My fellow classmates!
What a journey we have been on, no? I have really enjoyed reading your responses to our classroom content. Here is my final week's entry:
After reading the Bible story through in such a short amount of time, what stood out to you or struck you that you had not thought of before?
I was pretty fascinated with our talk on Revelation and apocalyptic scripture. I admittedly have shied away from this final book of the Bible largely because I did not know the lens with which to read it through. It was (still is a bit) an intimidating book brimming with symbolism and imagery that is both foreign to me and hard for my personal pursuit of interpretation. If you add on the fact that i have watched Revelations "weaponized" over the past couple of years and create discord amongst people it all adds up to me looking for other scripture to read. Applying a theologized historical context (the video on reading this book really helped me) breaks down the walls of mystery surrounding apocalyptic scripture. I feel more emboldened now! I had never thought of apocalypse as a literary genre that reveals God's true and final plan to His people...I always thought of it as lava and tornados...oh and demons too (can't forget the demons).
Of the 5 directions for practicing humble interpretation of Scripture, which one do you find the most difficult to put into practice?
Going forward I think I will battle not going beyond the authority of scripture the most in terms of frequency. I say this because as I grow in boldness with scripture I may be inclined to place more of my own personal interpretation "weight" behind what I read. As my time in ministry grows and experience refines me I could see myself becoming overly-confident in my interpretations. How would I know, then, if I have stayed within the boundaries of the scripture itself? it will take trusted sources (commentaries and people) to help me stay within those guardrails. Fortunately, pride is not a stronghold I cling to so I feel that I will be reasonably comfortable in taking rebuke!