Presence, Absence and the Presence, Absence and the Authority of ScriptureAuthority of Scripture

The Presumption of PresenceThe Presumption of Presence

Scripture is authoritative for the ChurchScripture is authoritative for the Church A text that means nothing or everything A text that means nothing or everything

cannot function authoritativelycannot function authoritatively The recent deregulation of meaning may be The recent deregulation of meaning may be

taken either as threat or as opportunitytaken either as threat or as opportunity Both those approaches which claim too Both those approaches which claim too

much, and those which claim too little, much, and those which claim too little, effectively ‘tame’ the texteffectively ‘tame’ the text

Recognising the reader’s Recognising the reader’s contribution to ‘meaning’contribution to ‘meaning’

The ‘event of meaning’ is shaped in part by The ‘event of meaning’ is shaped in part by what the reader brings to it.what the reader brings to it.

““The reader’s response is not The reader’s response is not to to the meaning: the meaning: it it isis the meaning” (Fish) the meaning” (Fish)

More moderate versions see the text as More moderate versions see the text as offering a framework for interpretation, but offering a framework for interpretation, but leaving gaps to be filled in by the readerleaving gaps to be filled in by the reader

Meaning = thus a joint ventureMeaning = thus a joint venture

‘‘Determinate’ readingsDeterminate’ readings

BW III : “Meaning resides in the text and is BW III : “Meaning resides in the text and is placed there by the author by means of his placed there by the author by means of his or her configuration of its words and or her configuration of its words and phrases”.phrases”.

Wolterstorff: ‘meaning’ is something which Wolterstorff: ‘meaning’ is something which sentences have, although they may be used sentences have, although they may be used in various ways to generate distinct ‘sense’.in various ways to generate distinct ‘sense’.

Fowl’s Fowl’s ‘under-determined’approach‘under-determined’approach

We should stop speaking of ‘meaning’, and We should stop speaking of ‘meaning’, and ask in each case of the use of a text how it ask in each case of the use of a text how it is being used.is being used.

This involves relativising the significance This involves relativising the significance of the author’s contributionof the author’s contribution

Is this necessary in order to secure what he Is this necessary in order to secure what he wants to secure?wants to secure?

Will the distinction between ‘meaning’ and Will the distinction between ‘meaning’ and ‘significance’ hold?‘significance’ hold?

The personal coefficient can never be eradicated The personal coefficient can never be eradicated from our attempts to discern the ‘original sense’from our attempts to discern the ‘original sense’

BUT: texts are the products of intentional acts of BUT: texts are the products of intentional acts of communication, and we cannot relegate the communication, and we cannot relegate the question of this intention to an accidental or question of this intention to an accidental or incidental significance.incidental significance.

Meaning as an eventMeaning as an event

Meaning is an event with a transmitter and a Meaning is an event with a transmitter and a receiver, as well as a ‘text’ and something to receiver, as well as a ‘text’ and something to which the text refers.which the text refers.

Both transmitter and receiver contribute Both transmitter and receiver contribute something important to the event, but not something important to the event, but not evenly.evenly.

The basic shape and direction are contributed by The basic shape and direction are contributed by the transmission which the receiver seeks to hear the transmission which the receiver seeks to hear and ‘under-stand’.and ‘under-stand’.

Taming the textTaming the text

Overly objective approaches think they Overly objective approaches think they ‘have’ the text’s meaning, and thereby risk ‘have’ the text’s meaning, and thereby risk closing themselves off from its otherness closing themselves off from its otherness and authority. and authority.

Indeterminate readings mistake the Indeterminate readings mistake the ‘elusiveness’ of presence for absence. They ‘elusiveness’ of presence for absence. They too effectively relocate authority from the too effectively relocate authority from the text to the reader (or community).text to the reader (or community).

The ‘genius’ of languageThe ‘genius’ of language

Language (hence texts) both provides Language (hence texts) both provides sufficient stability for genuine communication sufficient stability for genuine communication to occur, and sufficient instability for language to occur, and sufficient instability for language to refer us to a world of experience which is to refer us to a world of experience which is complex, ever changing and open-ended.complex, ever changing and open-ended.

The biblical text furnishes a ‘given’ to which The biblical text furnishes a ‘given’ to which we have a moral obligation, but also speaks to we have a moral obligation, but also speaks to ever new and changing contexts.ever new and changing contexts.

Reading in the SpiritReading in the Spirit

A Christian reading of the text as Scripture A Christian reading of the text as Scripture must presume not just the presence of the must presume not just the presence of the human author’s voice, but also the presence human author’s voice, but also the presence of God’s speaking through the Spirit.of God’s speaking through the Spirit.

The Spirit is not an aid to getting at the The Spirit is not an aid to getting at the meaning of Scripture, but is himself God in meaning of Scripture, but is himself God in his relatedness to us in the event of meaning his relatedness to us in the event of meaning through which he addresses us.through which he addresses us.

In the presence of this same God, who is the In the presence of this same God, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, the gaps same yesterday, today and forever, the gaps between differing cultures and times fade in between differing cultures and times fade in their significance.their significance.

In the Spirit we read, and this breaks the In the Spirit we read, and this breaks the text open because it was in this same Spirit text open because it was in this same Spirit that the text was produced, and to which the that the text was produced, and to which the text itself refers us.text itself refers us.