The Bible: The Holy Scriptures We Read and Obey

Today’s reading continues in Section II: The Bible – The Holy Scriptures We Read and Obey.

READ HERE

The Bible’s purpose is the formation of disciples and the building up of the church.

We affirm that God speaks in the Bible for the purpose of generating and governing the people of God, the church. The Bible summons the faithful to conform to Christ, who is the image of God, and exhorts them to live lives worthy of the gospel. The Spirit works through the Bible to form the body of Christ, and the mind of Christ in the body of Christ. God uses Scripture to form the people of God, a people of peoples, who participate in his mission as communities that do his will on earth as it is in heaven. (Col 1:15; 3:10; Eph 4:24; Matt 6:10)

We read the Bible faithfully by attending to the Bible’s contexts.

We affirm that to read and interpret Scripture faithfully, the church must read it in its historical, literary and canonical contexts. Reading in its historical context means attending to the world behind the text and the occasion of its composition. Reading in a literary context means paying close attention to the kind of literature it is and to the flow of words and ideas within the wider text. Reading in canonical context refers to reading each part in light of the whole of Scripture, Old and New Testaments together. Situating any biblical text in its proper historical and literary contexts is a necessary step for discovering its original meaning intended by its authors. Situating it in the canonical context enables the church to read it as the word of God and the unified narrative God has given to his people throughout history, culminating with the coming of Christ.

We read the Bible faithfully by being illuminated by the Holy Spirit.

We affirm that the Holy Spirit, who superintended the composition of the Scriptures, continues to guide the church in its interpretation of the Scriptures, as the church, in prayerful dependence, seeks the help of the Spirit. The Spirit’s guidance is part of his active, ongoing presence in the church—the community of Bible hearers, readers, interpreters and doers—to empower and inform its commitment to declare and display Christ in the world. The Spirit provides internal testimony to the Scripture’s authenticity, reliability, sufficiency and credibility. The Spirit enables the believer to understand and submit to the word and will of God. (2 Pet 1:21)