I professionally teach and write about Theology… and I take that seriously.
It is a huge responsibility and it shouldn’t be taken lightly or flippantly.
It should be backed by faithful study and skilled preparation…
And it is.
Yet, I don’t often directly quote or reference Scripture in my posts.
I have actually been discredited for this, and have even had fellow influencers attempt to use this fact to provoke me in comments.
However, I aim to model Biblical and theological literacy and to avoid the faulty method of “proof texting”.
Proof Texting is the use of a verse or passage to support one’s point, and it is limited at best and dangerous at worst.
Proof Texting “proves” that a person has committed many verses and passages to memory and filed them under appropriate topical “headings” in their repertoire…
But it doesn’t display biblical (or theological) literacy.
Literacy is displayed authentically through a wide, nuanced, organic, logical, contextualized understanding of Scripture that bleeds into and through everything that a person says.
You can SEE a person’s aptitude with Scripture and theology whether they ever directly quote a verse or not.
And what you can often SEE when lists of references are used as “proof” of one’s point in an argument… is a lack of literacy.
Proof Texting is:
Contextual Distortion- Each passage listed as one’s argumentative “proof” is lifted from its informing context and stripped of its literary significance, diversity, and nuance. While verses or passages may *seem* to be discussing a similar theme, they are each distinct and respect for their context is due.
Proof Texting is:
Textual Manipulation- “using” a verse or passage for a desired application is actually an abuse of the Word of God and it isn’t rooted in a proper exegesis of it.
Distortion and Manipulation are the antithesis of biblical literacy and a sound hermeneutic.
I pray that I’m modeling the latter here and avoiding the former.
Be good theologians, friends, and avoid cheapening the Word of God with any short cuts.
Exegete it well; it is worth it.
It is a huge responsibility and it shouldn’t be taken lightly or flippantly.
It should be backed by faithful study and skilled preparation…
And it is.
Yet, I don’t often directly quote or reference Scripture in my posts.
I have actually been discredited for this, and have even had fellow influencers attempt to use this fact to provoke me in comments.
However, I aim to model Biblical and theological literacy and to avoid the faulty method of “proof texting”.
Proof Texting is the use of a verse or passage to support one’s point, and it is limited at best and dangerous at worst.
Proof Texting “proves” that a person has committed many verses and passages to memory and filed them under appropriate topical “headings” in their repertoire…
But it doesn’t display biblical (or theological) literacy.
Literacy is displayed authentically through a wide, nuanced, organic, logical, contextualized understanding of Scripture that bleeds into and through everything that a person says.
You can SEE a person’s aptitude with Scripture and theology whether they ever directly quote a verse or not.
And what you can often SEE when lists of references are used as “proof” of one’s point in an argument… is a lack of literacy.
Proof Texting is:
Contextual Distortion- Each passage listed as one’s argumentative “proof” is lifted from its informing context and stripped of its literary significance, diversity, and nuance. While verses or passages may *seem* to be discussing a similar theme, they are each distinct and respect for their context is due.
Proof Texting is:
Textual Manipulation- “using” a verse or passage for a desired application is actually an abuse of the Word of God and it isn’t rooted in a proper exegesis of it.
Distortion and Manipulation are the antithesis of biblical literacy and a sound hermeneutic.
I pray that I’m modeling the latter here and avoiding the former.
Be good theologians, friends, and avoid cheapening the Word of God with any short cuts.
Exegete it well; it is worth it.
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