"These Are Written": Toward a Cruciform Theology of Scripture

by Peter Nafzger

Today there is an increasing awareness and availability of the sacred writings of the world's religions. This raises important questions about the Christian Scriptures. What is distinctive about these writings? What role do they play in the Christian story? What makes these particular texts "holy" The modern "battle for the Bible" with its narrow focus on proving (or disproving) biblical inerrancy, has made it difficult to provide sufficient answers. This work of constructive theology rethinks the concepts, categories, and assumptions that have dominated the modern approach to the Bible by returning to the biblical narrative and its focus on the cross. It identifies the Scriptures as the written form of the living and active Word of God, which was spoken by the prophets and apostles and became human in the person of Jesus Christ. This conception of the Bible provides Christians in this postmodern world with a solid ground from which to address pressing questions about canon, authority, and interpretation of their Scriptures.

186 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2013

Reviews

[Kendall Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic. While Nafzger does not present an exhaustive theology of scripture, he does present a thoroughly compelling theology of the word in which the theology of scripture finds its place. Nafzger is absolutely right that starting with the doctrine of inspiration is unhelpful since it does not give a theological account of how the scriptures function within the work/mission of God to save his creation. Especially helpful is Nafzger's use of the concept of deputized discourse to explain the connection between what he calls the personal word (Jesus), the spoken word, and the written word. More than saying that the scriptures are true and authoritative, Nafzger shows us what it means for the scriptures to be authoritative, i.e. how God exercises his salvific authority through the written word.

I am left with a few questions after reading this book, namely how we can understand those writings in the Old Testament which do not purport to deputized discourse such as the wisdom literature, the writings, the psalms, etc. as well as how we should engage with contemporary issues regarding the truthfulness of the scriptures on matters that do not pertain to salvation or how we should navigate the perceived competing claims between the revelation of the scriptures and natural revelation.

[Philippe Deblois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Nafzger is Pastor of New Life Church - Lutheran in Hugo, Minnesota. He is the son of Rev. Dr. Samuel Nafzger, former Executive Director of LCMS’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations. This book is largely the result of his PhD thesis. It is a very engaging and readable theology of Scripture and inspiration.

Nafzger wrestles with questions of canonicity, inspiration and authority. He doesn't find any satisfactory answers in the modern account, which he believes sets up false dichotomies that have led to fundamentalist or liberal accounts of Scripture. "Neither side of the modern 'battle for the Bible' offers a satisfactory account of the nature and function of the Scriptures in the biblical narrative. Rather than trying to rehabilitate one of the two modern options, it seemed best to me to take a step back and approach the theology of Scripture with a different perspective, a new paradigm, a fresh start" (loc 108). He states his goal early on: "to offer a way of thinking about the Christian Scriptures that is grounded in Jesus' death and resurrection and directed toward the proclamation of Christ crucified" (loc 268).

Nafzger walks through the modern approach and it's many problems. He then critically examines Karl Barth's Trinitarian approach and answer to the modern dilemma. Interacting with a plethora of sources from all sorts of theological affiliations, Nafzger offers his "cruciform account of the threefold form of the Word of God. The personal and crucified Word is at the center. The preacher proclaims the spoken Word of God by pointing to the cross. The written Word of God provides the content for and serves proclamation of the Gospel. The hearers listen to the proclamation of the Word and believe." (Loc 5488)

All authority was given to Jesus by the Father (Matt 28:18). This personal Word of God co-missioned His Apostles to whom He gave "the authority to save" (Matt 18:18, John 20:23) and "authority to teach" (Matt 28:19; John 16:13). "This written Word of god serves the spoken Word of God, and this is what it means for the Scriptures to be the only rule and norm for Christian faith and life" (loc 4765)

Nafzger has written a very readable and thought-provoking approach to the nature and interpretation of Scripture. I highly recommend it.

[Josh Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Nafzger doesn't shy away from tough questions about inerrancy, inspiration and the canon in this very readable book. The book gives a lot of background on the theology of Scripture and how different theologians have talked about the Word of God throughout history. Nafzger's take is that the doctrine of "inspiration" does not give us a full picture of God's Word and God's work through His Word. The starting and ending point is Jesus Christ and him crucified. While we confess the Bible to be true, that is not all we can (or should) say about it. This is God's living and active Word which works on us in a unique and special way. The truth of the Bible is, of course, important if we are to trust God's Word and revelation. But leaving the discussion there is ceding the grounds of the debate to modern critical scholars who have little interest in the actual message and power of the Scriptures. To rightly interpret Scripture, one must begin with Jesus, the Word of God made flesh.