Credo: On Scripture

I've been slowly working on some "credos" for myself, brief statements of belief about particular topics. None of them are set in concrete and I continue to be open to growth and evolution about my beliefs. But here is my current work-in-progress on what I believe about the Bible. The Bible is the first book I ever loved and it continue to be the most important book in my life.

Article 1: On Authority

1. Scripture is authoritative, but this authority only functions within communities that actively and non-coercively choose to submit to and live under its guidance.
2. This authority is:
   • Communal rather than inherent, requiring the active participation of believing communities.
   • Enforced through consensual practices, traditions, and the lived experience of faith communities.
   • Varied across different Christian traditions, as evidenced by different canonical collections.
3. The Bible's authority does not exist in a vacuum but requires:
   • Active interpretation through study, prayer, and communal discernment.
   • Agreement and consent among communities about how to live under its guidance.
   • Practical implementation in the daily lives of believers.

Article 2: On Inspiration

1. Scripture is "God-breathed" (inspired), meaning:
   • God was actively involved in guiding its human authors and their writing process.
   • God superintended its transmission through generations of copying and preservation.
   • God influenced its canonization through the discernment of faithful communities.
2. This inspiration worked through, not against:
   • Human authors with their own personalities, styles, and limitations.
   • Historical processes including oral tradition and textual development.
   • Sociological developments within ancient communities.
   • Natural evolution of texts through copying, editing, and compilation.
3. God did not prevent human error but rather:
   • Worked through human limitation to communicate divine truth.
   • Accommodated the understanding and capacity of ancient peoples.
   • Used imperfection as a vehicle for revealing truth about both humanity and divinity.

Article 3: On Revelation

1. Scripture reveals things about:
   • God's nature and character that we couldn't discover through reason alone.
   • Human purpose and identity as image-bearers of God.
   • Spiritual realities beyond our physical perception.
   • Physical truths embedded within ancient understanding.
2. This revelation is:
   • Progressive but not strictly linear in its development.
   • Clearer in some passages than others, requiring careful interpretation.
   • Sometimes accommodating human weakness while pointing toward greater truth.
3. For Christians, Jesus is:
   • The ultimate revelation of God's character and will for humanity.
   • The primary lens through which all Scripture is be interpreted.
   • Superior to and more authoritative than previous revelations.

Article 4: On Error and Truth

1. I reject biblical inerrancy because:
   • It's a modern invention arising from 19th-century debates about slavery.
   • It has problematic historical roots in defending oppressive systems.
   • It imposes demands on Scripture that Scripture doesn't claim for itself.
2. The Bible contains:
   • Historical inconsistencies that reflect its human composition.
   • Scientific descriptions limited by ancient understanding.
   • Cultural biases of its human authors and their times.
3. These imperfections:
   • Do not diminish its value as divine revelation.
   • Demonstrate God's willingness to work through human limitation.
   • Can teach us about how God partners with humanity.

Article 5: On Internal Dialogue

1. Scripture contains intentional:
   • Debates between different theological perspectives.
   • Disagreements about how to understand God's will.
   • Different perspectives on similar events and teachings.
2. These differences show:
   • Progressive understanding of God's nature through history.
   • Divine accommodation to human cultural development.
   • Human wrestling with divine revelation over time.
3. This internal dialogue is:
   • A feature of Scripture's design, not a flaw to be corrected.
   • A teaching tool for theological development.
   • A model for how to engage in faithful disagreement.

Article 6: On Contemporary Value

1. Scripture remains prophetic by:
   • Challenging current systems of oppression and injustice.
   • Promoting radical solutions to contemporary problems.
   • Speaking to modern issues with ancient wisdom.
2. It guides us toward:
   • Activism and justice for the marginalized and oppressed.
   • Ecological responsibility and creation care.
   • Economic equality and communal sharing.
   • Nonviolent resistance to evil and injustice.
3. It continues to:
   • Reveal new insights through faithful study and interpretation.
   • Challenge assumptions about power and privilege.
   • Push humanity toward greater justice and love.

Article 7: On Interpretation

1. Not all Scripture should be:
   • Read with equal authority in all situations.
   • Interpreted in the same way across genres and contexts.
   • Applied directly to today without careful consideration.
2. Proper interpretation requires:
   • Understanding of historical and cultural contexts.
   • Recognition of literary genres and forms.
   • Community discernment and scholarly insight.
3. Jesus serves as:
   • The primary interpretive lens for all Scripture.
   • The ultimate revelation of God's character.
   • The final authority in matters of faith and practice.

Article 8: On Beauty and Truth

1. Scripture is:
   • Beautiful in its literary artistry and composition.
   • Poetic in its expression of divine truth.
   • Prophetic in its continuing relevance.
2. It remains:
   • Historically informative about God's work in the world.
   • Spiritually transformative for individuals and communities.
   • Culturally relevant across time and place.
3. Its value lies in:
   • The perfect union of divine inspiration and human participation.
   • Its ability to form faithful communities over time.
   • Its ongoing revelation of God's truth to new generations.