Wyatt Graham

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Hermeneutics

Scripture Has a Theological Context

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Since I conceive of God as impassible, Spirit, simple, then my conception of God differs from someone who sees him as passible and similar to us (though much greater) on a scale of being. When we think of God, we think of two different entities. It’s not the same.

Granted, many people think of God as “greater” than us but on our scale of being today. It is a problem, but the real issue lies with how we talk about God from the Bible. If history is our only context when we interpret Scripture (and not theology/metaphysics), then it is evident that we will only speak of God who participates in history in ways similar to us (though much greater than us).

That still results in a God unrecognizable to Christian theology as expressed in creeds and confessions. Pastoral theology then cannot stop at teaching Scripture within its historical context. It must take the next step to interpret it within its theological context—the reality of the triune God and incarnate Christ.

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How Christ Is the Centre of Scripture

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Christians often practice a Christ-centred reading of Scripture. Yet this approach can sound like a pop-a-mole game where Christ just springs up everywhere in Scripture. I do not think that is the case here, but I can understand the concern. 

One way to understand the Christ-centered nature of Scripture is to use two key metaphors. That is what I do here before making some conclusions on Christ in the Old Testament.  [Read more…] about How Christ Is the Centre of Scripture

Does The Scripture Have a Centre, Or Is It a Collection of Writings without a Centre?

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Many have attempted to discover the centre of Scripture by reading it according to its own terms, idioms, and storyline. In this attempt, however, theologians have differed on what that centre is. Proposals include justification, God’s glory in salvation through judgment, and God himself. That so many disagree on the centre suggests that such an approach has yet to discover the centre. 

Despite the seeming impossibility of discovering the centre, it is possible to name it. In my view, the discipline of biblical theology can grasp the centre only through first considering key apostolic comments on the relationship between Christ and Scripture. Only then does the centre become manifest. 

Let me explain. [Read more…] about Does The Scripture Have a Centre, Or Is It a Collection of Writings without a Centre?

Does The New Testament Reinterpret the Old Testament?

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Does the New Testament reinterpret the Old Testament? No. Instead, the New Testament and specifically the Holy Spirit through the New Testament writings reveals the real meaning of the Old Testament. By using the word “reveal,” I mean the more technical sense of apocalypse—an unveiling or revelation.*

Here are a couple reasons why I argue that the Spirit unveils the meaning of the Old Testament. [Read more…] about Does The New Testament Reinterpret the Old Testament?

What Is the Gospel of John about?

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The Gospel of John aims to persuade readers that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

The means by which the Gospel communicates its purpose is eye-witness testimony. The evangelist identifies himself as “the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true” (John 21:24). 

Putting the purpose and mode of delivery together, we can say that John as an eyewitness of Jesus Christ carefully selected and organized his Gospel book so that readers would believe and have life in the name of Jesus, the Christ and the Son of God.  [Read more…] about What Is the Gospel of John about?