>By "modern reading" Mr. Brown meant a reading informed by biblical
>criticism, which he defined as "an analysis such as one would use
>for determining the meaning of other ancient literature." He argues
>that such an analysis is needed because "no 20th-century church" is
>the same as a church or churches of new Testament Times, and that
>inevitably 20th-century Christians have a worldview different from
>that of first century Christians<
Although I agree that analyses appropriate for other ancient
literature are helpful in understanding the Bible, I do not see the
connection to the state of the 20th century church. Would these
methods have been any less useful for the 1st century church trying
to understand the OT? I am also unclear what role is envisioned for
the worldview. Both first century and modern worldviews need
conformed to Scripture, rather than vice versa.
>Brown asks the question, "What does it mean when we call the Bible
>the word of God"? He asks, "Does God speak?" Since most would
>agree that God does not speak in terms of emitting sound waves, then
>any revelation from God necessarily comes through human mediation.<
No, as there are passages that refer to a generally audible sound
(e.g., at Jesus' baptism). This does raise the unanswerable issue,
discussed somewhere in Lewis' space trilogy, as to whether such
sounds are sound waves or a more direct manipulation of the nervous
system, but certainly we cannot rule out the possible role of sound
waves.
However, with regard to the inspiration of the text of Scripture as a
whole (as opposed to the short proclamations described as heard),
there is little evidence of the means of communication, and the
preservation of individual styles argues against a verbal dictation
model. Thus, I do see a general role for human mediation, despite
questioning the first half.
> If God does not actually speak words (external or internal)<
This is a substantial expansion on the previous claim. Prophets
frequently declare "Thus says YHWH", suggesting a direct word, albeit
probably internal rather than auditory. Again, much of Scripture
does not make the claim to be such a direct word, but much does.
>He argues that even in the words of Jesus it is dubious that one
>encounters an unconditional, timeless word from God. "The Son of
>God who speaks in the... gospels is a Jew of the first third of the
>first century, who thinks in the images of his time, speaks the
>idiom of his time, and shares much of the worldview of his time."<
Many things Jesus said fit into this; many others do not. The
imagery and language of the parables draws on everyday life of first
century Palestine. The messages of them often run contrary to
popular views, and provide a timeless point even though the setting
is no longer as familiar.
>(He cites Daniel's mistakes about the timing of various Babylonian
>interventions).<
A couple of posts have credited Daniel with historical error, but the
purported errors that I am acquainted with are imposed on the text by
skeptical criticism. What specifically is considered erroneous?
The dating of Bablylonian interventions sounds like the claim that
Daniel 1:1 is in error; however, the multiple Bablylonian incursions
into Palestine provides ample opportunity for hauling off Daniel et
al. at the time specified, before the more extensive deportations.
Dr. David Campbell
Old Seashells
University of Alabama
Biodiversity & Systematics
Dept. Biological Sciences
Box 870345
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 USA
bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted
Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at
Droitgate Spa
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