Scripture is a mysterious thing. We are never sure exactly who wrote it or why they wrote. And so much gets lost in translation it can be difficult to really know what is said. Also, since much of the bible is understood to not be taken literally (except by some groups), it seems that it is open to interpretation. But perhaps there is right and wrong way to read the bible. Some people would say there is. Saint Augustine (354-430) who has written such books as Confessions and City of God, writes several books on how to read through the bible properly. And we have a more modern view written by J. Todd Billings on the Christianity Today Magazine website in an article called How to read the Bible.
Looking at the teachings of Saint Augustine, I feel as though he is saying that one should approach the scriptures with a clean heart. The best way to look at the scriptures is with an understanding that material the things that bring us inconstant joy are to be avoided and that we must put our energy into what brings us real happiness (and the only thing that brings us real, true happiness is God (of course). The article by J. Todd Billings essentially comes down to we need to simply letting the "scripture dwell in us" and letting the spirit guide you based on what it may find in this word of God. Billings explicitly makes the point that "we do not have to master scripture and then make it relevant to our lives... In reading the Bible as Scripture, we are not the masters. We are being mastered and enlivened by the triune God."
So in a way these two views of scriptures are similar. They both focus on turning to God as the answer. There are some key differences in their philosophies. For one, they both approve of eliminating confusion and misunderstanding of the written word. Billings seems to address this by telling us to keep sight of the historical context when trying to interpret the scriptures. Augustine is more concerned with the specific symbols that appear in the reading and thinks that learning Greek and Hebrew is the best way around the problem. Also, Billings says that a christian reading of the scripture reveals a God that is more so loving and caring. "one can read the Bible in a way that sees the God of Israel as a judging God, as the antithesis of the God of Jesus, who is supposedly only a gracious (not judging) God. But this is not a Christian reading of the Old or New Testaments," Billings says. He does not mention fearing God as way to read scripture (which–in general–I feel that looking a God as a loving God and not one to be feared is the modern Christian view of God). Augustine on the other hand, says that "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." It seems likely that the modern idea that we are "being mastered" by the word of God has replaced this harsher language of fearing God.
Although these two philosophies on reading the scripture differ, I feel that they are both effective ways to find a similar product. Perhaps there is a definite meaning to the scriptures, but the way we approach them can be individualized.
Looking at the teachings of Saint Augustine, I feel as though he is saying that one should approach the scriptures with a clean heart. The best way to look at the scriptures is with an understanding that material the things that bring us inconstant joy are to be avoided and that we must put our energy into what brings us real happiness (and the only thing that brings us real, true happiness is God (of course). The article by J. Todd Billings essentially comes down to we need to simply letting the "scripture dwell in us" and letting the spirit guide you based on what it may find in this word of God. Billings explicitly makes the point that "we do not have to master scripture and then make it relevant to our lives... In reading the Bible as Scripture, we are not the masters. We are being mastered and enlivened by the triune God."
So in a way these two views of scriptures are similar. They both focus on turning to God as the answer. There are some key differences in their philosophies. For one, they both approve of eliminating confusion and misunderstanding of the written word. Billings seems to address this by telling us to keep sight of the historical context when trying to interpret the scriptures. Augustine is more concerned with the specific symbols that appear in the reading and thinks that learning Greek and Hebrew is the best way around the problem. Also, Billings says that a christian reading of the scripture reveals a God that is more so loving and caring. "one can read the Bible in a way that sees the God of Israel as a judging God, as the antithesis of the God of Jesus, who is supposedly only a gracious (not judging) God. But this is not a Christian reading of the Old or New Testaments," Billings says. He does not mention fearing God as way to read scripture (which–in general–I feel that looking a God as a loving God and not one to be feared is the modern Christian view of God). Augustine on the other hand, says that "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." It seems likely that the modern idea that we are "being mastered" by the word of God has replaced this harsher language of fearing God.
Although these two philosophies on reading the scripture differ, I feel that they are both effective ways to find a similar product. Perhaps there is a definite meaning to the scriptures, but the way we approach them can be individualized.
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