The Scripture I never knew

Double Take: New Meanings From Old Stories Timothy J. Geddert. Kindred Press, 2007. 192 pages.

Scripture is not a resource that exists to provide the data for dogmatic propositions.

Tim Geddert has put together a stimulating, creative, and provocative collection of scriptural interpretations gleaned from years spent wrestling with and teaching the Bible as professor of New Testament at MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno. Throughout, Geddert displays his deep conviction that the Bible continually yields new insights for the edification, exhortation, and mobilization of God’s people in their own contexts.

He urges his readers – clearly a lay audience – to approach the Bible as curious learners expecting to be challenged and surprised, instead of bored by the “always known.”

It’s not surprising to find most of Geddert’s texts from the New Testament and the book of Mark in particular. He takes twenty or so passages and often turns traditional interpretations on their head.

We often view Romans 8:28, for example, as a reassurance that no matter how difficult things get, God is using it to bring all things “together for good.” Along with a poor translation, says Geddert, this passage has suffered from too little of a participatory interpretation. It’s “not about making specific things work together; it is about two parties (God and human beings) working together” to promote God’s vision for his world. We’re freed from having to figure out how negative experiences fit into the hidden divine blueprint for our life, and can confidently and joyfully seek to work with God’s good in all situations.

Geddert gently probes the reader’s presuppositions throughout, piquing curiosity, forcing us to go back to the Bible and rethink our assumptions. He urges the reader to see Scripture not as a resource that exists to provide data for dogmatic theological propositions, but requiring a narrative approach where each passage is interpreted in the context of the whole.

Above all, Geddert’s approach to Scripture aims to reveal a generous, self-giving God who is seeking to enter into relationship with the human beings who bear his image.

Readers will benefit immensely from reading this book, especially for those who are convinced Scripture breathes new life on a constant basis. Geddert’s humility and willingness to find new interpretations make the reflections winsome.

At times, the reader is left wishing for more – more discussion, explanation, or indication of exactly how he’s going against the grain of New Testament scholarship. But since Geddert’s stated goals are to get his readers to think for themselves – to be curious and seek out new treasures from Scripture – perhaps we can overlook this and put Geddert’s interpretations to the test ourselves.

Ryan Dueck is a masters student at Regent College in Vancouver, B.C.