God Centered Biblical Interpretation

Context:
This book starts out with a number of different examples of the way today’s world looks at scripture and how they interpret it. I’ve stared to see how others in today’s culture come to their conclusions, and how they receive their information other then scripture alone. Knowing that God is the ultimate authority, we should form that mind-set and remember that we do not need other writings, and other thoughts that contradict the Word. A proper interpretation does not include your own ideas and thoughts added to the text. A way of coming to wrong conclusions on text are, having a limited vision, making statements that are untrue, or sometimes making statements that are partially true. One of the best passages that the author Vern Poythress brings to attention is John 17. This passages usage two persons of the Trinity conversing with each other, helps show us the language used in scripture and also the communication that God maybe getting across through out His Word. In this passage we must differently remember that Christ is not only human in his nature but also divine. The context of the passage shows Jesus the son talking to His Father in Heaven, God, this helps us tie the knowledge of Jesus to the Bible. This knowledge gives us several parts of speech in its text and the surrounding text around 17.
When explaining what the Bible is, Poythress shows how God communicates to human through His covenants, and through these covenants God gives several elements to each one of them. All the covenants start with showing and explaining the Lord. From the beginning of all history, the past covenants are address to whoever it may be and then the Lord gives obligations to his people who the covenant may concern. After that, God tells his people about what blessings will become through their obedience, and what curses will come for their disobedience. Lastly, the Lord tells on how to pass on the covenant to their generations. Through this all, God makes a relationship with His chosen people.
When seeing that the word of God controls the sanctification of the disciples in John 17:17, the word that Jesus talks bout in this passage appear representative. Lastly this passage about the words spoken by God and the Father, are all personally present. Helping see these truths is what enables the transformation of his people. After developing this, comes a more detailed Christocentric character of the biblical truth. Some of the key passages that I found most important in studying this is Col 2:3, 2 Cor.1:20, 1 Tim.2:5, and far most importantly out all of them is the passage of Luke 24:25-27, 44-47. Because of the claim is right from Jesus it makes it so clear about a Christocentric view in the passage. Here Jesus refers to the Old Testament, in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Writings to all point to His fulfillment,which is leading to the conclusion that the Old testament is about Him.
The Bible shows us that human beings were created in a way that they could speak and understand language. Human beings use language that imitate God, who also uses a type of language but human speaking is just an image or a mirror of the divine speaking of the trinity. If we know that Jesus is the truth of God the Father and that his truth is manifested through the holy spirit, it helps teach us humans whatever truth we know. Proythress explains the truth in the trinity like this: “Truth in the father is original reality, truth in the son is the manifestation in reality, and the truth and the spirit is the harmony:”, between the Father and the Son through their mutual indwelling. A great way to illustrate the unity of the triune character in truth and speaking is the diversity in the four gospels. There is unity to the four gospels but there is also diversity in these books and an example is in Matthew, Jesus is prominently the Davidic king whereas in John, he is the son of the Father. In Luke he is the one bringing salvation, and then in Mark he is the son of man that will destroy the kingdom of Satan. The diversity in the four gospels is the difference of interest and personalities of the four human authors. The trinity provides an answer for relativism through its coherence, for God is one and doesn’t contradict himself in any way we should learn to appreciate the difference of the gospels but never forget about the unity and over all picture of all four. In the character of God we should never question truth because of the way it is spoken or what type of literature it is. Whether it is analogical or metaphorical it is the divine language of the true God, which speaks only truth.
The last area of content I would like to go over is the chapter written on History. God created history. The events in history took place in God’s plan of redemption. Understanding history and its lay out, helps us understand the lay out through-out in the Bible. History and the art of God speaking, have a lot in common. It is the most common in where God is speaking to the Holy Spirit and then the Holy Sprit carries out what to do, which shows events in history (Gen1:3). One of the most important parts to understanding history through out the Bible is history’s unity and diversity. In this the author explained the accordance with the classification aspects, like the fact that each historical event is classifiable. The next step in this process is to consider each instantiation aspect. This helps show how each event is special in its own history. Lastly is the associational aspect. This I find very important in studying scripture and how historical events fit along with all other historical events that take place or will take place.
Key Insights:
The first “key insight” that came out to myself while reading this book was, remembering that God is the encyclopedia of all knowledge. I am sure I have been told this many times, but when reading this Poythress brought out that God does not always just give that knowledge out in words or spoken to people. Seeing what we do have in scripture makes everything much more meaningful and places so much more depth to them. A good example is in John 17:5, where Jesus ask God to “Glorify me”. This is a absolute great example of redemption. This being the complete plan of God then seeing Him the father and His son, Christ, talk in a conversion, and say a remark as to that, brings the climax of my salvation.
When I came to chapter four I was most excited. With the readings of pervious books on the meaning and interpretation of the Bible, I was “pumped” to read Poythress’s view. For myself, I found this the most enjoyable chapter of his book. It was very simple but something that it seems so easily misconstrued, especially in the circle that I have learned in. so many people today make the purpose of the Bible something they think or something that they’ve missed in scripture. Mostly I have see how many people do what exactly they do. What this is I am talking about is that many theology students, or even scholars today lessen Christ in their purpose. I think that is because they sometimes become scared of another system of theology, or other sides of the spectrum. What I am getting at is, many times dispensational theology many times lessen Christ in any way of being a part of their purpose that the bible is over. I like how easily and clear in scripture Poythress shows Christ being the centrality of the Word of God. I would also say the purpose of the Bible is to reveal Gods glory, but I would add in the work of redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ. I would say next being Christocentric is not a “reformed system”. Christocentric is being biblical in your hermeneutic. If you are not you will miss the meaning and the correct interpretation of the Old Testament. I am sure that many people in today’s Christian realm would have no problem saying that the New Testament is all about Jesus. But I wonder how many people would say, that the Old testament is all about Him. I would say to that not being Christocentric in your Old Testament is not what Christ intended for you to interpret the Old. Testament. The book of Hebrews does such a wonderful job of this showing the Christ of the New Testament and how all of the shadows of the Old Testament have lead and only guided the way for the ultimate Jesus.
