C The Bible as a Source of Wisdom+Authority in Daily Life

WJEC The ways in which the Bible is considered authoritative: as a source of moral advice (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Luke 6:36-37); as a guide to living (Psalm 119:9-16; Psalm 119:105-112); as teaching on the meaning and purpose of life (Genesis 1:26-28; Ecclesiastes 9:5-9) and as a source of comfort and encouragement (Psalm 46:1-3; Matthew 6:25).

Protestant Bible's changes from Catholic

Luther's protestant Bible called the deuteron-canonical books "Apocrypha", (have some limited usefulness but are not equal to the holy scriptures) (gave them a different place in his Bible to indicate that they are not canonical, they are sometimes called intertestamental (written in between the books of NTest and those of the Hebrew Bible)
Luther thought some of the books were heresy, such as Maccabees 12:46 which seems to suggest purgatory exists and denies justification by faith alone.

Bible as a source of comfort

Psalm 46:1 'God is our refuge and strength, an ever present in trouble'

Temptation and sin: even the most devout sin and are tempted. If you repent God will forgive
Bereavement: death is not the end, it is temporary
Fear of death: Jesus has conquered death for us so we can share in his resurrection
Poverty: everyone should be treated the same. We need to provide for the poor. It difficult to go to heaven if you are very rich
Suffering: suffering can help you maintain a spirit of humility and to sympathise with others and rely on God. It is a test of loyalty

Does the Bible hold value

NARRATIVE
(Genesis) helps us understand our purpose and explains the possibility of salvation (comfort)
BUT value of narrative is challenged due to evolution and our knowledge that history is a biased account written by victors

MORALITY
Source of moral advice (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Luke 6:36-37)
Sermon of the mount teaches agape
BUT we can be good without God (other ethical systems)

INFLUENCE
Influenced our legal systems (10 commandments), our calendar etc
BUT does not directly address modern issues
But is that still meaningful? Can we not just know or learn how to be good?
(Utilitarianism)

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

'Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgement'

Links to omniscience

Luke 6:36-37 (moral advice)

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Salvation History

The pattern of specific events in human history in which God clearly reveals his presence and saving actions

Psalm 119:9-10

'How can a young man stay in the path of purity?
By living according to your word.'

Bible shown to be a guide to living

Psalm 46:1-3

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

Bible as a source of comfort and encouragement

Genesis 1:26-28

‘Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. ‘

‘"Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."’

Establishes humans as the pinnacle of creation

Teaches meaning and purpose of life

Augustine on the testaments

“The New Testament lies hidden in the old, and the Old Testament is unveiled in the new”

Different views on the authority of the Bible

-Dif understandings on the role of the Bible

sola scriptura > Bible alone is the central authority

-Often maintain it is infallible, some believe it is self-authenticating (meaning clear to a rational reader)

-eg Protestants, too extreme for many >

Prima scriptura > Bible comes before all forms of authority

-eg Anglican Church (prot)

RCC > church and sacred trads are equal in authority to the Bible

-Pope+high-ranking Church members (in Magisterium) deliver new teachings

BUT NT Wright questions how the Bible can be authoritative when it isn’t a perfect rep of Gods will why use it?

It isn’t presented as a list of rules or set up as timeless truths, they are determined by historical context

argues the bible is a reflection of God’s authority (his impact) and we should study to understand that in the context of our lives

Others view it as a witness to divine events+a vehicle for divine truths > more a source of guidance

Magisterium

-RCC

-The body which declares new religious laws and truths for those of the catholic faith

Different ways of reading the Bible

-Impacted by beliefs on what the Bible’s position as a source of authority is

-Fundamentalists believe the Bible is the literal word of God

historically accurate, prioritised sometimes above science,

-Most accept it isn’t a perfect rep of God’s will due to human influence, human interpretation is needed

eg Catholics, trained clergy nec to analyse

BUT NT Wright questions how the Bible can be authoritative when it isn’t a perfect rep of Gods will why use it?

