What Is the Bible?
The proper function and use of the Christian scriptures
“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you” (John 5:39-42 NRSV)
A Practical Identification that Leads to Practical Idolatry
The Bible is not the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Christians often refer to the scriptures as the “word of God,” but this equivocation over the phrases “Word of God” and “word of God” needs to be well-understood and made clear. If we ignore the truth of the relevant differences, and treat all the scriptures as if they are God’s literal words, it will invariably lead to a form of practical idolatry (idolatry in practice) that rejects the will of the risen, living Christ.
How do the scriptures become an idol? There is a tendency among some to identify the scriptures too closely with God, i.e., biblical inerrantists, fundamentalists, and many evangelicals. This identification of the scriptures with God is more of a practical identification than a formal one. For instance, a biblical inerrantist will readily admit that the scriptures are not actually God; nonetheless, they will treat the scriptures as if God dictated every word (Charlotte Elia and I discussed this in a past podcast). Hence, to practically identify the scriptures with God is to treat the scriptures as if everything found in them is directly from God. And, if that’s the case, then no matter what we find in the scriptures, it is God’s word and should be believed/obeyed. Once that practical identification is made, practical idolatry follows close behind.
The scriptures are not God; they’re not even Jesus Christ who is God.
“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life…Yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”
It is significant that Jesus makes a clear distinction between himself and the scriptures. We use the phrase “word of God'“ to refer to the scriptures and “Word of God” to refer to Jesus Christ. Since those two phrases are not referring the same thing, it will help to make their differences clear.
One way to see the absurdity of identifying the scriptures with God is by applying the principle known as the Identity of Indiscernibles. The basic idea of the Identity of Indiscernibles is that two things are identical if and only if they share exactly all the same properties or features. Two coins, for instance, that have exactly all the same features are identical.1 In this sense, Jesus Christ and the scriptures are identical if and only if they share all the same properties. Clearly, they do not, but a few examples might help.
Consider that the bible is not the incarnate God, but Jesus Christ is. The bible did not die and rise again in order to reconcile all of creation to God, but Jesus Christ did. We do not worship the bible, but we do worship Jesus Christ. We do not put our faith in the Bible; we put our faith in the risen, living Christ. Likewise, you cannot purchase Jesus Christ in a leather bound edition, but you can purchase a leather bound edition of the Bible. Jesus Christ is not sold in Walmart next to the romance novels, but the Bible is. Obviously, Jesus Christ and the Bible are very different. When we use the phrases “Word of God” and “word of God” we are equivocating. There is nothing wrong with equivocations so long as we are honest and make our intentions clear.
If the “word of God” is not the “Word of God,” what is their proper relationship?
“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.”
What is the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Bible? Jesus states that the scriptures testify on his behalf. In other words, the scriptures serve the function of bearing witness to the truth of Christ. This is the primary function of the scriptures; however, the scriptures alone are not sufficient for this function. The Holy Spirit uses the scriptures to bear witness to the truth of Christ. Without the Holy Spirit’s witness, the Bible is just another book.
Given this primary function, we can say the scriptures serve the living Christ. The Holy Spirit uses the scriptures to bring us to faith in Christ. Once the scriptures have served that primary purpose, they begin to serve Christ in their secondary function as a rule of faith and practice. In sum, the proper relationship of the scriptures to Christ is as a means that work toward an end (goal). They are a means that work toward the end of bringing us to faith in Christ, and they are a means that work toward the end of helping us live as Christ intends for us to live.
Jesus Christ is the authority of the scriptures and interpretive key to the scriptures.
The authority of the scriptures is functional: The Bible has no inherent authority for Christians, in and of itself. The scriptures have authority for Christians only in relation to Jesus Christ. In other words, the Bible’s authority is purely functional as it serves Christ’s will and Christ’s ends. In so far as the scriptures serve their function in revealing Christ and helping us live according to his will, they have authority. The moment they are used in ways that are contrary to Jesus Christ, they have no divine authority and become an idol.
Jesus Christ and his rule of love: the key to interpreting the scriptures. Our Lord’s commandment for us is simple: love (love God, love neighbor, and love others as Christ has loved us). Because the scriptures serve Christ, they must be interpreted and used according to his commandment to love. We might say the love of Christ is our interpretive key that helps us unlock the proper interpretation and use of the scriptures. When we use the scriptures in ways that are contrary to Christ and his commandment to love, we use them as an idol because we are placing the scriptures above him and his will for our lives.
Who would Jesus stone to death?
“But I know that you do not have the love of God in you.”
The love of Christ is our interpretive key. Consider this passage from Deuteronomy:
If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father and mother, who does not heed them when they discipline him, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his town at the gate of that place. They shall say to the elders of his town, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the town shall stone him to death. So you shall purge the evil from your midst; and all Israel will hear, and be afraid. (Deut. 21:18-21 NRSV)
Do we really need to go over why a passage like this is of no use to followers of Jesus Christ? Stoning our rebellious children to death is so far removed from the love we know in Christ that we hardly need an argument to be convinced. But, perhaps, some will object and complain that we have no right to decide what to follow and what to simply ignore as being irrelevant. Actually, Jesus sets the precedent for using discernment and subjecting the scriptures to his authority.
Consider what Jesus says here:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer.” (Matt. 5:38-39 NRSV)
Jesus is referring to a principle of retributive justice that is found a number of times in the Old Testament. The harshest version is found in Deuteronomy 19:
“Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” (Deut. 19:21 NRSV)
Is that right; show no pity? Clearly, Jesus abrogates this OT principle in favor of showing pity, having mercy, and even loving our enemies. On what basis does he discard this OT principle? Jesus appeals to his own authority. “You have heard that it was said…But I say to you…”
Either Love or Idolatry
The precedent is set by Jesus Christ. Either we use the Bible in accordance with his will and love, or it becomes an idol that serves some other lord. When we use the Bible to justify our hatred and bigotry, it has become an idol that usurps the authority of the living Christ. When we use the Bible to justify our indifference and greed, it has become an idol that serves our own purposes. When we use the Bible as a means of ostracizing and marginalizing others, it has become an idol that slanders the name of Jesus Christ. If we are followers of Jesus Christ, we have a responsibility to interpret and use the scriptures in ways that fit the love we know in the risen, living Christ.
Of course, no two coins are the same. Any two coins will have at least one difference, which means that, strictly speaking, no two coins are identical. For our purpose, though, it is enough to see the absurdity of identifying two things that have many differences.