Having come across a number of people over the last few years struggling with the Bible, and having my own grapples too, this morning at our church gathering, I decided to look at the complex issue of how we understand the Bible in our faith: Is the Bible authoritative? If so, in what way?
It did seem rather daunting, as the issue of how we understand the Bible creates so much debate and conflict in the Christian World. Seemed to go alright (haven’t had any stones yet anyway). I draw much inspiration and thought from NT Wright, the Bishop of Durham, author and theologian. He has written a paper (actually a transcript of a talk) on “How can the Bible be Authoritative“.
NT Wright suggests that the Bible is really four acts of God’s Story, and we are working out Act 5 as God’s people now, in a way that consistent and innovative to the first 4 acts. This moves the debate away from words such as inerrant, infallible, sola scriptura, prima scriptura, to a narrative approach to the Scripture.
I notice that he has written a book too, “The Last Word: Scripture and the Authority of God - getting beyond the Bible Wars” which looks a good read.
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