Prediking vanuit die Goddelike Woord teenoor praatjies vanuit die Mensewoord

In aansluiting by my vorige skrywe, oor hulle wat net hier en daar God se Woord in die Bybel vind (en daarom met ‘n skêr bybelstudie doen?), sien die artikel hier onder deur dr. David Murray oor 8 maniere waarop ons siening/beskouing van die Bybel ons prediking gaan beinvloed, en dus die gemeentes vir wie ons preek.

Laat dit elkeen wat met die Woord besig is opnuut laat sidder (Jes.66:2; Mark.8:38), veral ons as predikante, ouderlinge en professore (2 Tim.2:15; 3:14-4:5; Jak.3:1-2):

8 Ways our view of the Bible impacts Preaching

Nothing is more important for the long-term health of a Church than its preaching, and nothing more impacts preaching than a preacher’s view of the Bible.

1. The Bible is the Word of God

If we don’t believe that the Bible is the Word of God, we will put human opinion and our own ideas on the same level as the Bible.

If we believe the Bible is the Word of God, we will treat it with reverence and respect. We will not dare to treat any other book or any human opinion on the same level.

2. The Bible is Inspired by God

If we don’t believe that every word of Scripture was inspired by God, we will not spend much time looking at the individual words in the Bible. We’ll tend to skim over the surface paying little attention to the details of the biblical text.

If we believe that every single word was breathed out by God, we will pause and study every precious Word of God.

3. The Bible is Perfect

If we don’t believe that the Bible is perfect and without error, we will set ourselves up as critics above the Bible rather than students under the Bible. By highlighting the Bible’s so-called “problems” we will weaken confidence in the Bible.

If we believe the Bible is inerrant, then we will stick with the Bible whatever any other source says. We will see “problems” in the Bible as problems rooted in our ignorance or misunderstanding. We will come humbly to this precious book and seek to learn as pupils.

4. The Bible is Sufficient

If we don’t believe that the Bible is sufficient in the areas it claims to be sufficient, we will not study it intensely for answers to questions of faith and life. Instead we will turn primarily to human wisdom.

If we believe that the Bible is sufficient for matters of faith and life, we will want to study every part of it, knowing that somewhere in this book is the answer to every question we need an answer for.

5. The Bible is Authoritative

If we don’t believe that the Bible is authoritative, we will not proclaim, “Thus saith the Lord!” Instead, we will venture our opinions, we will make suggestions, we will offer advice. We will put doctrine and ethics up for debate and discussion, especially in areas that cross our wills.

If we believe the Bible is authoritative, we will reflect that authority in our preaching – not with proud arrogance but with bold and courageous confidence in what God has said, just as Jesus did to astonishing effect (Mark 1:22)

6. The Bible is Clear

If we don’t believe the Bible is perspicuous (clear) then we will not preach clearly and simply. We will often use words such as “mystery” “difficult” “who knows?”

If we believe the Bible is clear in its message, then our preaching will be clear, simple, structured, and memorable. We will strive to be as clear and simple as possible even when our subject is the most profound subject or truth.

7. The Bible is Relevant

If we don’t believe the Bible is relevant, we will treat it like a historical document and speak in past tense third person. Or we will just preach the week’s newspaper headlines.

If we believe the Bible is relevant, we not begin with “What does this mean for me?” but “What did this text mean when it was originally written?” But we will not stop there. We will go on to ask “What is its message to us today?” If that was what God meant in that situation, how do I apply that to my situation today?

8. The Bible is Powerful

If we don’t believe the Bible has any power in it, we’ll study it little, preach it little, feel it little, and care little about the results.

If we believe the Bible is powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, we’ll study it intensely, preach it passionately, feel it deeply, and look for/expect results (1 Cor. 1:18; Rom 1:16)

Summary

A high view of preaching can only exist where there is a high view of the Bible in the pulpit and in the pew.

Sien ook die volgende nuwe publikasie van dr. David Murray:

Dr. Murray skryf oor sy boek:

Jesus on Every Page was born out of a passion to help Christians recover the importance of the Old Testament by rediscovering Christ in the Old Testament.

Although I hope the book will be of great help to pastors and teachers, I’ve written it at a popular level to increase accessibility. Each of the chapters provides numerous practical tools and clear step-by-step guides to mentor and encourage the reader in a quest to seek and enjoy Christ in the Old Testament.

Dr. Murray se blog: HeadHeartHand

Hierdie boek is belangrik vir hulle wat Christus net hier en daar in die Bybel vind, maar nie deurlopend deur die hele Skrif (soos ons hoor in Luk.24:27) nie.

Onlangs het ek op een van die nuutste engelse vertalings afgekom:

Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Hulle vertaal Psalm 110:1 as volg:

“Of David. A psalm. 1 A declaration of Yahweh to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”

Dus, ‘to my lord’ (soos die NAV, ‘aan my here)) en nie ‘to my Lord’ (KJV, NKJV, NIV, ESV, ‘my Here’ OAV) nie, dus geen Messias erkenning of aanduiding in ons tye van Messias ontkenning nie, hulle vind nie Christus in Ps.110 nie.  Hy word seker later bygevoeg of ingelees deur die NT skrywers, soos die Bybel en Praktyk, TT Cloete en sy adviseurs, en andere beweer ?

Insiggewend, vertaal die LEB Psalm 2:12 as volg:

“Kiss the Son lest he be angry and you perish on the way, for his anger burns quickly. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

Hier vind ons wel ‘Son’ met ‘n hoofletter.  Messias erkenning, hoekom ?

Ek het die volgende brief geskryf aan die redakteur (prof. Christo van der Merwe, Universiteit van Stellenbosch):

“Hallo prof Christo,

Ek het onlangs uit die LEB gelees via Logos, en sien toe dat by Ps.110:1 word ‘adon’ (here, meester) met ‘n klein letter vertaal “lord”

Toe ek Ps.2 lees, toe sien ek daar word ‘bar’ (seun) vertaal met ‘Son’ (v.12), ‘n hoofletter.

Kan u asb verduidelik waarom die hoofletter nie by Ps.110 gebruik word nie, maar wel by Ps.2 (of my na die persoon kan verwys wat met die Psalms gewerk het in die LEB wat hierdie vraag vir my kan antwoord) ?

ns. ek sien die LEB by Luk.20:42 vertaal uit die Grieks soos volg ‘The Lord said to my Lord’, dus beide hoofletters (moes dit dan nie ‘Lord … lord’ gewees het in navolging van die Hebreeus nie) ?

Dankie vir die antwoord.”

Ek het die brief ingestuur op 15 Julie 2013 en wag nog vir ‘n antwoord.  Ek het wel in die voorwoord die volgende gelees, maar is nie seker wie het aan watter gedeelte van die vertaling gewerk nie:

“The Lexham English Bible is a new translation based on the Lexham interlinear Bibles, which were produced independently. The Lexham Hebrew-English Interlinear Bible was edited by Christo van der Merwe with contributions from Hendrik Bosman, Tiana Bosman, Woldemar Cloete, Johan Cook, Louis Jonker, Paul Kruger, Sias Meyer, and Herry van Rooy.”

ns. ‘n Verblydende aspek van die LEB vertaling is dat hul die HERE se Verbondsnaam met ‘Yahweh’ vertaal, in onderskeid van ‘Lord’.

Luke 24:44  En Hy sê vir hulle: Dit is die woorde wat Ek met julle gespreek het toe Ek nog by julle was, dat alles wat oor My geskrywe is in die wet van Moses en die profete en die psalms, vervul moet word. 

Sien hier meer oor die Messiaanse Psalms.