Reading the Bible Responsibly in a Polarized Church & World – Part 6
Opening Prayer
In the morning light, O God, may I glimpse again your image deep within me, the threads of eternal glory woven into the fabric of every man and woman. Again, may I catch sight of the mystery of the human soul fashioned in your likeness, deeper than knowing, more enduring than time. And in glimpsing these threads of light amidst the weakness and distortions of my life, let me be recalled to the strength and beauty deep in my soul. Let me be recalled in the strength and beauty of our image in every living soul.
- John Philip Newell, Celtic Benediction, p. 62.
Reading the Bible Responsibly in a Polarized Church & World:
The Bible’s content in many ways engages its readers – puzzling, angering, challenging, and inspiring them. How has the Bible historically been used, including with the issue of slavery? Can readers navigate the use of biblical texts that are quoted across the political spectrum? What principles exist for interpreting these texts that support conflicting viewpoints? Together, we will explore a way forward: reading the Bible with each other, guided by the rule of love.
Origen of Alexandria’s Three Ways of Reading the Bible
“Attempts to limit the Bible to just one ‘plain’ meaning do a disservice to the rich and nuanced content of Scripture. Fortunately, the mystics agree with me. Even back in the third century, Christian mystics like Origen of Alexandria (185-253 CE) understood that you cannot just limit the Bible to one way of interpretation.”
“In addition to being an early mystic, Origen was also a renowned (and controversial) theologian and Bible scholar. He suggested that the Bible needs to be read on three levels: the literal, the moral, and the mystical. With apologies to those who insist on reading and interpreting the Bible simplistically, Christian mystics have known for well over 1,750 years that any passage of Scripture can be interpreted in at least three different ways. If you want to have an honest encounter with God, then you need to begin with an honest recognition that the Bible can always be read and understood in multiple ways.”
“It is important to understand the distinctions among these three approaches to Scripture. It is also important not to jump to conclusions concerning what literal and moral (or for that matter, mystical) mean. In affirming the literal meaning, Origen is not saying that we should read the Bible in a fundamentalist way. He is simply acknowledging that sometimes it is helpful to understand the Bible at face value. Nor is he suggesting that a moral reading of Scripture is just about placing limits on our behavior or, worst yet, trying to identify who is at risk of being rejected by God. Rather, the moral reading challenges all of us to remember that the Bible offers us a transformed way of seeing things (including ethical situations) – learning to see all things through the vantage point of divine love. Here is one way to approach Origen’s different ways of reading the Bible.”
“The literal reading of the Bible means seeking to understand it on a purely natural level. This is not the fundamentalist approach, but is actually more like the scholarly or academic reading of the text. The literal reading is an attempt to understand what the original writer(s) meant, the social and cultural background of what they were saying, and the philosophical and theological foundation (and implications) of their words. This approach to reading Scripture takes into consideration a nuanced understanding of the original languages, the literary genre the writer is employing, and the intended audience and its needs and concerns. The literal reading is just as important as the moral and mystical readings, which are more subjective and spiritual in their approach to the text. The literal/scholarly reading keeps faith grounded and centered.”
“The moral reading of the Bible brings the meaning and purpose of the text into the life of the individual reader. Here, the focus is less on an objective, scholarly understanding of the text in favor of a more subjective, inspirational understanding. What does this passage say to me? How does it offer me a sense of meaning and purpose? How does it help shape the choices and commitments of my life? How can it help me form my character? How does it help me be a better person? If Origen’s literal reading is akin to the scholarly approach to the Bible, then his moral reading corresponds to what I am calling the contemplative approach. The common contemplative practice of lectio divina is an exercise in this way of reading the Bible although, lectio divina also invites us into the mystical reading as well.”
“The mystical reading of the Bible invites readers to consider hidden, obscure, or symbolic ways of finding meaning in the text – especially in the light of God’s desire for loving intimacy with us. Just as the moral reading of the text offers the reader a subjective, inspirational way of understanding the Scriptures, the mystical reading invites us into an intersubjective and transfigurative approach to the text. How does this text reveal God’s love? How does it testify to the hidden realities that we, as Christians, accept as a matter of faith: that God loves us, that God brings us unconditional healing, that God desires intimacy with us, that God calls us to union with God, and all this held together in the person of Christ. So, a mystical reading of Scripture looks for hidden resonances of meaning but is always centered on the experience of God as both mystery and divine love.”
(Carl McColman, Read the Bible Like a Mystic, 2025.)
For this week: For reflection: What is the primary purpose and value of the Bible?
An invitation to our virtual participants: Discussion and comments are very much encouraged and welcomed. Online discussions can be held in the comments section in the upcoming post on Social Media for this week’s Deacon’s Reflection, which is part of adult formation at St. Francis Episcopal Church.
Some Suggested Study Resources:
The New Oxford Annotated Bible, NRSV, with the Apocrypha; 5 th edition.
The Harper Collins Study Bible, NRSV, Fully Revised and Updated (Including Apocryphal Deuterocanonical Books); Society of Biblical Literature; (e-book).
The Jewish Annotated New Testament, NRSV, 2 nd edition, Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler, editors; Oxford University Press.
Closing Prayer – Prayer of Blessing
Glory be to you, O God, for the gift of life unfolding through those who have gone before me. Glory be to you, O God, for your life planted within my soul and in every soul coming into the world. Glory be to you, O God, for the grace of new beginnings placed before me in every moment and encounter of life. Glory, glory, glory for the grace of new beginnings in every moment of life.
May the light of God illumine the heart of my soul.
May the flame of Christ kindle me to love.
May the fire of the Spirit free me to live this day, tonight, and forever. Amen.
John Philip Newell, Celtic Benediction, p. 65.
“Reading the Bible Responsibly in a Polarized Church & World,” Deacon Joe Dzugan, St. Francis Episcopal Church,
2026.
