Interpretation
in the Reformed Tradition
Shirley C. Guthrie
The following is
an extract from the article “The
Doctrinal Task of the Reformed Church” by Shirley C. Guthrie,
from The Bulletin Of The
Institute
For Reformed Theology, Vol 2 Number 1, Pg 5-6 (Fall
2000 issue), Published by the Union
Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education,
Richmond, VA
The
Scripture Principle
The
large number of Reformed confessional
statements is evidence of Reformed conviction that the church’s
understanding
of Christian faith and life in any particular
time and
place is
subject to criticism and correction in light of the Word of God that is
the
enduring norm of the church’s faith and life in every time and
place.
Reformed confessions and theologians differ in their understanding of
the authority
of
scripture
(whether, for instance, it is itself the revelation of God or a human
witness
to it). But there is a remarkable consistency in Reformed tradition
concerning
the use
and
interpretation
of
scripture. In a time when some Christians tend to argue about the
Bible instead
of reading and trying to understand it, and when others use it only to
confirm and
defend their culturally and
historically conditioned biases and preferences, I believe that
Reformed
Christians and churches need to reclaim the rules for the
interpretation of
scripture that comes from their own confessional heritage. I can only
briefly
summarize and comment on them here. (In the representative selection of
Reformed statements in the Book of Confessions of the
Presbyterian Church USA, these rules
are found in the Scots Confession, Chs. XVIII and XIX; Second Helvetic
Confession, Chs. I and II; Westminster Confession, Ch. I; Declaration
of
Barmen, 8.10-12; Confession of 1967, 9.27-30.)
Scripture
interprets itself. When we
encounter
difficult passages of scripture or passages the interpretation of which
is
controversial, we must compare them with other passages (II Helvetic:
“like and
unlike” passages) that throw a different or more light on the question
at hand;
and we must seek to understand them in light of the total message of
scripture,
including parts that may not deal
with the specific issue at hand.
This is a safeguard against the tendency of all Christians
(conservative and
liberal alike) to see and quote only passages that confirm what they
already
think and want the Bible to say, and to ignore other passages. It is
also a
warning that if it really is the word of God we seek to hear and not
just the echo
of our own opinions and wishes, we must listen
to the interpretation of Christians
who are different from us in all the ways we have mentioned, and who
may be
able to see things in the Word of God we have been reluctant or
unwilling to
hear because of the limitations and self-interest of our particular
perspective.
The
Christological principle. Scripture
is to be
interpreted in light of the central revelation of God in Jesus Christ,
what he
said and did, and God’s liberating and reconciling work in his life,
death and
resurrection. This rule has proved helpful as Reformed churches have
struggled
with contemporary issues such as that of women’s place in church and
society,
justice for the poor and oppressed,
and treatment of others who have
been forgotten or excluded.
The
law
of love. I take
this as a
warning that no interpretation of scripture that shows hostility,
contempt or
indifference toward any person or group can be a right interpretation
of the
Word of God whose will for human life is summarized in the often
repeated
Biblical command to love God and our neighbors as ourselves.
The
rule
of faith. Scripture
is to be
interpreted with respect for the church’s interpretation of it. Whether
old or
new, the church’s interpretation is always subject to criticism and
correction
in light of further study of scripture itself. But we are more likely
to
interpret it rightly and avoid confusing the guidance of the Spirit
with our
own personal and social biases, when we first listen
carefully and respectfully to the
past and present consensus of the church concerning what scripture
leads us to
believe and do, and do not too quickly assume that a few of us know
better than
all the rest.
Respect for literary and historical context. Scripture is to be interpreted in light of the various literary and the social-historical contexts in which it was written. This principle of interpretation encourages us to seek to discern the word and work of God in our time in a book written by and for ancient near Eastern people who had a predominantly patriarchal, hierarchical understanding of God and human society, who bore witness to the word and action of God with a pre-scientific worldview, and who did not even dream of many of the problems we have to face in a modern technological society. The rule also invites Reformed Christians to distinguish in the Bible between what the will of God is for the life of all people in all times, and what, although it may have once been the will of God for people in another time, no longer applies to us.