What Does It Mean That Scripture Is “Authoritative”?
“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so…”
This is a song nearly all church-going children learn on the laps of their parents or in Sunday School classes. As true as these words may be, many of these children grow into adults who are taught not to question doctrines laid down by the church. After all, “the Bible tells me so” extends to any and all spheres of life, right? We are told that “the Bible is the inspired Word of God” and we ought not to question the “authority of Scripture.”
“But what about divorce?”
Answer: “The Bible says divorce is adultery (Matt. 5:32) and adultery is a sin (Ex. 20:14), therefore divorce is a sin, no matter the circumstances.”
“What about creation? Did God really create the world in seven days, even though science says otherwise?”
“Well then, what about war?”
We all know that the reality of divorce is anything but simple and that war has been justified by Christians in our bloody past (and was employed by ancient Israel in ways that are truly horrifying to our modern Western sensibilities). The argument of creation and evolution I will leave for another time.
My point is that, while it is easy to say, “The Bible tells me so,” our practical reality is far different.
I want to create space to dig into this topic. What do we mean when we say that “the Bible is the inspired Word of God"? What is the “authority of Scripture”? How can a book, especially one written thousands of years ago, be authoritative at all?
First of all, language matters.
The words we use matter. Words have meanings that go beyond dictionary definitions into distant times and places. Carefully, we consider how our words will be interpreted by the people who will read or hear them.
Even in the English language, various words hold different meanings. Take “boot,” for example. I might be referring to the hind part of my car or I might be talking about footwear, depending on where I am or who I am talking to.
Language also changes over time. I don’t need to list all the words that have changed in meaning (even during my lifetime!) but there is a reason why modern Bible translations call Balaam’s animal a “donkey” rather than continuing to use the KJV’s “ass.”
Let’s consider what we mean by “authority.”
It is without question that our Western culture has a problem with authority. Authority is understood as someone in charge telling us what to do, which chafes against American sentiments of independence.
Of course, authority is often necessary. You recognize your boss’s authority and obey her because she has the power to remove you from your job.
Therein lies the issue. Authority, as we understand it, is related to power.
In churches, the “authority of Scripture” is often a power often wielded as a weapon to ensure that everything follows appropriate protocols and that the church does what is right, morally and doctrinally. Again, this is necessary, to some extent.
However, many church leaders have flexed the muscle of Scriptural authority in order to control their congregations, rather than to guide them. Authority is power, and it is wielded in the hands of those in positions of power.
NT Wright argues that “we have tended to let the word ‘authority’ be the fixed point and have adjusted ‘scripture’ to meet it, instead of the other way round.” (“How Can the Bible Be Authoritative?”)
In other words, we have used Scripture to justify exercising power over others.
Did you catch that? We use Scripture.
We use it as a tool to further our own methods. We use it to further our own agendas. We grab proof-texts to support our desires and declare, “The Bible tells me so!”
Certainly, this is authoritative, but where is the authority of Scripture?
Instead of allowing Scripture to be Scripture, we have supplanted Scripture’s authority with our own. Now we are the masters of our own fate; we are the ultimate authority.
So then, the authority of Scripture ends up resting on me and my interpretation of it, rather than in Scripture itself.
We didn’t start off that way back in the days of the Protestant Reformation. The Reformers wished to make the Scriptures available to the common man rather than to have the Bible hidden in the hands of the clerical elite. They wanted to refocus the Church’s eye on Scripture rather than on Catholic tradition.
Unfortunately, we modern Protestants are terribly arrogant in our interpretation of Scripture.
We claim that we are the ones who know and believe what the Bible is saying, and all others who disagree with our chosen interpretation are heretics and false prophets. We’ve all seen how this has turned out… (How many church splits and denominational schisms have you seen over specific Bible interpretations?)
NT Wright goes so far as to say:
“It seems to be the case that the more you insist that you are based on the Bible, the more fissaparous (divisive) you become; the church splits up into more and more little groups, each thinking that they have got biblical truth right.”
We are indeed a sorry bunch. I hope that you can see how placing ourselves as the ultimate authority on how to interpret and use Scripture is all sorts of wrong. What is the way out of this conundrum that we have created for ourselves?
Let’s examine the real source of authority: God.
All authority comes from God. (Rom. 13:1) Yes, I just proof-texted that. But logically, if there was another source of authority, then that source would be God. If God is God, then He must be the source of all authority. Therefore, the authority that Scripture claims has been God-given.
To be clear, authority belongs to God, not to the Bible.
Sometimes, I fear, we Protestants worship the Bible instead of worshipping the God who spoke words into being. As the first and final authority, God has, by his merciful grace, granted us the Scriptures as a divine revelation of who He is.
Yet, God is lightyears beyond anything we can ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20). How can the Bible possibly describe all there is to know about God?
It can’t. This takes us back to our discussion about language. Language is insufficient to tell us about God. However, He chose to reveal Himself through words and language: the Scriptures.
Why did God use the written word? Think about it: There was no radio, Netflix, YouTube, or podcasting in the Ancient Near East. Books were the primary medium of making sure the message lasted beyond a few generations.
Of course, the Bible is not the only way in which God is revealed. Paul says that God is also revealed in creation (what theologians call general revelation). Above all, God is revealed in the Incarnation when God became flesh as Jesus of Nazareth (which is called special revelation). He is also revealed in the presence of His Holy Spirit in His church today.
