What the Bible Is NOT

In this insightful Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, speaker Matthew Vander Els guides listeners through a crucial understanding of the Bible, focusing not on what it overtly is, but rather on what it is often mistakenly perceived to be. The message emphasizes the importance of approaching the Bible with an awareness of its complex history, its human authors commissioned by God, and its central message of God’s redemptive love and pursuit of a covenant relationship with humanity through Jesus (Yeshua).

The teaching begins by addressing the common tendency to view the Bible as a book that simply “fell from heaven,” untouched by human hands and understanding. This simplistic view, while offering a sense of security and authority, can inadvertently make the Bible feel foreign and unrelatable to our everyday human experience. When the Bible is vaguely labeled as holy without exploring its history, it can create a narrow perspective, preventing a deeper engagement with its rich content. This can lead to a situation where people find secular books more interesting than the very scriptures they hold as sacred.

To counter this, the teaching highlights the intricate and beautiful, though seemingly messy, history of how the Bible came to be the book we know today. It encourages exploration of resources that delve into the history of the actual Bible, distinguishing it from the theology within. Understanding this history reveals that the Bible is not a static, unchanging entity but a collection of writings that evolved over time, authored by individuals in specific historical and cultural contexts.

A key point emphasized is the importance of discerning the intention of the author when reading any part of the Bible. Just as we consider the author’s purpose when reading a novel like Lord of the Rings or The Hunger Games, we should apply the same principle to biblical texts. Failing to do so can lead to misinterpretations and the application of scripture in ways that were never intended. For example, the speaker uses the illustration of Ezekiel’s bread, a recipe found in the Bible, which is sometimes bought with the idea of gaining holiness. However, understanding the full context of Ezekiel 4:9 reveals it was a symbolic act of judgment, with God initially instructing Ezekiel to bake the bread using human excrement for fuel. Taking the verse out of context completely misses its intended message.

The teaching also addresses the misconception that God literally wrote the Bible. While affirming the belief that the Bible is inspired by God’s Spirit, it clarifies that God used human beings to write down His message. These were real people with their own experiences, struggles, and perspectives, whose “fingerprints” can be seen throughout the scriptures. Recognizing this human element makes the Bible more relatable and underscores the idea that God can work through ordinary individuals. The Bible is presented as an intersection between the divine and humanity, where heaven and earth collide. A quote from Dr. Mackey is shared: “The Bible is a thoroughly human book that speaks God’s word to his people.”

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Application for Everyday Life

• Approach the Bible with curiosity and a desire to understand its historical context. Don’t assume it simply appeared as it is today.
• Seek to understand the intention of the human author. Ask yourself what the writer was trying to communicate to their original audience.
• Recognize the human element in the Bible’s writing. Understand that God worked through real people with their own lives and perspectives.
• Avoid taking verses out of context. Consider the surrounding verses, the chapter, the book, and the overall message of the Bible.
• See the Bible as a unified story that ultimately points to Jesus Christ. Understand how different parts of the Bible connect to this central theme.
• Engage with the Bible actively, asking questions and seeking deeper understanding. Don’t be afraid to explore complex or seemingly challenging passages.
• Remember that the Bible is not merely a checklist of rules. Its primary purpose is to reveal God’s character, His love, His work of salvation, and His desire for a covenant relationship with you.
• Appreciate the sacrifices and efforts of those who preserved and transmitted the scriptures throughout history. Recognize the value and magnitude of having access to God’s Word today.
• Participate in the memorial of Jesus’ sacrifice through communion, remembering the “blood of the covenant” that establishes our relationship with God.
• Allow the Bible to transform your life, leading you to a deeper faith in Jesus and a life that reflects God’s love and justice.

References

Bible Verses

• Exodus 4:9
• Exodus 17:14
• Exodus 24:4
• Exodus 32
• Ezekiel 4:9
• Jeremiah 36
• Isaiah 5:7
• 2 Timothy 3:16
• Matthew 26:26

Books and Resources

• How the Bible Came to Be by John Barton
• How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart
• The History of the Bible by John Barton
• Professor Tim Mackey’s lecture: The History of the Bible (available online)
• The Pentateuch as Narrative by John Sailhamer