Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor

© 2021, Dr. Tamilio

This was one of those weeks where none of the readings in the revised Common Lectionary struck me.  I am not saying that I do not like any of the readings that were slated for today.  I love all of them — it’s just that none of them shouted, “Pick me!  Pick me!”

I found myself scratching my head, and thumbing through my Bible.  I love the Bible.  I love the stories that fill its pages.  I love how it reveals God’s creation of the universe and the way in which God redeemed a fallen humanity.  I love the words of the prophets and the lyrical rhythm of the Psalms.  I have certain books that I read more than others.  In the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) I am typically drawn to Genesis and Job.  If it’s the New Testament, it’s the Gospels, particularly Matthew and John.  The Letter to the Hebrews is a recent favorite, and the Revelation of John is a mystery I am still trying to decipher.

Ah, I got it!  One of those 3:16 verses!  No, not John.  The Second Letter to Timothy 3:16.  Here’s what it says: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”  That God-breathed term is curious, isn’t it?  The Greek word for this is theopneustos, which is often translated as God-inspired.  That term is somewhat inaccurate.  Eric Clapton inspired me to play guitar, but there is absolutely no connection between the two of us.  I never even met the man.  In his 912-page comprehensive book Evangelical Theology, Michael F. Bird explains what the term “God-breathed” means.  He writes,

“God-breathed”…does not mean inspirational, nor does it presuppose a mechanical view of God dictating words to the authors.  Rather, inspiration is God’s superintending of the sources and authors of the biblical texts in order to reflect the form and content of the revelation that he intended the church to receive.[1]  Elsewhere, he writes “[God-breathed] could mean that Scripture is simply ‘life-giving,’ in the sense that just as God’s breath gave life to Adam, so too Scripture is life-giving in character — a genuine word of life.  But more likely, the imagery here is analogous to the depictions of the Spirit coming upon a prophet, who then speaks a word from the Lord.”[2]

Bible scholars debate whether Scripture is inerrant and infallible.  The first claim (inerrancy) means that Scripture is without error.  Some claim that Scripture is error-free because it is inspired (or “breathed”) by God.  Others say that there are errors in the Bible, most of them involving historical accuracy.  My contention is that even if there are historical errors in the text (which makes Scripture errant is some places), it is still infallible, meaning that God’s truth speaks through the text however errant it may or may not be.  Scripture cannot fail.  It always reveals the Word of God (with a capital “W”).

The Bible is God’s Word.  It is the only source we need for our life and faith.  This may sound a bit Fundamentalist, but it is anything but.

Two weeks ago, we discussed the Reformation.  There were many abuses within the Catholic Church in the early sixteenth century, which led Martin Luther to nail his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg Church door.  At the heart of it was the selling of papal indulgences, which was essentially paying (not “praying”) to be absolved of one’s sins.  Luther’s argument was that we are saved by grace through faith, as stated in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (2:8-9), and that our faith should be based on Scripture alone.  His term for this was solo scriptura.  This does not mean that we do not need theologians and preachers to help us understand the Bible.  It does mean, however, that we are not bound by any church authority, especially for our salvation.  The Bible is a gift from God and, as the Psalmist said, it is “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.”

With that established, I want to take you on a little jaunt down memory lane.  What is your earliest memory of the Bible?  Is it of you as a little child hearing people talking about it, but not really knowing what it was?  Maybe your family had a large, family Bible, that included important dates and a map of your family lineage.  Maybe you went to church ever since you can remember and heard people reading from Scripture.  You may even remember some of the stories you heard.

When I was a child, my mother used to read me from a book of children’s Bible stories.  Some nights I would hear an extra tale so that we would be that much closer to the story of David and Goliath, which was one of my favorites.  I also loved to hear the stories of Jesus healing the sick and telling stories about what the Kingdom of Heaven will be like.  Here is that Bible, by the way.  I lost it for a while.  I left it at my home church after Sunday school one week.  It wasn’t until years later (several years later) when I returned to that church as a seminarian that I found it in the Christian education office.  When I first saw it, I thought, “Wow!  That looks just like the Bible I owned as a child.”  Once I opened up the cover, I knew it was mine.  It reads: “To John Tamilio III | Merry Christmas 1974 | Love, Auntie Harriet.”  How strange that you would be both be here forty-seven years later in the church in which I am the pastor!

You never know the seeds you will plant by giving someone the Word.  Our actions, which may seem simple, like a Christmas gift for a nephew, may help carve the future.  I am not saying I became a minister because of this particular book, but it certainly helped lead the way.  I have no doubt.

Immerse yourself in the Word.  Take time each day to let God speak to you through its pages.  It is the one book that has everything in it: action, adventure, poetry, history, faith, doubt, humor, bravery, love, hope, betrayal, death, and, yes, eternal life.  It’ll beat a Harlequin Romance any day of the week.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, once said, “I am a man of one book.”  The nineteenth-century Evangelical preacher/theologian Charles Spurgeon said, “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”  Abraham Lincoln said, “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.  All good from The Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book.”

Saturate yourself in the God-breathed Bible.  Let it slake your spiritual thirst and bolster your faith.  Let it be the rock, the anchor that holds you fast to God.  Let it be the doorway through which you enter — whether you are filled with strength or feel as if you are on your last leg — and find the Living Christ.  Open wide and breathe deep.  Amen.

[1] Michael F. Bird, Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013), 63.

[2] Ibid., 639.