It isn’t presented as a list of rules or set up as timeless truths, they are determined by historical context

argues the bible is a reflection of God’s authority (his impact) and we should study to understand that in the context of our lives

Others view it as a witness to divine events+a vehicle for divine truths > more a source of guidance

The Bible as a source of moral authority

-Recognised as a good source of moral advice even by nonchristians, many moral laws have origins in Christianity

-How does one use the Βible as a source of moral advice

Bible is not just rules, religious+moral truths are conveyed dynamically (stories, parables etc)

Does ft rules eg Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ‘fear God, and keep his commandments’ as it is humans duty (morally good to do DCT) + ‘for God will bring every deed into judgement’

>Conservatives use this as a central idea to show right and wrong reflects God’s will + it is our responsibility to submit > condemnations of abortion+homosexuality

BUT incoherent

dont keep every law eg Otest kosher laws, or laws that appear absurd eg Leviticus not wearing clothes that mix linen+wool influenced by cultural context not relevant today

OTest NTest differ as JC sought to overturn OTest legalistic thinking > Bible should be analysed alongside JC’s principles (Luke ideas on forgiveness, no judgement, charity, compassion, pacifism)

>Liberals reject legalistic approach view the stories as a template for the importance of moral character (JC virtue example VIRTUE ETHICS)

eg Good Samaritan+Esther> help others

-Agree Bible doesn’t always present sound moral advice, cultural context > bigotry < recognise they contradict JC’s teachings

BUT overly subject

not regarded as infallible then any meaning can be extracted

liberals often criticised for using it to justify trendy ethical ideas

The Bible as a Guide to Living

-Christian life is much more than following moral guidance

-Βible advises on how to celebrate God throughout life + changes this invokes in character+decisions (VIRTUE ETHICS)

-forms of worship

eg prayer demonstrate ones commitment to God + build a lasting relationship

Communal worship (Eucharist, festivals, baptism) no clear moral cause, but a way to be closer to God + be joyful

-Details the attitudes Christians should express in daily life

should internalise teachings Psalms “with my whole heart i seek you”

To follow even in the face of persecution “the wicked have laid a snare for me, but i do not stray from your precepts”

Encourage Christians to look towards salvation not only as an end goal but as a way to live more meaningfully in the present

The Bible as teaching on Life’s Meaning+Purpose

-It is not aimed purely at present circumstances

-Dictates elements of religious history (creation, why, place of humans) it dictates why moral laws exist and how they generate purpose

Genesis sets out how God created the world, provides foundation (made in his image with a specific purpose)

God established to have a pastoral role (humans can grow closer to him + fulfil purpose)

Established dominion and stewardship, importance of procreation as part of flourishing

-Doesn’t wholly equate the human life’s purpose with God given duties

eg Ecclesiastes the meaning is enjoyment (atheists can accept) ‘the dead know nothing […] even the memory of them is lost’ ‘let your garment always be white’ ‘go, eat your bread with enjoyment’

Not hedonistic, encourages finding value in material pleasures under God’s approval + spending time with loved ones whilst remaining good (ref to white)

-Recognise JC’s death on the cross was an act of atonement which opened up salvation

‘For god so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life’

Enjoyment of life must be understood in the context of the saving power of JC > essential to lead a moral life for eternal life (moral actions should be directed towards salvation)

There is not one fixed purpose, it is relative to the person reading- importance of procreation may not be intuitive, some may put salvation secondary to joy

The Bible as a Source of Comfort and Encouragement

-Narratives eg Job often deliver teachings while bringing personal comfort

depict God intervening, assisting individuals, may identify with the struggle and feel comforted by God being on his side

Themes established in Psalms ‘God is our refuge and strength’ ‘therefore we will not fear’

-JC speaks on the comfort brought by spirituality

Matthew ‘do not worry about your life[…] is not life more than food, the body more than clothing’

We may find comfort in JC’s resurrection

-Encourages Christians as a community

when NTest was being written the church was small and persecuted

Reminds that we are not alone, others have struggleled, God wont test beyond limits

Corinthians ‘no tester has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength’