Reading Scripture
The reading of scripture, therefore the understanding of scripture, changes as one ages, or as one matures in the faith; hopefully, the two are synonymous.
When a new reader approaches scripture, it is often with a focus on individual texts. This isn’t unexpected as it tends to be the way we teach them to approach God’s word - seeing scripture in personal terms.
This means of reading is often accompanied by a promise/benefit-oriented reading that sees God’s word as God’s word for my benefit. This benefit does exist, but not as the prime means or trajectory of scripture.
By this reading, for instance, Proverbs is seen as a book of promises, instead of what it is, a book of observational wisdom: these outcomes are likely to accompany these actions/attitudes. And as Solomon knew well life isn’t always that simple or predictable. The Book of Job also testifies to this - in graphic and shocking terms.
The danger of an individualised view of scripture, perpetuated by many, is a narrow focus that obscures the broader contextualised perspective of God’s word - one that sees the purpose of the authors. A failure to see wider creates a myopic view of scripture, a narrow field of reference. Invariably it ends up in a self-serving view of God’s word – stated bluntly as, ‘What’s in it for me?’
Reading scripture that sees benefit and promise as of prime importance fails to read the gospels properly, missing the myriad warnings Jesus gives those dedicated to self-preservation, self-help, self-growth, etc. A life of discipleship is hardly a call to unfettered accrual or bliss.
It takes years to see the broader perspective of an author, the themes that underlie and drive their view, and the context they were speaking from and to. For this reason, teaching is property the domain of a community of matured saints, not just gifted idealists and those on whom the gods have shaken out the foil of charismatic splendour.
Context matters and context is a matter of studied application.
The prophetic trajectory of scripture isn’t discerned easily by a new reader; history and cultural context bring to light what a wider angle affords us.
As an example: reading Paul through the lens of victory and all its implications fails to see the underlying cruciform lifestyle of the Christ follower that Paul consistently propagates as normative. Plus, it fails to see the way Paul sees victory – not as triumph over temporal enemies. But none of this comes from initial/early readings of scripture. It requires a baptism in Paul’s thoughts, worldview, and revelation of Jesus Christ – the crucified one.
Conversely, the danger of a seasoned reading of scripture is that it can forgo the wonders first encountered reading God’s word, the personal application of scripture, and the way God can speak to us aside from all the above caveats. There are times Paul appears to refer to scripture completely out of context as he interprets Christ to the churches. The New Testament authors saw Jesus in the Prophets in a manner that doesn’t always take context into account – on the contrary. This is the freedom of God – a means by which his Spirit can wonderfully communicate with us without being held captive to authorial intent.
Reading scripture is a life journey – a journey in which, we’d hope, the disciple sees wider and deeper, reflecting the attitude of Christ in their lives, seeing the love of God and others as the reason for living, and not a childish focus on their own needs and aspirations by seeing scripture as primarily promissory in nature.