The New Testament writers had a habit of saying things about the Old Testament that are not in the Old Testament but are in these creative, Jewish writings of the period.
Nature of the Bible
Paul: Well, Technically Speaking, He’s Not REALLY “Winging It”
What we might call a fast and loose use of the Old Testament was for Paul and his contemporaries a normal and expected approach to biblical interpretation—creatively connecting the past with the present.
My First Big, Can’t-Get-Out-Of-It, “Aha” Moment with the Bible
I knew back then, as I do now, that the model of biblical interpretation I had been taught was not going to cut it if I was going to try to explain how my Bible works rather than defend a Bible that doesn’t exist.
Remember to Hold Your Beliefs Lightly: The Bible Says So
The Old Testament models an intentionally innovative, adaptive, and contemporizing theological dynamic—a recasting of the past to speak to the changing present and for a vision for the future.
3 Reasons Why the Bible Is Worth It
I think the Bible is worthy of our adult attention, worthy of serious study and reflection, not because it provides a course-of-life syllabus for us, but precisely because it doesn’t: the Bible difficult, challenging, and difficult to wrap our arms around.
A Very Brief Thought for Today on How the Bible Works, Which Will Change Your Life
Just as the church is made up of all sorts of people with different personalities, different histories, and different and conflicting perspectives, so is the Bible.
We All Have a History. Even God.
The Bible—even where it talks about God—is a relentlessly contextual collection of ancient literature that takes wisdom and patience to handle well, and in doing so drives us toward further contemplation of God here and now.
Honoring Tradition by Reshaping It: Our Sacred Responsibility
We honor tradition best when we take seriously the sacred responsibility for shaping it.
Historical Criticism and the “Inner Impulse towards Truth” in Christian Faith
The issue is not so much about “balancing” theology with history or vice-verse, but acknowledging the tension and letting that tension inform and fuel our spiritual engagement of the Bible.
“I Was Always Taught the Bible Says X, But I Just Don’t See It”
The recurring unrest with conservative readings of scripture from within conservative circles suggests that the paradigm is flawed.
