The Story of Jesus: Part VIII - Interpretation

1. PRAYER
Holy God,
you have called us to follow
in the way of your risen Son,
and to care for those who are our companions,
not only with words of comfort, but with acts of love.
Give us grace to be true friends to all,
offering our prayers on behalf
of the church and the world.
Amen.

2. theCHURCH
CALENDAR

3. Interpretation
the STORY of JESUS: Part VIII

4. All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness,
so that the servant of God
may be thoroughly equipped
for every good work.
2TIMOTHY 3:16 (NIV)

5. All scripture is inspired by God
and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in
righteousness, so that everyone who
belongs to God may be proficient,
equipped for every good work.
2TIMOTHY 3:16 (NRSV)

6. Every part of Scripture
is God-breathed and
useful one way or another—
showing us truth, exposing our rebellion,
correcting our mistakes, training us to live
God’s way.
Through the Word we are
put together and shaped up
for the tasks God has for us.
2TIMOTHY 3:16 (MSG)

8. …beginning with Moses and all the
prophets, he interpreted to them the things
about himself in all the scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they
were going, he walked ahead
as if he were going on. But they urged him
strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is
almost evening and
the day is now nearly over."
So he went in to stay with them.
LUKE 24:27-29

9. When he was at the table with them,
he took bread, blessed and broke it,
and gave it to them. Then their eyes
were opened, and they recognized him; and
he vanished from their sight.
LUKE 24:30-31

10. …beginning with Moses and all the
prophets, he interpreted to them the things
about himself in all the scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they
were going, he walked ahead
as if he were going on. But they urged him
strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is
almost evening and
the day is now nearly over."
So he went in to stay with them.
LUKE 24:27-29

11. 1. EVERYONE makes a choice
on how they interpret Scripture,
whether they realize it or not;
there’s no other choice!
THOUGHTS on HOWWE INTERPRET
THE BIBLE

12. 1. EVERYONE makes a choice
on how they interpret Scripture,
whether they realize it or not;
there’s no other choice!
2. ALL theology/interpretation
has an adjective/perspective;
no such thing as a “neutral” reading…
THOUGHTS on HOWWE INTERPRET
THE BIBLE

13. My view on God (or the Bible,
or how to read, understand,
or interpret it) is not the standard
to which others must conform.
PETER
ENNS

14. My view on God (or the Bible,
or how to read, understand,
or interpret it) is not the standard
to which others must conform.
PETER
ENNS
“Ditto. What he said.”

15. TRUTH PRIORITIES inCHRISTIANITY
1. JESUS
Ultimate source of life
2. DOGMA
Historic Orthodoxy
3. DOCTRINES
Interpret dogma
4.OPINIONS
Freedom to disagree

16. A way of reading the Bible that
places Jesus’ revelation of God
on the same level as all other biblical
depictions of God, ultimately forcing the
reader to accept God as both
the non-violent, enemy-loving God
revealed in the crucified Christ,
and the violent, enemy-destroying
God portrayed throughout the HB/OT
”FLAT” READING ofTHETEXT

18. A method of interpreting the Bible
acknowledging the crucifixion of Jesus
as the supreme revelation of God’s
heart, mind, and character, and running
all of scripture through that filter
to establish a Christ-centered
image of God
CRUCIFORM HERMENEUTIC

19. A method of interpreting the Bible
acknowledging the crucifixion of Jesus
as the supreme revelation of God’s
heart, mind, and character, and running
all of scripture through that filter
to establish a Christ-centered
image of God
CRUCIFORM HERMENEUTIC
“Nothing matters more...”

20. God becomesGod’s
antithesis
1.

21. God becomesGod’s
antithesis
2.
1.
Natural eyes
only see the
revolting, ugly
surface

22. God becomesGod’s
antithesis
2.
1.
TheSpirit opens
eyes of faith to
see the deeper
meaning that is
magnificently
beautiful!
3.
Natural eyes
only see the
revolting, ugly
surface

23. God becomesGod’s
antithesis
2.
1.
4.
The crucified
Christ reveals
God, how to live,
read scripture…
TheSpirit opens
eyes of faith to
see the deeper
meaning that is
magnificently
beautiful!
3.
Natural eyes
only see the
revolting, ugly
surface

24. Unimaginably
beautiful love
Revoltingly ugly
sin/violence
HUMANITY
ACTS
TOWARDS
GOD
GODACTSTOWARDS
HUMANITY

25. HUMANITY
ACTS
TOWARDS
GOD
GODACTSTOWARDS
HUMANITY
words that
reflect
God’s
perfect
perspective/
cruciform love
found
in Jesus
words that reflect
our sin/imperfect
cultural conditioning

26. 1. Acknowledge Jesus’ crucifixion as
supremely revealing God’s character
2. Read Scripture with
a cross-informed faith
3. Employ a cross-centered view
of how God “breathed” Scripture
4. Recognize God works
relationally, not coercively
FOUR KEYS toTHIS METHOD

27. My view on God (or the Bible,
or how to read, understand,
or interpret it) is not the standard
to which others must conform.
PETER
ENNS
“Ditto. What he said.”

28. 1. What is the lens through which
you choose to read the Bible?
2. What are the tangible/practical
implications of your interpretation?
3. Are there things you believe
to be true of God that aren’t
reflected in Jesus?
4. Have you/are you willing to get
intensely curious about those things?
QUESTIONS toCONSIDER…

29. CLOSING PRAYER
Elusive God,
companion on our way,
who walks behind, beside, and beyond;
you catch us unawares. Break through
the disillusionment and despair clouding
our vision, that with wide-eyed wonder,
we may find our way and journey on
as messengers of your good news.
Amen.