“But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ* for all who believe.” - Romans 3.21-22
*or through the faith of Jesus Christ
The verse above, from Paul’s letter to the Romans, is critical to Paul’s theology and to the argument of the letter. And yet, in this important sentence, we have an issue of translation. In the original Greek that Paul wrote, the phrase he uses at the end of verse 22, “pisteos Jesu Christou,” is a construction that can mean either “faith in Jesus Christ,” or “faith of Jesus Christ.” Although most modern translations use “faith in” in the text, they include this difference in the footnotes. This verse is incredibly significant for our understanding of salvation, the cross, and a host of other things. Does God’s righteousness come through our faith in Jesus, or through Jesus’ own faithfulness to God? The text of scripture does not tell us here; we must use other parts of scripture and other things we already believe to decide how to correctly interpret this verse.
I am highlighting this particular verse simply to make the point that scripture is not as easy, cut and dried as it first seems. A student of the Bible, seeking to grow in faith and more deeply understand the scriptures, will soon learn of all of the decisions that must be made in the interpretation of these ancient texts. This example is linguistic; there are also cultural and historical barriers to overcome, textual variants to account for, and lots and lots of symbolism.
I want to convince you of this truth not to discourage you from reading the Bible, but to encourage you to read the Bible in conversation with other Christians who have studied it. Resources such as a study Bible can bring you into conversation with scholars and pastors. In the Sunday sermon, I attempt to help you to interpret it according to the Gospel. Ultimately, Jesus is the key to interpret scripture, so the Holy Spirit inside you is also a faithful guide.
Wise interpretation is vitally important in our current discussions about human sexuality. One side will tell you that the other side doesn’t love others and preaches a Gospel of judgment. One side will tell you that the other side has left the Bible behind to follow culture. Neither of these are true. Both sides are seeking to love others; both sides are seeking to faithfully follow the Bible. What we actually have at issue is biblical interpretation. What cultural, historical, theological, and linguistic tools do we need to understand the prescriptions of the law in Leviticus 18:22? What if I told you that 1 Corinthians 6:9 has a long history of being translated “boy molesters,” not “sodomites,” and was only changed to indicate homosexuality more generally in 1946?
But I’m not trying to convince you of my point of view. I’m trying to help you have better conversations about a deeply personal and painful issue that is ripping our churches apart. Please stop saying people are hateful because they don’t agree with your interpretation of the Bible. Please stop saying people don’t follow the Bible because they don’t agree with your interpretation of it. Please study the approximately seven scriptures that are at issue in this debate. Learn the history, learn the culture, learn the language that will help us understand what they are actually talking about. And approach your brothers and sisters with grace to listen and love.
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