Bible written and compiled by NON-PROTESTANTS
This thread could lighten up the tone.
OK. So it should be read like on of those "National Inquirer" headlines. Lots of drama!
"Bible written and compiled by NON-PROTESTANTS!!!"
Eveyone goes, "HUUUUUHHHHHH!!! OOOOOOHHH!!!"
But we all know it is obvious because there were no Protestants alive and there would not be for ___________ years (that's the trivia question--two points).
Basic thought:
Does modern Protestant thought, in and of itself, contain assumptions that are 'alien' to that of the Biblical authors and compilers?
Put another way, are we predisposed to misunderstanding scripture because of our more recent and 'reactive' theological tradition ?
1) IF NOT...INDICATE WHY.
2) IF SO...WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO WE ADDRESS THEM?
I know it sounds 'odd.' But I wonder what people think.
To narrow the scope we can focus on NT era as a contrasting era of authors and compilers. (ie: "...the New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament...").
PS-Got to have the word 'alien' in all National Inquirer headline.
Great points so far
Ok so to keep things on track, and they are...this is great.
jwmcmac:
"but the People of GOD . . . under inspiration of the One HOLY SPIRIT . . . wrote the Books . . . and these same People of GOD who wrote the Bible are also the only Authorized interpreters of these Holy and inerrant Books."
I take this to speak to (2) in the thread topic: To take this further though. WHY are they the only Authorized interpreters? They are not here anymore, in body, so how can anyone know if the interpretation handed down is true to the original intent?
Finally, my original posted question, is there anything about PROTESTANT thought that obscures our understanding of your statment?
Eagle...:
"Maybe the question might be, how do we un-alienate our modern thinking from the caste of ancient views and ancestral customs?"
This is the question stated differently, you are right and it is well worded. But I am looking for more specific points about Protestant thought. I can better "un-alienate [my] modern thinking" by first identifying how it is presently 'alienated'. You make some great points. I'd like to reflect briefly on them if I can.
I've edited some of your reply for sake of space.. But some points you make are:
"...[we are] predisposed to classify according to our own reactive imaginings, we often meander..."
I might be putting words in you mouth, but for the sake of clarification are you saying, in essence, "Protestants read Scripture in isolated bits, more to prove existing theological beliefs than to hear a unified Biblical narative...?"
"...If we do not hear the Word correctly, maybe it is because we make too much noise on our journey..."
"Protestants are noisey ?" I would agree. I used to play in a worship band. We opened for Deleriou5. That was 'alien.'
"...this is not limited only to Protestant circles but amongst all Christian and indeed all religious organizations and even among non believers..."
This is a great point. I have been thinking about how my way of thinking, being Protestant, could be obscuring my understanding of scripture. But you are right. Some of it, at least, must be universal tendencies.
"...If all seems 'alien', ask humbly and obey, all will be opened..."
It isn't that ALL seems alien. It is, it seems, that SOME Protestant perpectives may hold foreign notions about the Christian life compared to the notions of original writers way of seeing the world and thining. Presumptions about the nature of Scripture for example.
Even reconstructing an understanding of an original context (tacit dimenssion---some might call it) would be biased from the get go by our unexamined assumptions. Someone made the pont about understanding Scripture within the CHURCH. How does a Christian momvement that reacted (protested) to that church chose to understand scripture from within it. It does not TRUST the church that, historically, brought the Bible into existance...through God;s inspiration.
These are great thoughts. I hope more Protestants can chime in too.
"LISTEN"