Biblical interpretation.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)

SIR: David Hodgson (Letters, September 2007) has not managed to identify the central point of those letters challenging his criticism of the morality on display in some Bible stories. Reasoned criticism necessarily entails an accurate interpretation of those stories in order to understand their meaning. This involves correctly understanding the literary form, the cultural and historical context, and the context within the process of revelation within which these stories were written. More than any other book, this is of critical importance because the Bible was written over a vast period of time by many different authors using a wide array of different literary styles, and it reflects a gradual growth in understanding of God and morality.

To put the last point another way, through the Bible we read about the process of the Israelites coming to a knowledge of God who is revealed through events, inspired prophets and inspired writers reflecting on events and the insights of the prophets. This process of revelation, that is, knowledge of God, was gradual. Consequently, and to provide only one example of the importance of context, it must always be borne in mind in reading some of the historic books that the Israelites did not as yet understand God's love for other nations, only his love for Israel.

Correct interpretation of the Bible inevitably entails an engagement with the vast scholarship surrounding the Bible. To simply rely on one's personal interpretation inevitably results in misunderstanding the meaning, the revelation, in the Bible.

To make authentic sense of the Bible, one must devote some effort to understanding it on its own terms and in the context of a community of faith's interpretation of it. I recommend the book And God Said What? by Margaret Nutting Ralph as a good introduction for this task.

Chris Hilder,

Queanbeyan, NSW.

SIR: Justice David Hodgson in reply to my letter to his "Dawkins and God" article of May 2007, still questions Joshua killing all men, women and children during the Conquest of the Promised Land and also asks what would be acceptable evidence for "God-followers" to justify killing in God's name.