How Well Do You Know Your Bible

Did Jesus Claim To be God?

What is a presupposition?

A presupposition is an implicit, underlying assumption taken for granted as true before making an argument, utterance, or decision. It is a foundational belief or background fact necessary for a statement to make sense.

How do they affect our interpretations?

Presuppositions act as the foundational, often unproven, beliefs that shape a person's entire worldview, determining how they interpret reality, evidence, and sacred texts within religion. They function as the starting point for thought, guiding religious adherents to accept truths, such as the authority of scripture, before examining evidence.

Foundation for Worldview: Presuppositions are the core commitments of the heart, forming the basis of a person's worldview rather than being conclusions drawn from evidence.

Interpretation of Evidence: They act as a filter through which all evidence (such as historical, scientific, or textual data) is interpreted, meaning that different presuppositions can lead to different interpretations of the same facts.

Affects Scripture Interpretation: Hermeneutics often highlights that all readers bring pre-understandings (presuppositions) to sacred texts, which influences how those texts are understood and applied

Why it’s important to understand the bible was written for you but not to you

Christians, especially those committed to cross-cultural missions, have always recognized the importance of reading the Bible in light of its original cultural context. Disregarding context is one of the greatest problems in Bible interpretation—by disregarding the “total surroundings” of a verse, we may completely misunderstand it, so we need to consider the cultural setting in which the passage and entire book were written. Each biblical writing was written to specific hearers in a specific historical situation, and before determining its significance to us today, we must first seek to understand what the words meant to those who originally read them. Knowing ancient culture is critical to understanding the Bible, and before we can determine which circumstances passages most directly apply to, we need to understand what circumstances they originally addressed.

Riding on the clouds

Ancient Near Eastern gods—especially weather gods—are often depicted as riding on various vehicles, including clouds. The motif of “Rider on the clouds” is linked to war activity, and the image of divine cloud-rider is often associated with war activity. The phrase “Rider on the Clouds” appears in both Canaanite and Hebrew poetry, where in Ugaritic, Baal, a ferocious storm god, is the rider on the clouds. The biblical expression could be a deliberate modification of the Ugaritic epithet originally given to Baal, and while the biblical writer attributed the two roles (warrior and rain-bringer) connoted by the Ugaritic epithet to Yahweh, he also wanted to modify the epithet to make it fit the new context. Just as ancient Near Eastern storm deities often used natural elements as weapons, Yahweh defended His people using lightning, dark clouds, winds, and rain as weapons, and this borrowing of the concept may serve a polemical purpose in demonstrating that Yahweh, not Baal, is the controller of natural elements.

Examples of Yahweh riding on the clouds

Deuteronomy 33:26 ESV

26 “There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty.

Psalm 68:4 ESV

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him!

Psalm 104:3 ESV

3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;

Isaiah 19:1 ESV

1 An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.

The Son of Man (cultural context in the OT)

Daniel 7:9–14 ESV

9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Did Jesus Claim to be God?

Matthew 26:57–67 ESV

57 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him,

Psalm 110:1 ESV

1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds With this phrase, Jesus clearly identifies Himself as the Messiah. In Psa 110:1, Yahweh invites the Messiah to sit at His right hand in authority (compare Matt 22:44). Thus, Jesus is saying that He will be in the position of ultimate authority over humanity, as the Messiah.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 26

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Questions?

How Important is it to understand that the bible wasn’t written to you, but for you?

What have you presupposed about God and his word that has hindered you in your reading / studying?

Are you committed to reading the bible on its own terms?