Whatever our past experiences, many of us have been surprised to discover, through various authors or our own reading, that the Bible contains a depth of meaning beyond what we expected.
The Word was introduced as an 'incarnate and living word', 'like Christ' in that it actually exists yet points to something transcendent. It is meant to be listened to; in a sense we 'read and are read'. Interestingly, the Scriptures have always been intended to be read within the context of community. They are not meant to merely fill our minds with holy thoughts but are to be explored together and ultimately lived-out in the context of our relationships in the community and world.
The question underlying the chapter was 'How do we encounter
Christ in the Scriptures?' Several means were explored:
The Catholic tradition taught that the Bible should be read whole. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. The significance of Christ can only be understood by reading the Bible as a whole story. Even themes and metaphors such as salvation, shepherd, way and truth take on a much broader meaning when understood through the context of both the Old and New Testaments.
Yet no group or system has ever captured the meaning of the Bible in full. Different groups are drawn to different parts or texts within the Bible. For example, the Monastic tradition loved the Acts of the Apostles emphasizing communities that shared goods and a life of prayer whereas Liberation groups found a source in the Exodus text. There is not one 'right way' but many ways of following Christ. The 'way' is found through prayer and discernment, with the 'many' forming parts of one 'whole'.