THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AND EVERY CHRISTIAN By Most Rev Dr Julius Babatunde Adelakun, Bishop Emeritus of Oyo Diocese CONTINUATION The Relationship between the Bible and the People of God The word of God and the community of God’s people could be said to have come into existence almost simultaneously. For when God spoke he did not speak to an empty space he spoke to some people. It is his speaking to them that brought the people of God into existence. Abraham was not related and was not relating with God until the Lord spoke to him. The book of Genesis recorded the first encounter of God and Abraham thus: ‘Now the LORD said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your fathers house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (Gen 12:1-2) In a similar way it was the symbolic call of Christ to Peter that started the community of God’s People in the New Testament. In the story of the miraculous catch, Jesus said to Simon, Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people. When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. (Lk. 5:10-11) Some Bible translators saw this interaction between Jesus and Peter as the beginning of the people of God in the New Testament. The New Revised Standard Version titled the story as “Jesus Calls the First Disciples. As it is the word of God and man’s response to it became an event, this event is then recorded in the Bible. The word of God brought the people of God into being, and the people of God brought about the record of the event of its birth. The events that are recorded in the Bible took place within the community of God’s people, so the community is a co-author of and witness to the Bible. A number of people these days claim to have authority on the interpretation of the Bible. They claim that the Bible is the revelation itself and that one does not need to look elsewhere for other witnesses about the revelation of God. It is much in line with the protestant tradition as derived from the teaching of Martin Luther; ‘Sola Fide Sola Scriptura’. With this they intend to say that nothing else tells us about God except the Bible. Edward J. Young in his article ‘The Bible and the Christian Faith said: “The Bible is no mere witness to some revelation as is so often erroneously asserted today; rather the Bible itself is revelation.” This has led many to ask questions about the teachings of the Church. They simply as if such teachings are in the Bible. They simply ask: ‘Is it in the Bible?’ TO BE CONTINUED
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 02:31:42 +0000
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