As part of my study during these weeks when we are discussing the nature and purpose of the Bible, I have been reading N.T. Wright\u2019s illuminating book, Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today.<\/p>\n
I particularly like his point that there is need to clarify what we mean when we speak about the Bible\u2019s \u201cauthority.\u201d\u009d Affirming that authority rightly belongs to God in the context of his Kingdom rule, Wright says we must have a more dynamic understanding of the term: the Bible only has authority in the sense that God exercises his sovereign rule through it.<\/p>\n
Thus, Wright says, Scripture\u2019s authority does not lie in its status as a \u201ccourt of final appeal\u201d\u009d or as a compendium of doctrine, as rules for living or a devotional manual. Rather, the \u201cauthority of Scripture\u201d\u009d must be understood within the context of God\u2019s Kingdom and God\u2019s mission to the world. Scripture is a primary means by which God acts in and through his people to bring healing and redemption to all creation.<\/p>\n