# “Read Scripture as a divine book” by Trent Hunter and Stephen Wellum

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2018/05/17/read-scripture-as-a-divine-book-by-trent-hunter-and-stephen-wellum/
- Published: 2018-05-17T12:00:41-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“Consider what it means to read Scripture as a divine book— from God to us!

If God wrote every word, sentence, paragraph, chapter and book, then the Bible is
_unified_. The Bible’s sixty-six books really form one book from one Author.

It’s also _coherent_. If we’re confuses about the meaning of a certain text, we 
may assume that we’re the ones confused, not God. The Bible coheres with itself 
and with the world in which its readers live.

It’s _complete_— the Bible is what God wanted us to have. If it raises questions
that it doesn’t completely answer, then that must be on purpose.

And not only is it complete, but it’s also _sufficient_ for what we need.

The Bible is _perfect_. There’s nothing wrong with it. Every word is good and true.

The Bible is also _urgent_. If God has spoken to us, then nothing is more important
than for us to listen to its message.

All of these truths about Scripture have major implications for how we interpret
the Bible.

We should read it with creaturely _humility_ because these words are from our Creator
and Lord.

We are to read with _expectation_. If we look forward to the release of a new novel
by a favorite author, how much more should we look forward to reading God’s Word!

We should also read with _caution_, recognizing that we are inclined to misunderstand
what God has written, given our finitude and sinfulness.

That means we should read the Bible _patiently_ to accurately discern what God has
said. We cannot assume that what first comes into our minds matches what’s in God’s
mind.

We read and we reflect, and once we settle on an interpretation that is faithful
to the text and aligned with previous interpretations, we _submit_ to God’s Word.

If we disagree with something the Bible teaches, we assume that our thinking must
change, not God’s. We don’t stand over Scripture; we stand under it in submission
to God (Isa. 66:1-2).

We are aware of the Bible’s divine authorship, and we are aware of our creaturely
position as readers.”

–Trent Hunter and Stephen Wellum, [_Christ From Beginning to End_](https://amzn.to/2L2vfr4)(
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018), 44-45.

More quotes from [Stephen Wellum](https://tollelege.net/category/stephen-wellum/)·
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