The Unity of Scriptures

In 2^nd Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible says that “all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (New International Version) If the Bible then has this much significance in the life of a Christian, then it demands our earnest attention. If we habitually extract a verse out of its context to manipulate its meaning according to our desires and to suit our own interpretations, our advancement in comprehending the Bible, and by extension, our Christian lives, will be hindered. Prior to applying Scripture, it is crucial to engage in the practice of correctly interpreting its content. While this holds true, our “apprehension of the theology of the Bible hinges on various other important foundations, such as the issue of the unity and diversity of Scripture.” (Köstenberger and Patterson, 776) This implies that in order to grasp Scriptures accurately, it is essential to address whether there exists a unifying element among the different books of Scripture and whether there is a coherent purpose behind them all. 

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2^nd Timothy 3:16-17

Examining the case of Melchizedek, for example, it appears from a cursory glance that his mention twice in the Old Testament, in Genesis 14 and Psalms 110, lacks a clear purpose. Particularly, upon closer examination of the Genesis 14 narrative, verses 18-20 appear to emerge unexpectedly or seemingly out of nowhere. However, according to Don Carson’s insights in his YouTube sermon titled ‘Exploring Psalm 110 and Melchizedek‘, a careful analysis of the text and a close focus on the connection between the Old Testament verses and Hebrews 7’s quotation of these texts reveals that Melchizedek holds significant importance in comprehending the priestly and kingly Messiahship of Jesus Christ. Within the pages of the Bible, words and individuals lacking significance are not arbitrarily inserted merely to occupy space; rather, each element serves a purpose and holds meaning. As John Frame puts it his book ‘The Doctrine of the Word of God ‘, “the fact that God has inspired the Scriptures means that they are consistent with one another, that they tell a common story, though they are written by many human authors over many centuries.” (346) Hence, the inclusion of Melchizedek in the narratives of Genesis 14, Psalms 110 (likely attributed to David, as argued convincingly by Don Carson), and the mention in Hebrews 7 indicates a shared connection between Melchizedek and Jesus Christ. This showcases the unity of Scriptures, as the seemingly incidental and arbitrary inclusion of Melchizedek in the Old Testament verses collectively point towards the person of Jesus, as emphasized in Hebrews 7. Not only are they pointing to the same figure but also, there is a bigger message being conveyed within the appearance of Melchizedek when we understand the coherence and connection between these texts. Viewing the Bible as a unified whole, with a central theme serves as a safeguard against committing eisegesis, which basically means reading one’s own personal ideas into the text. As E.J. Young explains, “not a congeries of conflicting opinions is given in the Bible but one harmonious account of God’s gracious plan of redemption [and] the reason for this deep unity is to be discovered only in the fact that the Bible is the Word of God.” (191) If we then embrace the belief that the Bible is the Word of God, we should also understand that this involves recognizing that God, through diverse methods of inspiration of the various Biblical authors, conveyed a message that is coherent, harmonious, unified, and central. Consequently, when interpreting the Bible, it is essential to approach the task with this understanding and treat the text accordingly.

Footnotes:

Frame, John M. The Doctrine of the Word of God (A Theology of Worship). Vol. 4, P&R Publishing, 2010. 

Young, Edward J. Thy Word Is Truth: Some Thoughts on the Biblical Doctrine of Inspiration. WILLIAM B. EERDMANS PUBLISHING CO., 1957. 

“Bible Gateway Passage: 2 Timothy 3 – New International Version.” Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3&version=NIV. Accessed 8 Feb. 2024. 

Andreas J. Kostenberger and Richard D. Patterson. Invitation to Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature, and Theology. 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2021), 776.