Adapted from Reading the Word of God in the Presence of God: A Handbook for Biblical Interpretation, by Vern Poythress.
1. The Bible is the same word of God.
This means that what the Bible says, God says
God governs the entire world with his divine word, which defines and controls everything that happens.
The Bible suggests that God rules the world through his discourse, but we do not hear this discourse; we only see its effects (e. g. Psalm 33,6,9; 147. 15-18). The Bible, on the other hand, is the word of God, designed by him to speak to us specifically as human beings. done to rule the world in general or for us as human beings, it has a divine character. In particular, he manifests God’s lordship in authority, control, and presence.
God declares his word to us in covenants (Genesis 9. 9; 15:18; 17. 7; Ex 19. 5, etc. ).
A Pact? It is a solemn and legally binding agreement between two parties. In this case, both sides are God and human beings. In the Old Testament, God’s covenants with human beings have some affinity with the ancient treatises of Suzeraineté of the Near East. These treatises contain five elements, which also appear explicitly or implicitly in God’s covenants in the Old Testament: identification of the supreme lord (Ex 20:2); historical prologue (Ex 20. 2); stipulations (Ex 20. 3-17); sanctions (i. e. , blessings and curses?Ecs 20. 7; see also verse 12); registration and transmission (Ex 31. 18; Dt 31).
The identification of God proclaims his transcendent authority, and stipulations as standards imply his authority over the people. The historical prologue shows how he exercised control in the historical past. Blessings and curses indicate how you will exercise control in the future. His identification also proclaims his presence, and the recording and transmission of the words of the covenant implies his continued presence among the people.
4. The whole Bible is the word of God’s covenant
In other words, the idea of an alliance gives us a perspective on the Bible. The New Testament proclaims the gospel about the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. The Apostle Paul characterizes his entire ministry as a “new covenant” (2C 3. 6). Thus, all of Paul’s writings are, in a broad sense, words of covenant. At the Last Supper, Jesus inaugurated the? New alliance?(Lk 22. 20; 1Co 11. 25). The rest of the Apostles and authors of the New Testament act to convey to us the words of the new covenant.
When the Bible uses the new word to describe the new covenant, it clearly implies an older covenant. The new covenant satisfies the Abrahamic (Galatian 3. 7-14) and Davídic (AT 20. 30-36) alliances, but it is the mosaic that is primarily in perspective when the New Testament alludes to an alliance that is “Old?(Heb 8. 8-13). The mosaic covenant also contains, in Deuteronomy 31, explicit instructions for the preservation of agreed canonical documents and also for future prophets (Deut 18 : 18-22). The entire Old Testament consists of divinely authorized additions to the mosaic’s initial commitment, so that it fits into the structure of the covenant inaugurated with Moses. The whole Old Testament has a covenant character.
As such, the two Testaments can be considered as alliances in the broadest sense. In fact, why are they called traditional names? Wills designate their covenant character (“will” is an approximate synonym for “alliance” in later theological use, which is based on Hebrews 9:15-16).
5. The Bible is a unique book, with God as the author
Of course, it has several human authors. But his unity according to the divine author implies that we must see it as a single unified message, and use each passage and book to understand others, because God is faithful to his own character, is consistent with himself, so we must interpret each passage of the Bible in harmony with the rest.
6. The Bible is referencing.
Not only does he have God as his author, but in a fundamental sense he speaks of God as the main subject, he does so even in historical passages that do not mention God directly, for the story he tells is the god-ruled story.
7. The Bible is Christocentric
The covenants mediating God’s presence for us, and in their hearts is Christ, who is the only mediator between God and men (1 Tim 2. 5). Christ, as the Lord’s servant, is virtually identified with the covenant in Isaiah 42:6 and 49. In Luke 24, Jesus teaches the Apostles that all the scriptures of the Old Testament refer to him and his work (Lk 24. -25-27, 44-49).
Understanding how the Old Testament speaks of Christ is a challenge, but because of Jesus’ teachings, it cannot be avoided. Fortunately, we have the New Testament to help us. It contains not only the teachings that help us understand the Old Testament as a whole, but many Old Testament quotations that illustrate Jesus’ assertions in Luke 24.
8. La Bible is oriented towards the history of redemption
God decided that the books of the Bible would be written over the centuries. God’s later language is based on his earlier language and also reveals the meaning of his plan for history. God’s redemption takes place in history. Christianity is not simply a religious philosophy, a set of general truths about God and the world; in his heart is the Gospel, the good news that Christ came, lived, died, and rose from death, and now lives to intercede for us. fulfilled our salvation by entering the person of Christ and acting in time and space. The message of what he did now passes to the nations (Mt 28:18-20; Acts 1. 8).
9. La first and second comings of Christ are at the heart of history.
God’s work of redemption has reached its climax in Christ’s work on earth, especially in his crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. Christ now reigns at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:20-21). We look forward to the future consumption of redemption when Christ returns.
10. La divine work of redemption intertwines word and action
We see this intertwining even during your creative work:
Word: God says, “Be the light. “
Act: and there was light
Word: And God saw that the light was good [similar to verbal evaluation] (Genesis 1-3-4).
Word: “Let’s make man in our image. “
Act: then God created man in his image
Word: and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply?”(Genesis 1. 26-28).
Similarly, Jesus’ words interpret his actions and vice versa:
If I do not do my Father’s works, do not believe me; But if I do and do not believe me, believe in the works; that ye may know and understand that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father (Jn 10:37-38).
In the book of Acts, the miracles and growth of the church helped the unbelievers understand the implications of apostolic teaching and vice versa:
Philip, descending to the city of Samaria, announced Christ. People listened unanimously to the things Philip said, listening to them and seeing the signs that he was acting. For the filthy spirits of many devils came out screaming loudly; and many paralyzed and lame people were healed (at 8. 5-7).
By: Vern S. Poythress. © 2016 Crossway. Original: 10 things to remember when reading the Bible.
Translation: Leonardo Bruno Galdino. © 2016 Faithful Ministério. All rights reserved. Website: MinistryFiel. com. br. Original: 10 things to remember when reading the Bible.
Authorizations: You are authorized and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format, provided that the author, his ministry and translator are no longer no longer modified and not used for commercial purposes.