The Jewish tradition of interpreting scripture is called midrash, and it's active and alive today. Certain Christian denominations focus on literalism, which is misuse of scripture. Much of scripture we have today was passed on through the oral tradition before it was transcribed by writing. The written word took hold after the Reformation made printing the Bible available to anyone. Jesus revealed to us his midrash specifically as he spoke in Matthew chapter 5, where he started the conversation with: "You have heard.... (insert scripture reference, specifically a law).. but I say... (here Jesus replies with his interpretation of aforesaid law). A good scriptural education includes interpretation of the whole canon of scripture, not just focuses on a few verses. To study the length and breadth of scripture is incredible, and opens one's mind to the power of the HOly Spirit through time and history.
"Jewish interpretation in that era was alive, argumentative, and wildly creative."
Jewish interpretation is still alive, argumentative, and wildly creative, hence the saying, "Two Jews, three opinions." I have been fortunate to study both Hebrew and Jewish-Christian relations with Jewish people of differing traditions within Judaism. The common thread is that God gave them the Torah, but left it up to the people to discuss and interpret what it meant for them. This is what we see in the New Testament, and it seems to me to be a healthy approach.
Nice post. Loved the theme and completely agree. Jesus has always been viewed not as He is but as the way the viewer wants him to be. Just to match their philosophy. It’s too bad because we so need the peace he taught.
I love this newsletter, and this is a great post. So many of my friends believe that the Bible, every word of it, was dictated by God. I’ve always found that hard to believe, because the Bible was put together by human men.
I like your pointing out in the sermon on the mount where Jesus quotes Old Testament scripture and then says “what I say” because he does change the direction of it. This is such a valid point.
UGH Bible drills!! I was never fast enough at those, either. But I memorized the order of both testaments with very catchy tunes that my Sunday school teachers provided. Still remember them to this day. :)
Anyway. As someone who grew up evangelical/literalist, I was always told that the Bible was inerrant, infallible, and divinely inspired, which meant that if it's written there, then God said it and meant it. So I disagree slightly with the contrast between a literalist reading scripture to find out what the verse says and Jesus reading scripture to find out what God is like, because there's a missing extrapolation there: literalists read to find out what the verse says because we believe that the verbatim reading tells us what God is like. And when you grow up with that framework and start deconstructing it, reading the Bible in a different way that's far less literal but equally serious feels scary, like you're committing a sin or questioning God.
I think we've just dumbed down our understanding of what the Bible is to the point we don't think we should wrestle with what it means. Some people might just do what it says, and that's fine, but some people aren't like that and may recognize that their understanding of said command/verse may be incorrect, and wrestle with what it means, instead.
I consider myself a part of the latter, because I just have a tendency to consider multiple points of view about what something means. Do I always make up my mind? No. It's like science; you may find a good enough explanation, but it may not be objectively correct, but regardless of that, you stick with it until you find another explanation and angle that is more plausible.
Some things in the Bible are clear, but some things are not, and need to be wrestled with.
This is the part literalists never seem to know what to do with: Jesus didn’t treat every verse like it fell from heaven in the same font size. He argued, interpreted, prioritized mercy, and sometimes straight-up redirected the text. If your method of reading Scripture leaves you less merciful than Jesus, maybe the problem isn’t the Bible. Maybe it’s your method.
The Jewish tradition of interpreting scripture is called midrash, and it's active and alive today. Certain Christian denominations focus on literalism, which is misuse of scripture. Much of scripture we have today was passed on through the oral tradition before it was transcribed by writing. The written word took hold after the Reformation made printing the Bible available to anyone. Jesus revealed to us his midrash specifically as he spoke in Matthew chapter 5, where he started the conversation with: "You have heard.... (insert scripture reference, specifically a law).. but I say... (here Jesus replies with his interpretation of aforesaid law). A good scriptural education includes interpretation of the whole canon of scripture, not just focuses on a few verses. To study the length and breadth of scripture is incredible, and opens one's mind to the power of the HOly Spirit through time and history.
Thanks for your great articles.
It’s true, but this article is going to upset some folks.
That's the story of my life, Goose. But Jesus upset a lot of people too, so sometimes ya gotta stir the pot.
Completely agree with you. You don’t become a Goose of Truth without rustling some jimmies. 📢🪿
"Jewish interpretation in that era was alive, argumentative, and wildly creative."
Jewish interpretation is still alive, argumentative, and wildly creative, hence the saying, "Two Jews, three opinions." I have been fortunate to study both Hebrew and Jewish-Christian relations with Jewish people of differing traditions within Judaism. The common thread is that God gave them the Torah, but left it up to the people to discuss and interpret what it meant for them. This is what we see in the New Testament, and it seems to me to be a healthy approach.
This is really important to understand. Thank you for sharing. I've been reading for a long time and I appreciate this newsletter.
Nice post. Loved the theme and completely agree. Jesus has always been viewed not as He is but as the way the viewer wants him to be. Just to match their philosophy. It’s too bad because we so need the peace he taught.
I love this newsletter, and this is a great post. So many of my friends believe that the Bible, every word of it, was dictated by God. I’ve always found that hard to believe, because the Bible was put together by human men.
I like your pointing out in the sermon on the mount where Jesus quotes Old Testament scripture and then says “what I say” because he does change the direction of it. This is such a valid point.
UGH Bible drills!! I was never fast enough at those, either. But I memorized the order of both testaments with very catchy tunes that my Sunday school teachers provided. Still remember them to this day. :)
Anyway. As someone who grew up evangelical/literalist, I was always told that the Bible was inerrant, infallible, and divinely inspired, which meant that if it's written there, then God said it and meant it. So I disagree slightly with the contrast between a literalist reading scripture to find out what the verse says and Jesus reading scripture to find out what God is like, because there's a missing extrapolation there: literalists read to find out what the verse says because we believe that the verbatim reading tells us what God is like. And when you grow up with that framework and start deconstructing it, reading the Bible in a different way that's far less literal but equally serious feels scary, like you're committing a sin or questioning God.
I hate Dutch Blitz! But I admittedly was excellent at Bible Drills.. Thank you for this article.
Thanks Beau.
Gosh, I loved this read. "Reading scripture meant wrestling with it, and the wrestling was the point."
Very succinct, to-the-point article.
I think we've just dumbed down our understanding of what the Bible is to the point we don't think we should wrestle with what it means. Some people might just do what it says, and that's fine, but some people aren't like that and may recognize that their understanding of said command/verse may be incorrect, and wrestle with what it means, instead.
I consider myself a part of the latter, because I just have a tendency to consider multiple points of view about what something means. Do I always make up my mind? No. It's like science; you may find a good enough explanation, but it may not be objectively correct, but regardless of that, you stick with it until you find another explanation and angle that is more plausible.
Some things in the Bible are clear, but some things are not, and need to be wrestled with.
Anyway, in short, good article!
This is the part literalists never seem to know what to do with: Jesus didn’t treat every verse like it fell from heaven in the same font size. He argued, interpreted, prioritized mercy, and sometimes straight-up redirected the text. If your method of reading Scripture leaves you less merciful than Jesus, maybe the problem isn’t the Bible. Maybe it’s your method.