Wrap-Up

We’ve come a long way from more subjective readings of the Bible to more objective readings, only to find ourselves again in an age that celebrates a new kind of subjective reading—one that simply advocates the concerns of the reader. You have to wonder why it’s so hard to have balance, right? 

One benefit of running through history quickly is noticing repeated patterns like this. We certainly don’t want to miss the devotional, inspirational and spiritual understanding of Scripture that comes from meditation and reflection. Neither do we want to miss all of the great insight that comes from studying history, geography, archaeology, language and literature. The goal is an ideal blend of both.

In the next lesson we’ll look at the kinds of systems that inform our understanding of the Bible—whether consciously or unconsciously.