Theologian Brad East joins to discuss how we know the Bible is true. They explore analogies for understanding the Bible, guidelines for reading it well, and encourage curiosity about confusing passages. Topics include the compilation of the Bible, trusting in its truthfulness, interpreting challenging scriptures, and finding Jesus in the scriptures and community.
The Bible is humanity's way of understanding and communicating with God through human words and analogies.
The Bible's authenticity comes from a collaborative human process guided by the Holy Spirit, not direct transcription from God.
Trust in the Bible's truth is built on a relationship of faith, rationality, and communal engagement within the church.
Deep dives
Understanding the Bible as God's Word
The Bible is described as God's word, where human words are used as a means through which God communicates to humanity. It is highlighted as a collection of documents written over time by different individuals, recognized by God's people as a tool through which God speaks to them.
Interpreting the Bible as a Human-Divine Collaboration
The podcast addresses the misconception that the Bible was directly transcribed from God, outlining instead a collaborative process involving storytelling, compilation, and editing by humans, guided by the Holy Spirit to convey the word of God.
Building Trust and Faith in the Bible
The discussion delves into the challenging question of how to trust the Bible's authenticity. It emphasizes the importance of approaching the Bible with diverse perspectives, rationality, and faith. Trust is likened to the belief in divine promises, requiring a relationship centered on faith.
Engaging with Scripture Through Community and Prayer
The importance of communal engagement with scripture is highlighted, suggesting that interpretations are enriched by discussions within the church. The process of discernment and reading within a faith community is seen as essential to understanding and applying the Bible's teachings.
Navigating Morally Challenging Texts in the Bible
The narrative explores the presence of morally challenging stories in the Bible and the implications for readers. It encourages a comprehensive approach to understanding Scripture, combining historical contexts, interpretative traditions, and communal discussions to grapple with difficult passages.
Theologian Brad East joins Kaitlyn to answer a really important question we have probably all asked: how do we know that the Bible is true? Dr. East also answers questions we might not think to ask but that are also really important: What is the Bible? How did we get it? How are we supposed to read it? We learn three analogies for understanding what the Bible is, some guidelines for how to read it well, and some encouragement to stay curious about passages that are confusing or challenging.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode