Denver Seminary

1. Imaginative reading inspires us to apply the Bible in important, real-life scenarios. In a study of the ethical relevance of the Law for Christians, Old Testament scholar Gordon Wenham explains that laws tend to be a pragmatic compromise between the legislators' ideals and what can be enforced in practice. Laws do not show what is socially desirable, let alone ideal. They enforce minimum standards and set a floor for acceptable behavior, not an ethical ceiling. They do not "disclose the ideals of law-givers, but only the limits of their tolerance." Once we have grasped this important anthropological insight, we are inspired to imagine what aiming for God's ideals may look like, and we can turn to the imaginative writings in the narratives and poetry of the Bible with new appreciation and expectation. 2. Biblical poetry expresses God's ideals for our lives. In its beautiful words and phrases, and in its powerful thoughts and emotions and ethical challenges, we come face to face with the hopes of the people of God and catch a glimpse of God's ideals for fulfilled, purposeful lives that actively contribute to the common good (rather than lives that simply avoid doing the wrong thing). 3. Imaginative reading helps us discover how relevant the Old Testament is today. Or, to put it more provocatively, the Old Testament is the new New Testament! WRITTEN WITH IMAGINATION The New Testament was written over a period of around 100 years by those who knew Jesus personally or who at least knew people who had known Jesus. All of them wrote from the perspective of Jesus' imminent return (Matt. 16:28; Luke 9:27). From this perspective, all that mattered was the life to come, eternity in heaven. "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:2). In light of the resurrection, the challenges and opportunities of this earthly life seemed peripheral. "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:17). Most of the New Testament was written to prepare its readers for heaven. Guidance on how to live faithfully here and now was peripheral. "For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come" (Heb. 13:14). By contrast, the Old Testament, the Bible of Jesus, was written over a period of around 1,000 years by and for a community of believers who, for most of its existence, were a beleaguered minority. It describes the highs and lows of a people's spiritual and physical defeats and victories. It paints a vivid picture of the struggles and triumphs of innumerable individuals, great heroes and heroines of the faith. It presents the songs of joy over divine blessings and the laments of anguish over divine judgment. In short, it describes the life of faith of the people of God through history. And here lies its relevance for modern Christian faith and praxis. The Christian church has been in existence for almost 2,000 years, mostly as a beleaguered minority, like ancient Israel. Except for Europe from roughly 300 CE to 1900 CE and for North America from the 18th Century to the present day, this has been true for most Christians for most of Christianity's history. It is certainly true for Western Europe and many parts of Africa and Asia today. For the church, as for ancient Israel and modern Judaism, the Old Testament is an important inspiration for a life lived well, for survival in the midst of injustice and suffering, for humility in the midst of human self- aggrandizement, and for a life in service of the common good. Let us read our Bibles with imagination, for what has been written with imagination should also be read with imagination. ENGAGE 9 Knut Heim, PhD PROFESSOR OF OLD TESTAMENT Rev. Dr. Knut Heim joined the faculty of Denver Seminary in 2016. Prior to his arrival, he served as a tutor in Old Testament at Trinity College Bristol, UK, where he headed the Postgraduate Research Program and then served as dean, vice president, and acting president. He is a presbyter (an ordained minister) in the Methodist Church of the United Kingdom. He is married to The Most Reverend Hannah C. Faal-Heim, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, The Gambia in West Africa. His vision is to help the Christian church discover the Old Testament as a resource for ministry and an inspiration for life. Ann Mei/iStock

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