How to cite this article: Joshua N. Tilton, “Bible Versus Scriptures: Part 7—A Neighborly Approach to the Scriptures,” Jerusalem Perspective (2026) [https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/38070].
| Rather listen instead? |
| JP members can play or download an audio version of this essay.[*]
Paid Content
Premium Members and Friends of JP must be signed in to view this content. If you are not a Premium Member or Friend, please consider registering. Prices start at $5/month if paid annually, with other options for monthly and quarterly and more: Sign Up For Premium |
In the preceding articles of this series we have explored the nature of the Scriptures: what they are (an ancient library of sacred books) and what makes them unique (inspiration, authority, and holiness). We have also considered the ancient and modern audiences of the Scriptures. In this concluding article of the “Bible Versus Scriptures” series I want to address the question “What should we do with the Scriptures?”
The Bible as a Weapon
Unfortunately, in our time one of the most familiar uses of the Scriptures is as a weapon to bludgeon people over the head with words of condemnation: “Your claims are invalid,” “Your ways are impure,” “You’re not one of us,” “You don’t belong.” Those who (mis)use the Scriptures in this way often find justification for their approach in verses such as the following:
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than every double-edged sword, slicing unto the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, discerning the heart’s thoughts and intentions. (Heb. 4:12)
…Take also the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…. (Eph. 6:17)
Premium Members and Friends of JP must be signed in to view this content.
If you are not a Premium Member or Friend, please consider registering. Prices start at $5/month if paid annually, with other options for monthly and quarterly and more: Sign Up For Premium
To arrive at neighborly interpretations of the Scriptures requires time and sensitivity, deep familiarity with the Scriptures, and solidarity with the people who are not served by the societies we have structured. It’s for them that the Kingdom of Heaven holds out the promise of redemption. Neighborly approaches to the Scriptures demand imagination, prophetic distance from the centers of wealth and power, and faith that peace and goodwill are in fact more powerful than division and hate. Interpreting the Scriptures in a neighborly spirit is hard work, and it’s one of the reasons why I’ve become so disillusioned with the doctrine of biblical infallibility. At least to my ears, this doctrine implies that reading the Bible is easy, it will always guide you to the right decisions, the right interpretations, the right way of believing. Perhaps I’m partial to a degree out of professional bias, but in my experience it’s the easy answers and the unexamined assumptions about the Scriptures that get us into the most trouble. While I’m in favor of increasing access to the Scriptures, I’m conscious that not everyone is well equipped to handle them. In the hands of an expert the Scriptures are like a Stradivarius cello, capable of producing sublime and transcendent music. But not everyone is Yo-Yo Ma. If I sawed away at the strings, I’d do nothing but set the hearer’s teeth on edge. Interpreting the Scriptures is an art and a calling. It’s not an excuse for the average person not to try, but it is reason for us all to be humble about how we approach the Scriptures and to be modest about what we claim to do with them.
|
Jerusalem Perspective articles are time consuming and expensive to produce. Your membership fees pay for the upkeep of the site and also help defray the cost of producing articles, but not entirely. If you would like to keep more new articles coming to Jerusalem Perspective why not show your enthusiasm by purchasing a JP-themed mug, tee shirt, baseball cap, or magnet from the JP Dashery Store? There you’ll find items like this Jerusalem Perspective “Jesus, Teacher of the Crowds” tee shirt. A percentage of the sales of each purchase goes into Jerusalem Perspective’s coffers and puts a smile on the face of the buyer. If you would like to do even more to support JP, consider becoming a “Friend of Jerusalem Perspective,” a higher tier of membership that comes with special perks like free downloads of select eBooks and audio from the JP Bookstore. To learn more about becoming a “Friend of Jerusalem Perspective,” visit this link: https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/friends-of-jerusalem-perspective/. |
| [*] Music in the Audio JP files is excerpted from the Hebrew song Moshe written by Immanuel Zamir in a recording sung by Yaffa Yarkoni obtained from Wikimedia Commons. |
