The Authority of Scripture
Here are some short thoughts on what Lutherans are talking about when they speak of the "authority of scripture." These thoughts come from Augsburg Fortress' 2008 publication "Opening the book of faith: Lutheran Insights for Bible Study" by Diane Jacobson, Mark Allan Powell, and Stanley N. Olson.
"Lutherans say the Bible is inspired. The Spirit of God speaks there" (p. 2).
"The Bible is authoritative because it communicates the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Grace comes to us as law and gospel, demand and promise" (p. 2).
"The Bible is authoritative for us in much the same way that Jesus Christ was authoritative for those first-century women and men who became his disciples. They encountered God in him. We encounter God through the Bible because it effectively conveys Jesus Christ to us" (p. 2).
"Lutherans begin with what the Bible does, rather than beginning with claims about its nature or origin." (p. 3)
Lutherans tend to think that the power of the Bible does not come from the book itself. We do not worship the book. The power of the scriptures take hold of us when God encounters us through the words printed there.
This is the conversation starter. What thoughts or questions do you have concerning the "authority of the scriptures?" Click on "comments" below to be a part of the conversation.
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3 comments:
Question: Where and how do we draw lines between what is the authority in scripture vs. legalism?
First I think we need to view scripture through the same lens that Saint Paul does in his epistles and that is the cross.
It is through that cross that Christ takes on the sins of creation and through his resurrection that creation is redeemed and the bible reveals this through the word. The cross must be both the starting point and the end point with all scriptural interpretation.
Colossians 2:13-14 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.
John 8:31-37
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word.
He nailed everything to the cross and especially our own self-justification and self-righteousness. The law must always convict us and lead us to grace where as legalism convicts others in our minds but does nothing for our own salvation. So it is essential to divide what is law from what is gospel for it is only in this “good news” that we find the freedom to forgive and love others as he forgives and loves us. This is the truth that will set you free.
Any thoughts?
The truth nails everything to the cross - it will continually lay open your heart - you will know it when you feel it and that is your authority. It is love. Any other premise will take your bible and make it into an idol EVERYTIME - Think about it.
This does not do away with the law in any fashion as sitting in your underwear and drinking coffee is no way to spend Sunday Morning - I will be at church next Sunday Pastor - :-(
I have never liked the idea that the Bible is a huge rule book for life. If all I have to do is live by the rules to give myself a great life, where does God fit in?
The idea that we "encounter" Christ when we open the scriptures is so much more rich and true to our faith than the "rule book."
As Derek points out, when "the law" (the rules) painfully points out our failure and human frailty, the Holy Spirit is literally doing something to us through the scriptures. And, when we hear those words of forgiveness from the cross, Christ is speaking to us. This kind of interaction is more than following rules; it is a very real relationship with our living God. It is because God encounters us through the scriptures that the book of faith has authority.
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