What do we mean when we say, “The Bible says…”?

In this episode of Holy Uncertain, hosts Lauren Ranzino and Chris McLeod are joined by theologian and cultural historian David Dault, author of The Accessorized Bible, to look more closely at the layers of interpretation, translation, publishing, culture, and community that shape the way we encounter Scripture.

Together, they explore why the Bible rarely “speaks for itself,” how different Christian communities can read the same text and arrive at very different conclusions, and what happens when our interpretations are treated as if they carry the unquestionable authority of God. David also challenges the idea that the goal is simply to find the one perfect reading - asking instead what responsibility we have for the ways the Bible is used in the lives of other people.

The conversation moves from biblical inerrancy and competing versions of Scripture to the ways the Bible has been used throughout history both to justify harm and to inspire liberation. And underneath it all is a practical question: what might change if we approached Scripture not as a tool for winning arguments, but as something that should help us love people better?

If you’ve ever wondered how much of what you were taught about the Bible came from the text itself or how much came from the people interpreting it, this episode offers a thoughtful place to wrestle with those questions.

Continue learning from David Dault:
www.daviddault.com
Things Not Seen, David’s award-winning radio show and podcast
Instagram: @daultradio

Read David’s Books:
The Accessorized Bible
And More

Have a question or topic you want us to explore?
Email us: questions@holyuncertain.com

Holy Uncertain is a Blue Elevator production.