It is a healthy thought exercise to reflect on how the biblical writers change our perspective on Scripture. The hermeneutic of the prophets and apostles is a hermeneutic of surrender. A surrender to the authority and intentional meaning of Scripture from its authors. A reader response hermeneutic is, by comparison, a subjective way of reading the text of Scripture to suit preferences and to shape messages or meaning toward inner personal thoughts, desires, or objectives. Efforts to conform the meaning of Scripture incidental or contrary to the biblical writers’ intended messaging toward instruction, counsel, or pastoral agendas is a defective and unacceptable approach to “interpretation.” The biblical writers extensively sought the intended meaning of what the patriarchs, prophets, and poets wrote and did. Rules of proper hermeneutical interpretation were applied for obedience, faith, and practice to include the development of further narratives and genres to form Spirit-inspired Scripture.
The extent to which the biblical writers were expositors of Scriptural truth cannot be overstated. Their contribution to Scripture’s theological and exegetical groundwork is thoroughly abundant and significant, as made evident by the depth and range of intertextual synthesis. From the Old Testament and the New, biblical writers were thoroughly immersed in Scripture present in their time, and they were exceptional exegetes. Each was able to assemble meaningful theological thoughts from the guidance of the Holy Spirit and by conscious interpretive efforts to produce theologies that would extend to millions across generations. The prophets and apostles developed theologies that provide a framework for continuing biblical interpretation of immeasurable value. Not only of enormous historical significance but of covenantal weight that assures God’s glory and redeemed humanity’s salvation.
There is a continuity of basic, deep, and intricate Scriptural meaning interwoven throughout the Bible. The patterns by which biblical writers wrote, inferred, referenced, overlapped, reinforced, and synchronized theological messaging are interrelated across time, languages, and translations. Scriptural intertextuality is the relationship between texts in a coherent sense of the reading. Still, there is more to its structural value because God’s Word, the Bible, is a supernatural book. As it is written, the implanted word received has the power to save souls (Jas 1:21). It is also a record of Jesus’ life and His work, miracles, teachings, and transformative power. The Word is a source of spiritual nourishment (Deut. 8:3, Matt 4:4). It reports on the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and foretells apocalyptic warnings and promises. It is a self-witness testimony to the wisdom of God, and it shall never pass away.
From the pactum salutis to the ordo salutis, the biblical writers wrote expressions of God’s mercy, grace, and wisdom for people who hunger for Him and objective truth. It’s not an academic book. Or merely a guidebook on godly living. God’s Word is a treasure. It is a storehouse of promises. It is a well of living water. It is a conduit to peace. It bears the fruit of praise for worshipers who love the living and triune God.
