The Authority of the Old Testament by John Bright
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
In his book, John Bright masterfully explains the complex challenges the Hebrew Bible presents to Christians. He accurately identifies the core issue. How can a text rooted in ancient Israel’s specific history, covenant, and culture be authoritative? Christians are living under a new covenant in a different historical and cultural context. Bright’s strength lies in his clear and compelling presentation of this theological and hermeneutical dilemma.
Bright diagnoses the problem. He also effectively critiques the three classical solutions proposed by the Christian church throughout its history. He demonstrates the fundamental flaws in each approach.
Marcionism: Bright demonstrates that rejecting the Old Testament entirely is simplistic. This rejection, as advocated by the 2nd-century theologian Marcion, is a fallible solution. Marcionism, by severing Christianity from its historical and theological roots in Judaism, creates an impoverished and historically ungrounded faith. The Hebrew Bible is essential for understanding the identity of Jesus and the full scope of God’s redemptive plan.
Allegorical Interpretation: Bright addresses the method of allegorical interpretation, adopted by many Church Fathers. He explains that this approach attempts to find spiritual meaning in the Old Testament. However, it risks detaching the text from its original historical context. It also risks losing its literal meaning. This can lead to subjective and arbitrary interpretations, where the authority of the text is replaced by the interpreter’s imagination.
Liberal Protestantism: Lastly, Bright critiques the liberal Protestant approach. This approach attempts to isolate a “normal principle” from the New Testament. The goal is to distinguish between valid and invalid elements of the Old Testament. Bright argues this method is inherently dangerous. It allows the interpreter to cherry-pick what is considered relevant. This cherry-picking ultimately undermines the integrity and unity of the biblical canon. Moreover, it places the real authority in the interpreter who chooses and pick.
While Bright excels at diagnosing the problem, his proposed solution, centered on the discipline of “biblical theology”, falls short. Bright’s thesis is that the authority of the Old Testament is found in its narrative role. It is not in its direct application as a law code. This narrative points toward the ultimate fulfillment in Christ. This approach relies heavily on a specific methodology of biblical theology. This methodology aims to trace a single, unified theological theme. It follows a storyline through the entire Bible. However, this is a problematic foundation for a solution.
Bright himself concedes that biblical theology is a vague and often contentious term among scholars. There is no universally agreed-upon definition or methodology. This lack of consensus renders Bright’s proposed solution neither valid nor practical. If the framework for understanding the Old Testament’s authority is ill-defined, it cannot provide a firm foundation for faith. If it is a debated concept, it does not support practice. The solution relies on a discipline that lacks the very authority and consensus it claims to offer. Consequently, the book leaves the reader with a powerful understanding of the problem but an unconvincing solution.
Out of Egypt 