Transformations in biblical understanding and scriptural interpretation

Bible encourages a depth of thinking that is not possible otherwise. Seemingly simple phrases and parables become complex. For example, one of my favorite Bible quotes has become a cliche in our culture: "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun," (Ecc 1:9). Yet when I ponder the passage again, I can see that it refers to the human condition and to the universal laws of spirit to which we are beholden from birth.

Before I began an in-depth study of the Bible, it had seemed to be a daunting text to read in any length. Now I feel much more comfortable with it because I can see the connections between the Gospels and also the connection between Old and New Testaments. Indeed, my renewed understanding can be viewed as my simply being willing to accept Christ. The biggest personal change I can attribute to studying the Bible is that now I understand what is meant by the Word. The Bible is a lot more than just a book, or a historical writing, or a piece of literature.

The feelings I have about the Bible mirror the passage from Ecclesiastes 1:9. There is nothing new under the sun, and so the spiritual awakening I have from studying the Bible only means that Christ's love was dormant in my heart. Studying the Bible awakens the feelings of hope and faith that inspire Christians worldwide and throughout history. What amazes me is that the Bible has had such a huge impact on world history, but that it is also something that I can hold in my heart as well. The Bible has the potential to change the heart of one small person, or the entire trajectory of history.

My studies of the Bible have also revealed to me more than just morality. In fact, our close studies of Paul's teachings in Romans opened my eyes to the true meaning of Christian morality. Morality stems from Christ, not from human law. Human law is at best a reflection of God's law. When we try to impose moral laws on ourselves or our fellow human beings, we fail to live up to the glory of Christ because we are sinners by nature. Instead of struggling to live according to mundane morality, we can instead surrender to the higher law that is Christ. This sentiment is one that I have heard many times from other people, but it was not until I read it first hand in the Bible that it made sense to me. There was something to my personally connecting with those words that made a difference in my understanding of this simple truth.

The Bible has inspired me to live my life from faith. I have never doubted God, but also did not understand how to balance faith with the pressures of daily life. The Bible has helped me surrender and become more humble. Now I see more clearly that it is faith that sustains us, and that faith can be nurtured by reading scripture. "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name," (John 20:31).