Word of God, Who is alive today.
The fact that the Word of God is a living Person provides for 'progressive revelation' (I use this phrase with trepidation lest knives are out) within the life of anyone in whom dwells the LIFE.
So, the Word of God is INFALLIBLE for all time and beyond, while the 'Bible' does carry on the finger prints of human frailty.
Responding to what Pete wrote about gifts, it is interesting that he quotes a passage that is speaking about ones call rather than gifts. You are called to be an evangelist etc. Gifts are different e.g. healing, prophesying etc. While usually God would calls us in the area of our strengths, this is not necessarily so. Hence Moses, Jeremiah and others express feelings of inadequacy.
ReplyDeleteI Cor 12:4-7 speaks of different gifts, different ministries and different activities (NKJV). So which of these are more important? Verse 7 reads "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all." Or in other words the gifts are given to minister to all. The focus is on the ministry rather than the gift, and so Paul down plays the importance of gifts.
People who focus on gifts miss on the hidden gifts which they are not aware of as they function within the comfort zone. But people who are willing to go outside their comfort zone find new gifts which they were not aware of.
Further, people who are being groomed by God for higher responsibiities need to be aware of the basics in a wide range of activities and this is done by assuming responsibilities in different areas. People who focus on gifts usually are not able to function at senior levels of responsibility as they have little experience outside their area of expertise.
My favourite passage on this theme is Acts 6. Stephen was a worker of miracles Acts 6:8 and a powerful Bible teacher Acts 6:10, but was asked to serve the orphans and the widows - not necessarily his best gifting. However, there was a need and he was the most able to deal with it though his gifting was different and he willingly took on the role, though he continued to use his gifts as opportunities arose.
I thought Joseph's comment was great. Thanks for the input.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Ephesians 4 passage, I've been frequently wrestling with how it ties up with passages like I Corinthians 12 & Romans 12. Writers like Breen & Kallestad (Lifeshapes) emphasize that Eph 4 addresses 'ministry' types while others including Rick Warren (Purpose Driven) club all the 3 chapters generically under 'gifts'. Would like to hear more.
ReplyDeleteI have personally been inclined until now towards Breen & Kallestad since it makes better sense to imagine the 'giftings' mentioned in I Cor & Rom equip us for the 'ministry or ministries' to which we are called.
I Corinthians 12:4-10 is interesting in this context. How do I understand Paul's style? Is vs 4-6 it poetical repitition of the same idea? Or is there a progression of ideas? Or is it a theological statement? He makes three statements (a reference to the Trinity) as follows:-
ReplyDeleteThe Spirit - diverse gifts
The Lord - diverse ministries
God - diverse activities.
I would like to see it as follows:- God plans and drives the larger activity within which Jesus ministers using the gifts of Holy Spirit. So Teaching is a larger activity involving teachers who minster using the gift of teaching given by the Holy Spirit. This is Pete's point that gifts and ministry are closely intertwined. However the activity of Teaching also requires the ministry of administration and other acts of service and not just teaching alone. So I can be in the activity of teaching using my gifts of administration etc.
My take is that gifts are given according to needs. I have several gifts - both natural and supernatural - all of which are given to me by God through the Holy Spirit. I do not use them all at any one time. I use those that are rwquired by the context of the activity and ministry which God has called me to. It is this activity and ministry to which God has called me that I need to focus my attention on and trust God to provide me the ability to serve there.
To answer Joseph's question I would go with Breen & Kallestad that Ephesians 4 is speaking of activities and ministries and not gifts per se.
Thanks, gentlemen, for your insights. I was able to hear Breen speak . . . I liked what he said - that he sees the spiritual gifts (i.e. I Cor' 12 etc.) as a "tool bag" that are used by Christians as and when they are needed - I think that this goes along with what you are saying and seems balanced.
ReplyDeleteGoing back to our Wednesday class-accountability-I just noticed a verse this morning in II Cor' 13:1, "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." So I guess, if a new/young guy comes up with an idea (i.e. ministry or vision in the church), the hope would be that his "elders" would test it's authenticity and then "establish" it and empower him/her to see it through!!
Well that his how it is meant to be in theory. In practice even Paul struggled to get his ideas through as a newbie (12 years in Christ!). So I do sympathise with elders when God begins a new work and they are unable to understand it. However, most of the time the elders are right and the newbie's needs to seek their counsel and insights and adapt their ideas with these inputs. The exceptions do not make the general rule of obedience to the church redundant.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. Even their simple obedience shows their readiness for other ministry.
ReplyDeleteA different string . . . I have heard some strongly state that the Catholic Church is synonomous with the Woman on the Beast in Rev' . . . 17 - any comments?
ReplyDelete