The Bible, long cherished as God’s word, is anything but flat or one-dimensional.
It’s a rich, layered story unfolding through diverse voices, cultural settings, and real human experiences.
Sometimes, we want to read Scripture as though every line speaks directly to us with a single, unchanging meaning. But the journey of faith—and the journey through Scripture—is far more complex and dynamic.
Each part of the Bible is shaped by its context, written by authors responding to specific needs and circumstances. These voices didn’t merely record timeless truths; they were part of an unfolding story that reveals God’s character and heart more deeply over time. Alternatively, should we understand that Scripture reflects how humans, in their journey of faith, articulate their understanding of the divine?
Faith, then—perhaps— isn’t a set of fixed doctrines but a lived journey, inviting us to move with Scripture’s narrative and seek God’s voice afresh.
This brings up some challenging and beautiful questions: Is God’s revelation to us through Scripture one that invites us into a journey rather than a fixed destination?
Could it be that as we move through the story, we see more clearly the depth of God’s love and purpose for humanity?
Does this mean that faith isn’t about rigid dogma but about a relationship that draws us into ever-greater understanding?
Consider the story of eunuchs in Scripture. In Deuteronomy, eunuchs were excluded from the assembly of the Lord—Deuteronomy 23:1 states, “No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the Lord.” In ancient Israel, bodily wholeness was linked to worthiness, so eunuchs were seen as “other,” unable to participate fully in the community.
But the story doesn’t stop there. In Isaiah 56:4-5, we find further revelation of God’s heart: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters.” Here, God’s vision—the eschatological hope—expands to welcome those once on the margins, offering them an “everlasting name” within God’s own temple.
This radical inclusion is fulfilled in the New Testament when Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. Moved by the Spirit, Philip baptises him, fully welcoming him into the community of faith. What began as exclusion in Deuteronomy transforms into full embrace in Acts. The once outsider is now fully included, showing us a fuller revelation of God’s welcoming love.
The story of eunuchs teaches us that faith isn’t about clinging to every detail of the past but about growing in our understanding of who God is and who we’re called to be. Scripture invites us on a journey that moves ever closer to God’s heart—a heart that welcomes, heals, and includes us all.
As we reflect on this journey, we must also consider the theme of violence in the Bible, particularly in the contrasting figures of Joshua and Jesus.
In the book of Joshua, we see a God who commands the Israelites to engage in acts of violence and destruction, epitomised by the concept of ‘herem’, which calls for the complete annihilation of certain groups. These narratives can be difficult to reconcile with the understanding of a loving God, forcing us to confront the complexities of divine commands in a historical context.
In stark contrast, Jesus embodies a radically different approach. His teachings promote love, forgiveness, and non-violence, urging His followers to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This transformation highlights a seeming evolution in the understanding of God's nature, where the focus shifts from destruction to reconciliation. Jesus’ life and message challenge us to reconsider how we interpret violence in Scripture and apply it to our own context inviting us to embrace a Christocentric understanding that prioritises grace and mercy.
As we reflect on our journey, we must ask ourselves: Is our understanding of God’s revelation fixed at the end of the canon, or are we called to continue this story, improvising not only on previous acts but also on their trajectory? More importantly, how do we move forward in a Christocentric fashion, guided and led by the Spirit? The journey of faith is ongoing, inviting us to engage with Scripture and with each other as we explore the depths of God’s love and the breadth of His mission.
— Swales 2024.
(Yes, I have just started reading a ‘wideness of Gods mercy’, but decided to write this before reading what it had to say about eunuchs or violence)
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