When the Veil Is Taken Away: the Impact of Prophetic Experience On Biblical Interpretation

Abstract

There are basically two ways of studying Scripture. One is objective and analytical, interesting in itself, but imparting little or nothing of the life of God to the student. The other, the way explored in this chapter, draws one to God and gives life. In the chapter, the terms 'prophetic', 'charismatic', 'Pentecostal', and 'spiritual' are for the most part used interchangeably, except when the specific reference of each is necessitated by the context. Conservative opinion tends to be strongest in the evangelical wing of the churches, liberal in the non-evangelical. Set side by side these varied views form a complete spectrum of biblical interpretation. Conservatism is a theology of biblical literalism, liberalism a theology of biblical criticism, but the chapter calls the charismatic approach a theology of biblical experience or, perhaps better, 'shared experience'. Revelation is the only book in the New Testament that actually calls itself 'prophecy'. Keywords: Biblical Interpretation; charismatic prophecy; Holy Spirit; liberal theology; New Testament; Pentecost; Scripture; shared experience

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