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Trash or Treasure? What you believe about the Bible matters

How do you see the Bible? A literary classic? A pious fiction? A historical artifact? Or God’s authoritative and inspired self-revelation? I firmly believe that what we believe about the Bible will determine our approach to it.

I received an incredible spiritual inheritance from my parents in learning from a young age to revere and respect the Word of God. I still have the first bible that I received as a child. In the front, my father wrote of the need to read God’s word often, finishing his exhortation with “God needs good men.” I grew up hearing, reading, and meditating on the Bible. I was convinced of its central importance and inherent authority because I had experienced its transforming power; I had encountered God there.

Much later in life, I discovered that not everybody saw the Bible the way that I did. In my first year in seminary I attended an academic conference in San Diego, the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL). It was a very stretching time for me, because for the first time, I encountered people who were clearly experts in their field but who (at least apparently) had no meaningful commitment to the Bible’s authority over their lives. Don’t get me wrong. Some of them were clearly wonderful people, but it struck me as odd that somebody would give their entire professional career to studying the Bible as an historical artifact rather than as the Word of God revealed.

To put it simply, these people viewed the Bible just like any other book. There are others who say that though the Bible is a ‘special case’ (because inspired) nevertheless, if we are to interpret it correctly, we must treat it like any other book. But I (and of course, many others) would go one step further. The Bible is absolutely unique. It is like no other book. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit; breathed out by God himself. It is the revelation of One who habitually and intentionally reveals himself, who knows us and desires to be known by us.

Several years ago, while at Wheaton, I was trying to put into words what it was that caused formal biblical and theological education to be a tremendous blessing to some, while causing confusion and cynicism in others. One day I was reflecting on the parable of the treasure in the field (Matt 13:44) and it hit me. The difference is the basic and unshakable conviction that the Bible is a treasure. Inspired by the parable, I sat down to write my own about the treasure that we have in Scripture. I hope you enjoy it:

The Bible is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a young man found this treasure his heart leapt within him and for a moment he seriously contemplated selling all that he had to purchase the field. But, since he was a man of some means, he decided to consult the experts to determine if what he had found really was treasure. To his surprise, the experts were sharply divided. Some cautioned him that what he had found was really no treasure at all, but merely a rock in the ground, and that those who thought it treasure were deluded fanatics. Others contended that while what he had found was incredibly common and indeed a rock, it was a special type of rock. For this reason, it looked felt and smelt the same as any other rock, and was, for the purpose of analysis, to be treated like any other rock. But it was special nonetheless. This seemed strange. It sure did look for all the world like treasure to the man and part of him was sorry that he had not responded to his first impulse. But the experts seemed firmly agreed on one thing. What he had found was a common rock. And after all, he reasoned, they should know. They’re experts. Reluctantly persuaded, the man returned the treasure to the field and buried it again. From time to time he visited the field again, just to look at the treasure. But as he grew older he had less time for childish fantasies and visited less and less. One day as he was passing the field, he noticed some of the same experts he had consulted there. One was holding the treasure up to the light, and they were all gathered around arguing bitterly about it. With a condescending chuckle, the man wondered to himself why people would invest their entire lives examining and arguing about something which they all agreed was nothing but a common rock. Finally convinced by the behaviour of the experts that he wanted nothing more to do with their treasure, he turned on his heel and walked off. He never visited the field again. Indeed, he began to doubt that there even was such a thing as treasure. As a result of his cultivated inability to recognise value in anything, he died poor. Shortly after his final visit to the field however, another young man discovered the treasure in the field. He quickly buried it again and went away and sold everything he had so that he could buy the field. This he did, and his investment paid great dividends for the rest of his life.

I trust that you will appreciate the treasure that you have in God’s Word today. I would welcome your feedback and comments. How do you see the Bible? How has it impacted your life? How have you encountered God in it?


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How Can I Understand?

How can I understand the Bible? The answer is pretty simple. Read it faithfully, and pray for God’s help.

I love the story of Acts 8:26–40, the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch. In brief, Philip was  directed by the Holy Spirit to go to a particular road. Upon arrival the Holy Spirit directed him to approach a particular chariot on the road. In this chariot was a particular man— an important official of the Queen of the Ethiopians, a eunuch. When Philip got close he heard the man in the chariot reading and recognised that he was reading from Isaiah. Intrigued Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading, to which the man replied: “how can I unless someone explains it to me?” Perceiving that Philip possessed the required insight, the man invited him to sit in the chariot and asked him to explain the passage. When he learned the truth about Jesus Christ, the Eunuch confessed his belief and requested baptism from Philip. After the baptism, Philip suddenly disappears and reappears elsewhere for his next assignment while the Eunuch goes on his way rejoicing.

Some time ago, while I was enrolled in a theological degree, I read an article in which the author used this story to build a case for a special educated class of Christians who could explain the bible to those less fortunate. “How can they possibly understand” the author asked in the words of the eunuch, “unless somebody explain it to them?” The article was the subject of discussion in class one day and I remember at the time feeling uneasy about it. There was no good reason for my reaction to the article. After all, I myself, along with my colleagues, was enrolled in a course of theological education. I myself aspired to be one who could help people to understand the Bible. After all, was that not the reason for the huge investment of money and time I had made to be here? This article seemed to be an affirmation; a vindication of that sacrifice.

The problem is, I don’t see my vocation that way. I am indebted to the Holy Spirit and at his disposal. He is not indebted to me. So I was uneasy. Actually, I’m probably being a little unfair. It really was a good article. Well written, helpful, and honestly, humble. But back to my reaction. At first, I could not put it into words, but then all of a sudden, it dawned on me. What seemed (at least for me) to be missing from the argument that the article made was the agency of the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who had sent Philip! It was the Holy Spirit who was helping the Eunuch to understand! Philip had no special training, though he obviously knew his bible. And the Eunuch, though pleased for the help, had not sought him out.

Indeed, when we look at this encounter from the Eunuch’s perspective we see a different picture. Here was a man who was desperately seeking God. Though he did not understand, he faithfully read the Word of God, and in all probability was crying out in his heart for understanding, when the strangest thing happened. A man who he had not noticed suddenly appeared beside his chariot and asked “do you understand what you are reading?” His faithful devotion had been rewarded. His prayer had been answered. God began to speak to his heart through the Word. And it changed his life forever.

So here’s my plea: Don’t put off reading the Bible—even the difficult bits—because you don’t understand it. Read it and ask for the Spirit’s help. This is the way that God has always used His Word to speak to His children. Does that mean that we can’t learn from those who have studied the Bible more than we have? Of course we can. What it means is that the education of others should never be used as a shortcut to our own diligent seeking of God in His Word. A helpful supplement for sure, but never a shortcut. Seek God. Read His Word diligently. Pray for understanding. God answers those kinds of prayers. But if he chooses to do so by sending someone, don’t be too proud to invite that answer (be it in the form of books, leaders, courses, preachers etc) into your chariot. It could change your life.