God's Word
PROGRESS
God's Word
PROGRESS
When one speaks of growth, one speaks of a process. That which is in process is involved in a continuing developmental movement from one point to another on the way to a ‘telos’ (goal) or anticipated completion.
For example: Process is at the heart of child rearing. Life is sparked at the time of conception. The developmental process begins and continues unabated. What an amazing journey from conception to birth. We all know that the infant who is delivered does not jump from the minds of the parents into the delivery room. The process of the infant’s growth leads to his or her arrival.
The parents continue to be concerned about their child’s growth. The process extends. The child must be guarded, directed, nurtured, encouraged, disciplined, and loved. Wisdom is needed to channel the child through the many stages of growth. Sacrifice is necessary for the parents to bring their offspring to maturity; but, it is gladly made. Finally, the time arrives when they can say of their fully mature offspring what was said about Jesus, “[He] kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).
No one can, with impunity, ignore the principle of growth as process. It is central to our existence. We must grow to successfully reach our designated end, or purpose, yet, how often we tend to ignore this principle. When we want something out of our reach, we may become resentful; refusing to acknowledge it is out of our reach. It may be difficult to acknowledge we have not grown tall enough to reach it. Consider how illogical it is to ignore the process principle by assuming the present state of affairs as merely “just the way things are.” Is it possible to truly appreciate our automobile, watch, house, or even our food, if we see them only as “just the way things are”? Our automobile has been in process for about a hundred years. Our watch was crafted over centuries. Our house once grew in the forest. Our food grew from out of the darkness of the earth. All of these things came to be as they are by the process of growth and development.
This principle of growth as a process is especially significant when one considers the printed word. When we open a book, we have in our hand the completed product of a long and laborious process. The book is not merely an example of “the way things are.” It began as an idea. It was fostered and nurtured. It was researched and developed by a methodology which involved a rationale for including and excluding material. In short, the book came to be what it is in light of the goal or purpose of the author. Only with this process awareness in mind can we hold the book in our hand and speak of it meaningfully as real, or authentic. It did not just flash into existence.
Process awareness on our part is essential for a true perspective of the Bible. Of all the books in the world, the Bible is the best example of “words in growth.” This is true for several reasons.
We have already examined revelation, inspiration, and providence. We now consider two more reasons.
We see in the long history of the Bible a growing quantity of words. From the beginning of the inspired Scriptures by Moses in the Old Testament to the close of Revelation by the Apostle John in the New Testament, there was a growing body of sacred literature.
Also, when properly understood, we see a growing quality of Scripture emerging as the Bible grew quantitatively. Of course, this does not fly in the face of what we have already stressed, “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Additionally, the Apostle Paul stated in the first century A.D. that “Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). However, Paul does not mean, neither does he say, that every single word, sentence, or passage will accomplish the great work of reproving, correcting, or giving hope. He does mean that, taken as a complete body of God-breathed Scripture, our surrender to the written Word of God will lead us to be His acceptable servants.
Therefore, when one speaks of a growing quality of Scripture developing in the Bible, one should remember “that which is in process is involved in a continuing developmental movement from one point to another on the way to a designated goal or anticipated completion.” From this point of view one can appreciate the extreme importance of Paul’s statement as follows: “Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore, the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians 3:21-25).
In this passage we learn that the Law (‘nomos’) could not give life, but it did keep us in custody until the faith (‘pistis’) was revealed. The Law served as our tutor (child-conductor) to lead us to Christ, what we might be justified by faith. Here Paul spoke of the Law brought to light so forcefully in the Old Testament in comparison with the faith emphasized in the New Testament. Paul later wrote of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice on the cross as “having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which were hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).
Examples of the growing quality of Scripture in the New Testament could be extended at great length, but from among them we recommend a study of the Epistle to the Hebrews as an extended example of “better things” one finds in the New Testament. The Bible reveals quantitatively (from beginning to end) and qualitatively (from Old Testament to New Testament) a process of growth. There is a beginning, a continuing, and a conclusion. The process goes on for about 1,500 years. If we have this perception (process awareness) of the Bible, we may avoid making unfortunate mistakes. We will not open the Bible and read a short isolated statement as if it were a fortune cookie with a secret message for us alone. We will not allow our understanding of Bible teaching to be based on sentences that lose their original meaning or proper application because they have been taken out of context and applied in ways never intended.
In short, if we see the Bible as a book of magic, we will deprive ourselves of what it has to offer. Rather, we should read and study the Bible as a revelation of God’s redemptive history written by men inspired by His Holy Spirit. If we see it contains all things necessary for salvation (2 Peter 1:1-4), we will be ready to handle it properly (2 Timothy 2:15) and greatly benefit from it (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
(Unless noted, Bible translation used is the New American Standard Bible)
