The Authority and Interpretation of the Bible

By J Stafford Wright

When we start to think about God, we soon come to a point where we say, "I can discover nothing more about God by myself. I must see whether He has revealed anything about Himself, about His character, and about the way to find Him and to please Him." From the beginning, the Christian church has believed that certain writings were the Word of God in a unique sense. Before the New Testament was compiled, Christians accepted the Old Testament as their sacred Book. Here they were following the example of Christ Himself. During His ministry Jesus Christ made great use of the Old Testament, and after His resurrection He spent some time in teaching His disciples that every section of the Old Testament had teachings in it concerning Himself. Any discussion of the inspiration of the Bible gives place sooner or later to a discussion of its interpretation. To say that the Bible is true, or infallible, is not sufficient: for it is one thing to have an infallible Book, and quite another to use it. J Stafford Wright was a greatly respected evangelical theologian and author, and former Principal of Tyndale Hall Theological College, Bristol, England.

• Language: English
• Publisher: White Tree Publishing
• Release date: May 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9780995454996

Book preview

About the Book

When we start to think about God, we soon come to a point where we say, I can discover nothing more about God by myself. I must see whether He has revealed anything about Himself, about His character, and about the way to find Him and to please Him.

From the beginning, the Christian church has believed that certain writings were the Word of God in a unique sense. Before the New Testament was compiled, Christians accepted the Old Testament as their sacred Book. Here they were following the example of Christ Himself. During His ministry, Jesus Christ made great use of the Old Testament, and after His resurrection He spent some time in teaching His disciples that every section of the Old Testament had teachings in it concerning Himself.

Any discussion of the inspiration of the Bible gives place, sooner or later, to a discussion of its interpretation. To say that the Bible is true, or infallible, is not sufficient: for it is one thing to have an infallible Book, and quite another to use it.

Is every statement we make actual fact? Is truth ever conveyed by other means? These, and other questions, are discussed as the author defines and comments on Literal Fact, Compressed Fact, Metaphor, Parable, Symbol, Type, Allegory, Myth, and Saga.

J Stafford Wright was a greatly respected evangelical theologian and author, and former Principal of Tyndale Hall Theological College, Bristol, England. More of his books from by White Tree Publishing are listed at the back.

The Authority and Interpretation

of the Bible

by

J Stafford Wright

This edition

©White Tree Publishing 2017

e-Book ISBN: 978-0-9954549-9-6

Published by

White Tree Publishing

Bristol

UNITED KINGDOM

[e-mail]

For full list of books and updated information

visit:

www.whitetreepublishing.com

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this edition.

Main Table of Contents

Cover

About the book

Introduction

Part 1: The Authority of the Bible

Chapter 1. The Word of God

Chapter 2. Inspiration

Chapter 3. Difficulties

Chapter 4. Scientific Difficulties

Chapter 5. Moral Difficulties

Chapter 6. Discrepancies

Chapter 7. Conclusion

Part 2: Interpreting the Bible

Chapter 8. Introduction

Chapter 9. Literal Fact

Chapter 10. Substantial Fact or Compressed Fact

Chapter 11. Metaphor

Chapter 12. Parable

Chapter 13. Symbol

Chapter 14. Type

Chapter 15. Allegory

Chapter 16. Myth

Chapter 17. Saga

Closing Comments

About White Tree Publishing

More White Tree books by J Stafford Wright

Part 1

The Authority of the Bible

Introduction

This book is an edited combination of two booklets written by J Stafford Wright for university students: The Authority of Scripture and Interpreting the Bible. White Tree Publishing believes that these booklets are relevant for all seekers of the truth and interpretation of Scripture.

Author’s Introduction to The Authority of Scripture

When we start to think about God, we soon come to a point where we say, I can discover nothing more about God by myself. I must see whether He has revealed anything about Himself, about His character, and about the way to find Him and to please Him. If there is a God at all, it is likely that He has made some revelation of this kind. Otherwise, we have to suppose that He has given us a desire to worship, and a sense of difference between right and wrong, without doing anything to satisfy our need. At any rate, it is reasonable to start with the idea that God has made us as we are because He wants us to know Him and to have fellowship with Him.

If we are left to our own devices to work out some sort of religion, as best we can, we shall not get very far. We may be able to draw up some moral rules for our lives, but a moral code by itself is a cold and cheerless thing, and does not satisfy our desire to have fellowship with the Creator of the universe. Quite obviously, we are left stumbling in the dark unless God has somewhere shown us, from His side, the way to approach Him and to know Him.

Of course, there are several great religions in the world that possess sacred writings, and if this book were longer we might have a look at them all and compare their claims to be the Revelation of God. The chief points to look for in any revelation would be the following:

1. Universality. It must be suitable for all humanity, and not merely for the Eastern rather than for the