Another insight that I found when reading was the creativity in the meaning of the scripture. When understanding and remembering that God is the creator, we see God’s way of communication of the important passage and its context. The creator made his message to be made known in a creative way, making it almost like a scientific study that we must do to look and see the context of the text. In this there are many diversities in the body of Christ. Applications come in many different ways because of the different members in the body of Christ. Understanding that many applications can be taken but remembering the interpretation must remain the same. This shows another example of how there is diversity but unity as well in the body of Christ.
I found that being a believer and studying the scripture, and doing it in a “godly fashion” helps the church. I thought about the unbelievers in today’s world make so many mistakes when studying the Bible. How the unbeliever neglects that facts of keeping humility, and spiritual discernment in which I struggle myself with so much. How can a unregenerate man renew his mind when studying the scriptures make it all in vain (Rom.12:2). Studying the Bible and being a believer and a born again Christian helps us stay in subject to Christ. It also helps purify the whole body of believers. Teaching the Bible and seeing it actually be lived out is the reason for scripture. We see examples of this in the Reformation. Jonathan Edwards and how he gave the scriptures to be taught to help the process of stanification. As well as Charles Spurgeon and seeing what a proper study of the Bible can do, in bringing more to Christ and growing them in the scriptures makes the reason out of studying so much more glorifying to God and not man.
Many individuals have different perspectives on history and how it can or will effect their study. When we understanding history better we then can better understand the perspectives on hermeneutics. Seeing how each individual events takes place in order to make a process and show the rest of history to come helps see the value of the Bible. Another way Poythress uses to explain history is looking at it like, how history develops time. This is showing how each events can make the future and make that future event. Then lastly is the perspective of all history takes place now. That the past of history is in the present. Looking at history the way Poythress shows in his book, helps see the events that take place in history are always related to one another in some type of way. Seeing history in a plan that God has panned out and constantly revealed in and through out history better explains the work of redemption and what His plans were for humankind. Looking through history and seeing the typological and symbolical patterns that constantly occur over long stretches of history lead always to and form the cross of Christ. The death and resurrection of Christ is the very center of history. that’s that is what is the pivotal pin point in and through-out all of history no matter before or after.
Critique:
When first starting to read this book what came into mind was, “man this is so simple”. As I continued to read through chapters one and two and going over understanding the Bible and the interpretation of the Bible. I understood very easily to say the least. Easy and explanatory would be the keys words that came to mind over those chapters. Going into to chapter three and seeing his view of how the Bible is something spoken by God almost reminded of the beginning of Hebrews class and how Gods langue is something that we image form Him. The beginning of this book is very easy to read. Then I hit the chapters in the back dealing with history, which I understood, after that is when trouble began. The idols, global distortion, and of terms lost me. I have to read the book another time with a dictionary to understand his terms.
At first when reading the dialogues of individuals and their views I found it annoying and just easy reading. Latter through the book and reading it a second time I found questions that many of them ask, in which the bible answers. I also found their views help to asking questions that we should be answering in and throughout the text. Also questions that you could name a sermon or a speech. These questions have helped me in studying the scriptures and how scripture can and does answer everything that man makes up. What I mean by this is that man tries to think of ways that the Bible does not add up to. They also try to ask questions such as some of the ones in this book to go against the Bible. Poythress does a great job in using his mind and his hermeneutic to defend the case of God center biblical interpretation. Asking the question he does about the text his goes through has given me examples that can help me not only in my own study, but also in everyday life,through out my work field, and one day teaching either in the church setting or class room.
I also enjoyed the way Poythress explained history and how it leads to Christ. After reading the book “Beginning at Moses”, by Michael Barrett Poythress’ chapter on history made so much sense to me, even more than I knew before. Seeing how little events through out all of history lead to the point of the cross and then even thinking for myself about the events after the cross that stem from that pivotal point in all of history, I started to think how can one not be gospel centered. How can someone not be Christ centered? Each individual event in the Old Testament leads towards the cross of Christ.
Lastly, the chapters over how God communicates with us today are a huge in helping understand ones hermeneutic. Poythress does an amazing job of showing in examples of the trinity and also other scripture passages that he helps bring out the communication process of God and how we his created beings image that in our everyday talk. This helps make the Bible more easily to comprehend and also to see in God is trying to get out through history.
After reading this book I have come to the conclusion that you can not get what Christ has intended for out of his word, without having a Christocenic view, and interpretation of scripture. Throughout history, and in scripture Christ is the center of it all. Realizing this helps see the biblical truth in which God has intended it for. Becoming more detailed in the Old Testament and looking for history events that lead to the major history event of Christ help reveal its biblical truth. Like Poythress stated, “few would challenge the idea of Christ in the Old Testament”, but understand a correct view of the New Testament must include finding Christ within the Old Testament. Christ told his disciples this in Luke 24:44-47, and that all of scripture leads, and tells about Him. In no way do I think Poythress is taking any scripture out of context with saying these values of the Bible. He is opening a door in which we can find the true and correct view of our Bible, our theology, but far most important our Christ.