Making the Bible Dance
I recently taught a lesson on biblical interpretation in Irenaeus. I used the quote:
“They (gnostics) transfer passages and rearrange them; and making one thing out of another, they deceive many by the badly composed fantasy of the Lord’s work they adapt. By way of illustration, suppose someone would take the beautiful image of a king, carefully made out of pieces of stones by a skillful artist. And would destroy the features of the man on it and change around and rearrange the jewels, and make the form of a dog, or of a fox.” (Adv haer 1.8.1)
Irenaeus’ point in this analogy is that the so-called gnostic exegetes were rearranging the biblical text outside of its proper order and according to their own perspectives. The various so-called gnostics read the bible through their own lenses in order to convey a perspective that was out of continuity with the apostolic confession.
For today, Irenaeus words serve as a reminder that the interpretation of the bible is so often up for grabs. Those who are passionate enough, creative enough, and convicted enough, can make the bible say anything they want it to say. The bible can dance any dance someone wants it to. If you want the Bible to preach pacifism or validate the war you can find a verse to back you up. If you think environmentalism is essential or have some kind of fascination with apocalyptic scenarios, the bible is right there with you. Unfortunately the bible, while containing the words of eternal life, so often is used as a tool for manipulation.
Of course Irenaeus believes in a right reading of the text that is rooted in the rule of faith. This rule is prophesied in the prophets, embodied in Christ, proclaimed through the apostles and passed on through the church. Together with one voice, through one Spirit, in one accord the church proclaims the gospel as a rule though which the text must be read. Those who wish to read the text outside of this faith are in fact rearranging the message of the bible to suit their own desires. This notion should correct and affirm the way in which the church reads the text of Scripture. We read the Scripture in the church and for the church, so that the text is read rightly.
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