However, it is the Scriptures that tell us about His character and about His Incarnation, death, and resurrection. If it were not for the Bible, the events and stories that tell us about God would be lost to history. Words were written because this is how words are preserved.
“We would know nothing of the good news of the reconciliation of the world with God through Christ (2 Cor. 5:19) apart from the witness of Scripture and the activity of God’s Spirit.”
We need to let Scripture speak for itself. We can’t impose our own meanings onto this marvelous book that intricately tells us the story of God’s character and His people.
And Scripture is that: A story that reveals God.
I don’t mean a story as in fairytale or urban myth; I mean that it is a narrative that unfolds from the beginning of time. It tells the ultimate story of love and redemption.
We love stories. Aesop’s Fables were so popular because he told simple stories with profound messages. He didn’t list ten morals that parents were to drill into their children each night at bedtime. Instead, he told stories that carried out the same purpose but were far more effective.
Our brains are wired for stories. We love a good redemption story, love story, or revenge story.
God, having created our marvelous brains, told us about Himself through a grand story - the Bible.
From beginning to end, He tells us a story about love and redemption, of a rebellious people who He led to prosperity, captivity, and eventual restoration, and the ultimate sacrifice of love to redeem them all.
We can place ourselves in this story.
We see ourselves in the shame of Adam and Eve, the deceit of Jacob, the arrogance of Joseph, the insecurity of Moses, the despair of David on the run, the self-indulgence of Solomon, the grief of Jeremiah, the idolatry of Manasseh, the disbelief of the priest Zechariah, the self-righteousness of the Pharisees, and the denial of Peter.
Would a list of doctrines be as efficient at penetrating hearts and changing lives?
Of course not.
I, for one, have never been moved to tears by the Ten Commandments… at least, not until I realized how the commandments fit within the greater narrative of the exodus from Egypt and the vast grace of God in redeeming His enslaved people.
How is Scripture as a narrative authoritative?
When we bow before the mercy and power of God as we humbly accept His desire to change us into His people, we accept His authority in our lives. His authority looks nothing like the abusive authorities that we know.
God’s authority is meek, gentle, humble, and kind. It is absolute because everything comes from Him. And it is absolutely good, because all goodness comes from Him, too.
The narrative of Scripture transforms our worldview.
You can’t not be changed when you read the Bible as a beautiful story filled with messy lives and broken people and when you see the grace and love of God walking alongside His wayward people every step of the way.
When we come to the Bible looking for answers to our particular questions, we turn it into something that it is not. The Bible is not a rule book or manual for life. It won’t give you the answers you are looking for.
The Bible is a narrative that invites you to take part in the grand story that God is telling. It is authoritative insofar as you let it transform your life. Not just your behaviour, but your thoughts, heart, soul, desires, will, and priorities - all of you.
What does engaging the Bible as a narrative look like in practice?
Remember that the Bible was first told in a time and place where the stories actually made sense to the listeners.
We twenty-first century folks need to do a bit of work to understand the head-scratching tales described in the Bible (for example, David slaughtering and mutilating two hundred men to marry a princess (1 Sam. 18:20-27), not to mention any number of violent actions taken by God’s chosen people).
This does not mean that the Bible has no relevance to us today; on the contrary, the narrative that it tells about the nature of human beings and the nature of God is true for all times and places.
Every weird story or genealogy in the Bible is there for a reason. Context matters. This Biblical narrative is the history of our faith and we would do well to be familiar with it. After all, history informs the present.
Remember that the central actor in the biblical drama is God.
Everything that Scripture says bears witness to the reality, the purposes, and the kingdom of God. It is a story of redemption, justice, and grace; it really has very little to do with us and all to do with God.
Remember that Scripture is meant to lead us to worship God.
Scripture is not to be wielded as a weapon to coerce others into living the “right” way. It is not to be busted over someone’s head to turn them away from hell. It is certainly not to be used as a justification for our divisive actions.
Scripture demands participation in witnessing God’s work right now in our communities. It is meant to drive us to action to help those in need.
It must be read, heard, and interpreted across the wide world of believers, all of who have different backgrounds, languages, and cultures.
Most of all, it transforms us as we participate in this grand narrative that reveals God to the world.
Remember that Scripture interpretation is a community endeavour.
In the history of the church, there was no such thing as individual Scripture interpretation. It was always done in community.
Community is where Scripture comes alive; we learn from one another how to read the Bible and how to practically live out what we learn from Scripture.
By all means, study the Bible. We need to read what God’s chosen narrative has to tell us about Him. But then go and talk to others about it. Read it together. Wrestle through it. Live it out together.
If you’ve made it this far, you are truly a seeker of truth! I applaud your tenacity and courage. As always, please reach out to me or comment below to let me know what you think.
Above all, may you be led to worship the God who generously took care to provide us with a vast, rich book full of real people, crazy circumstances, love, and redemption. May you be humbled and transformed.
Narrative matters. The story that we Christians tell the people of our world matters. We all live out a story, so which story are you living?
In courage and in love,
Katelyn
Recommended Reading:
Caldwell, Larry. DOING Bible Interpretation! Making the Bible Come Alive For Yourself and Your People. Sioux Falls, SD: Lazy Oaks Press, 2016.
Migliore, Daniel L. Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology, third ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2014.
Wright, N.T. “How Can the Bible Be Authoritative?” (Lecture, originally published in Vox Evangelica, 1991, 7-32).
