Straight to the Goal
Augustine gathers up all the interpretations of Genesis 1 that were extant in his day—most of which are still around—and concludes that any meaning, if true, is acceptable: “What harm is there if a reader holds an opinion which you (God), the light of all truthful minds, show to be true, even though it is not what was intended by the author, who himself meant something true, but not exactly that” (Confesssions, XII.18.27).
In other words, if I arrive at an interpretation of a text other than that which the author intended I have done no harm as long as the concept is true in itself, i.e., “true” to the overall teaching of scripture.
His hermeneutic seems irregular to those of us who w ere taught to hopnor E. D. Hirsch’s rule that a text has only one meaning and the “true meaning of a text is the meaning that its author intended.” Augustine accepted the idea of authorial intent, but went beyond critical theory to state that “the author’s (ultimate) intention must be sought in love.”
Having listened to all these divergent opinions (interpretations of Genesis 1) and weighed them, I do not wish to “bandy” words, for that serves no purpose except to ruin those who listen (2 Timothy 2:14). The law is an excellent thing for building us up provided we use it lawfully, because its object is to promote the love that springs from a pure heart, a good conscience and unfeigned faith (1 Timothy 1:4,5–8), and I know what were the twin precepts on which our Master made the whole law and the prophets depend (Matthew 22:40).
The “twin precepts” to which Augustine refers are the Great Commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself.” All scripture is summed up in this tenet.
Thus, when I approach scripture I must come with this question: “In what way does this text encourage greater love for my Lord and my neighbor?” This is the“lawful” (God-intended) use of scripture. Paul saw this clearly: “The end (“telos”—outcome) of our instruction is love…” (1 Timothy 1:5).
I may miss the precise meaning of a biblical author, but if my understanding is in accord with the overall teaching of scripture—any given text is understood in the light of all texts, what the Reformers referred to as The Analogy of Faith), and if my exegesis encourages me to love God and my neighbor, I will have achieved the ultimate intention of God’s word. Put another way, the purpose of Bible reading and study is not to perfect our understanding of the text, but to perfect our love.
This, Paul calls, “cutting straight to the goal.” (2 Timothy 2:15).[1]
David Roper
[1] This is the verb that the AV translates, “rightly dividing (the Word of truth.)” The verb, orthotomeo means to “cut a straight path,” and was used in the Paul’s day, on one occasion, of laborers building a road through a forest snd “cutting straight” to their destination.
