The claim by a Lutheran transgender pastor during an interview on CBS Mornings that the Bible “wasn’t written for 2024” strikes at the heart of an enduring theological debate: the relevance of Scripture in a rapidly evolving world. While the pastor’s comments were rooted in her personal experience as a transgender individual, the theological implications of her statement transcend the realm of personal identity. This essay engages critically with this claim, drawing from advanced theological, exegetical, and philosophical perspectives, as well as integrating the most recent scholarly research and cosmological discoveries, to assert that the Bible remains an eternal and transcendent revelation of divine truth, regardless of cultural shifts.
The Eternality of Scripture: Revisiting a Core Theological Tenet
The assertion that the Bible is not relevant to the year 2024 fundamentally challenges the classical Christian doctrine of the eternality of Scripture. From the early Church Fathers to contemporary systematic theologians, the Bible has been understood not merely as a historical document but as the timeless, divinely inspired Word of God. The prophetic declaration in Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever,” encapsulates this view, which has been reaffirmed across centuries of Christian thought. As Augustine argued in his De Doctrina Christiana, Scripture, though written in particular historical contexts, transcends its temporal settings to offer divine truth for all generations.
Jesus’ affirmation in Matthew 5:18, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished,” further emphasizes the unchanging authority of Scripture. This verse, critical to both patristic and contemporary hermeneutics, reinforces the conviction that the Bible’s moral and theological teachings are immutable, even amidst evolving cultural paradigms. The idea that Scripture was only relevant to the context in which it was written undermines the Christian belief in divine omniscience, which asserts that God’s Word, as an extension of His nature, is applicable to all times and places.
Gender, Creation, and Contemporary Hermeneutics
At the heart of this debate is the theological question of gender. Genesis 1:27, “Male and female he created them,” has long been interpreted as establishing a divinely ordained binary understanding of gender. This binary framework has been a cornerstone of Christian anthropology, shaping the Church’s understanding of human identity, sexuality, and relationality. However, modern developments in gender theory challenge this interpretation, advocating for a more fluid understanding of gender that transcends biological determinism.
Recent studies in gender theory, particularly those by Judith Butler, suggest that gender is performative rather than innate. These perspectives, rooted in postmodern deconstructionism, argue that gender identity is constructed through cultural and social practices. However, these theories remain deeply contentious within Christian theological discourse. Scholars such as Robert J. Gagnon, in his The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics, argue that the scriptural witness to a binary gender framework is consistent across both Testaments and reflects God’s intentional design in creation. Gagnon’s exegetical work asserts that deviations from this binary framework reflect a departure from the created order rather than an evolution in divine understanding.
Furthermore, recent peer-reviewed studies in the field of biblical theology reaffirm the ontological significance of the male-female distinction in Christian anthropology. Notably, in a 2021 study published in The Journal of Biblical Literature, scholars analyzed the theological implications of gender in the Pauline epistles, reaffirming that gender distinctions were not culturally contingent but theologically rooted in the order of creation and the eschatological fulfillment of human identity in Christ.
The Hermeneutical Dilemma: Scripture and Cultural Context
The claim that “the Bible wasn’t written for 2024” echoes a broader hermeneutical challenge: how should Scripture be interpreted in light of evolving cultural norms? This question has been central to the field of biblical hermeneutics, particularly in the post-Enlightenment period, where historical-critical methods emphasized the importance of understanding Scripture within its ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman contexts. However, as noted by Hans-Georg Gadamer in his Truth and Method, the historical context of a text does not negate its capacity to speak to the present. Gadamer’s hermeneutical philosophy, particularly his notion of the “fusion of horizons,” suggests that texts—especially those considered sacred—carry within them a surplus of meaning that transcends their original context and speaks to contemporary readers in new and transformative ways.
Contemporary theologians such as N.T. Wright have taken up this mantle, arguing that while Scripture must be read with an awareness of its historical context, its ultimate authority lies in its ability to communicate God’s eternal truth. In his work Scripture and the Authority of God, Wright contends that the Bible, as the Word of God, possesses an inherent transcendence that speaks to all cultures and times, precisely because it is not a human product but a divine revelation.
Cosmological Insights and Theological Implications
The theological conversation on the universality of Scripture is further enriched by recent cosmological discoveries, particularly those made possible by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). These discoveries, which have provided unprecedented insights into the age, structure, and complexity of the universe, offer profound implications for theological anthropology and the doctrine of creation. The vastness of the cosmos revealed by JWST accentuates the majesty of God’s creative work, described in passages such as Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
These cosmological revelations invite a re-engagement with the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo (creation out of nothing), as articulated by theologians from Augustine to contemporary scholars like John Polkinghorne. Polkinghorne, a physicist and Anglican priest, has argued that modern cosmology should lead to a renewed sense of awe regarding the scope and scale of creation, while also reinforcing the conviction that the same God who ordered the cosmos is the God who speaks through Scripture. The vastness of creation, rather than relativizing the importance of Scripture, highlights the infinite wisdom and power of the Creator, whose Word remains relevant to all creation throughout time and space.
Conclusion
The assertion that the Bible “wasn’t written for 2024” presents a formidable challenge to traditional Christian theology. However, when viewed through the lens of advanced biblical hermeneutics, systematic theology, and the latest scientific discoveries, this claim fails to account for the profound transcendence and eternality of Scripture. The Bible, as the divinely inspired Word of God, speaks to all generations, addressing both the timeless human condition and the evolving complexities of modern life. As Christians continue to navigate the shifting cultural landscape, they must remain anchored in the conviction that God’s Word is unchanging, authoritative, and eternally relevant.
Footnotes
1. Augustine, On Christian Doctrine, trans. D.W. Robertson, Jr., (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1958).
2. Judith Butler, Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, 2nd ed. (New York: Routledge, 2006).
3. Robert J. Gagnon, The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001).
4. N.T. Wright, Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today (New York: HarperOne, 2011).
5. John Polkinghorne, Science and Providence: God’s Interaction with the World (Philadelphia: Templeton Foundation Press, 2005).
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