Show Notes
Christians believe the Bible is the Word of God. Naturally, when we read the Bible, we try to find not only the literal meaning, but also the spiritual meaning of the text. Why? The spiritual meaning will lead us to Jesus Christ himself. Whether Christians today know it or not, they are practicing a divine reading of Scripture practiced by medieval monks called lectio divina. It includes four steps: reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation. Like Jacob’s ladder, each step is to take us higher up and higher in, drawing us closer to God through Jesus Christ. In lectio divina, a divine reading of Scripture, the medieval monks prayed and meditated on the text, and the ultimate goal was to contemplate God himself.In lectio divina, a divine reading of Scripture, the medieval monks prayed and meditated on the text, and the ultimate goal was to contemplate God himself. Click To Tweet
Lectio divina is called a divine reading of scripture for a reason. In medieval times, theology and practice were not divorced from each other. Theology was for the spiritual life, making us more and more like Christ. If scripture is the means God has given us to that end, then the Bible is not just a book. It’s a book that is inspired by God, so that his divine authorial intent goes beyond any single human author, ensuring the unity of the whole Bible and its telos in Christ. In this episode, Matthew Barrett talks with Greg Peters, professor at Torrey Honors College, Biola University, as well as research professor of monastic studies and ascetical theology at Nashotah House Theological Seminary. Join Matthew Barrett and Greg Peters as they read Scripture through each step of lectio divina, all for the sake of contemplating the God of the Bible.
Rev. Greg Peters (PhD, St. Michael’s College) is a Professor of Medieval and Spiritual Theology in the Torrey Honors Institute of Biola University and also the Servants of Christ Research Professor of Monastic Studies and Ascetical Theology at Nashotah House Theological Seminary. He is an Anglican Priest who serves as the Rector the Anglican Church of the Epiphany and is married with two sons.
Matthew Barrett is the editor-in-chief of Credo Magazine, director of the Center for Classical Theology, and host of the Credo podcast. He is professor of Christian theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the author of several books, including Simply Trinity, which won the Christianity Today Book of the Year Award in Theology/Ethics. His new book is called The Reformation as Renewal: Retrieving the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. He is currently writing a Systematic Theology with Baker Academic.
Photo credit: Wolfgang Staudt
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