Lecture Notes: Understanding Scripture and Its Purpose
Introduction
Purpose of Difficult Scripture: Suggests that challenging parts of the Bible are intentional to guide us to places we didn't know we needed.
Personal Journey with Scripture: Transition from skepticism to fascination with the Bible through The Bible Project, a venture that creates animated explainer videos about the Bible.
Personal Background
Teenage Skepticism: Grew up with Christian parents but not forced into belief; associated Christianity with parental stupidity.
Influence of Skateboard Park: Encountered Jesus through stories shared at a skate park ministry.
Encounter with Jesus: Compelling stories led to a life-changing encounter with Jesus at age 20.
Studying the Bible
Initial Confusion: Initially bewildered by the Bible when starting from Genesis, highlighting a journey from confusion to an intellectual pursuit of theology.
Academic Pursuit: Led to studying ancient Greek, Hebrew, and eventually a PhD in Hebrew Bible and Jewish studies.
Diverse Experiences with Scripture
Positive vs. Crisis-Inducing Experiences: Contrasts personal positive journey with a friend's negative experience leading to a faith crisis.
Pre-existing Relationships: Everyone has a pre-existing relationship with the Bible due to cultural and historical influences.
The Bible’s Cultural Context
Historical Significance: The Bible's central role in Christian communities historically.
Jesus' Relationship with Scripture: Jesus viewed the ancient texts as crucial, showing its significant role in understanding his mission.
Story of the Bible
Overview of the Old Testament: Describes the covenant with Israel, their failures, and God's promise of a Messiah.
Role of Jesus: Seen as fulfilling the ancient promises, combining both divine and human roles.
Formation of New Testament: Accounts of Jesus collected into the New Testament writings.
Key Intuitions and Misunderstandings
Scripture as a Source of Truth: Often misused like an encyclopedia; instead, it answers deeper existential questions.
Scripture for Wisdom: Emphasizes wisdom over rules; context is crucial to understanding biblical directions.
Hearing from God via Scripture: Encourages a deeper engagement with challenging parts of the Bible for growth.
Concluding Thoughts
Personal Engagement with the Bible: Everyone should explore personal growth in their scripture engagement.
Open Invitation: Invites deeper reflection on one's relationship with Scripture, acknowledging pain, confusion, and growth potential.
Community and Spiritual Reflection: Emphasizes the role of community and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in understanding and living the teachings of the Bible.