Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Dealing with Ambiguities
There is no doubt, nor denying, the Bible is more ambiguous than we – I – would like. Admittedly, no doubt we also use the ambiguity for our own will (more on that later). Why and how do we deal with this hermeneutical phenomenon?
First, 3 dangers
- Making things ambiguous when they are clear.
- Making things dogmatic when they are ambiguous.
- Hard to know when we are guilty, but too easy to charge others with that.
Second, why are there ambiguities?
- We have cultural misunderstandings.
- We try to make the bible communicate how we would, instead of seeing how it does (1 Tim.3; Titus 1).
- We try to make sections legalistic documents instead of seeing “God’s why” (John 7:24; Mt.12)
- We try to make our understanding go beyond the context. (1 Cor.14).
- God’s word is deep (2 Peter 3:16)
- Christ’s covenant is more principle than specific instructions (Galatians 5).
- Consider this: the NT is for “adults” (Galatians 4). Ambiguity and principle are tests test of maturity.
- All communication takes work.
What’s the point of this? We need to be more careful about drawing lines where God has not, while at the same time being willing to be as strict as God requires. Welcome to the struggle!
Comments