Asking Questions About God's Loveliness as an Interpretive Guide

Augustine and Zack Eswine on love as the purpose of all Bible reading

So, anyone who thinks he has understood the divine scriptures or any part of them, but cannot by thus understanding build up this love of God and neighbor, has not yet succeeded in understanding them. - Augustine, On Christian Teaching

Over the years I’ve derived these questions for my Bible reading and preaching as a vaccine against this knowledge in sorts that puffs up and heats up but misses what Jesus intends.

• What does this passage show me about the loveliness of God? Or, put another way, what is it about God in this passage that calls for my love for him?

• What does this passage show me about people and about what love requires of me on their behalf?

• As one who has been shown mercy and love from God, what empowerment from him do I need to overcome my obstacles to love? What about the love of God in Jesus gives me hope and provision for my own lovelessness?

Then, if something that I read seems anything but lovely or loving, I write it down, step back, and keep in mind the lovely things that I have clearly seen on other Bible pages. Without letting go of these lovely things I ask about the text that seems unlovely to me. I begin a dialogue with the Father in Jesus about loveliness he sees there, and in community conversation, I trust that he will show me in time by his Spirit what he sees.

- Zack Eswine, The Imperfect Pastor, p. 110