Articles
Is the Bible a Simple Book? - 3
We have previously asserted that, contrary to popular opinion, the Bible is not a “simple” book. The Bible deals with complex questions of morality, motivation, spiritual reality and divine law. Scripture reveals God’s nature and interaction with man throughout history. Questions of suffering, family structure, the sanctity of life, behavior and consequences – matters that fill millions of volumes in modern libraries – are addressed.
While Scripture speaks consistently to people in every age, the original writings were delivered in a particular cultural setting. God framed His words in a way that reflected life at the time – the vernacular familiar to the people being addressed. One of the first challenges for the Bible student is to step back into the historical setting and ask: “What did the first recipients of this writing understand it to mean?”
For example, in the most treasured psalm of all (23rd), David expresses his relationship with God in the metaphor of a shepherd with his sheep. There is a superficial comfort that can be gleaned from reading the psalm, but David’s imagery goes further: green pastures, still waters, rod, staff, etc. Layers of meaning begin to unfold when one learns more about the relationship between shepherd and sheep. As someone recently noted, sheep will not drink from waters muddied by turbulence, so the shepherd leads them to “still” waters.
But this challenge doesn’t stop at Psalm 23. Jesus uses similar figures in describing Himself and His disciples: “He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (Jn 10:2-4).
Significantly, “Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them” (10:6). Jesus was not trying to be obtuse. He was using the very cultural imagery of their heritage and current life, yet they were befuddled. Since they were not making the application He intended, he began to speak more explicitly (10:7-18). In this shepherd/ sheep analogy He covered such topics as:
* Threats to the sheep by thieves/robbers/hirelings.
* The sheep’s familiarity with the true shepherd.
* Jesus is the “door” of the sheep.
* Jesus’ shepherding leads to life; the thief seeks to kill.
* The hireling flees at the approach of danger, but the good, dedicated shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep – as Jesus will do.
* Other sheep will be brought into the fold.
And yet, “there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. And many of them said, ‘He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?’” (10:19-20). Jesus’ teaching was not “simple,” which is not to say He used academic language too deep for the mental level of His listeners. As noted in our last article, lack of intellect is not usually the reason people misunderstand God. Rather, it is the willingness to receive the message – a heart problem, not a head problem. Prejudices cause us to either reject out of hand or refuse to carefully consider what God is saying.
Keeping with the shepherd/sheep analogy, elders in a local church are to “take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Ac 20:28). Peter echoes this figure: “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock, and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Pet 5: 2-4).
Someone who is careless with the figures of speech used in Scripture may easily equate an elder with a corporate manager, or worse, an overbearing boss. The ideas of domination, control and disconnected management are foreign to the shepherd metaphor. Preconceptions laid over such passages merely make them proof-texts of one’s concept of being an elder. And much damage has been done in church after church where elders defined themselves in modern metaphors rather than the Biblical shepherd. No, the Bible is not “simple”; it rewards careful and diligent examination.
