The Bible has 4-dimensions
800 years ago, a Franciscan friar wrote a guide map for how you should read it.
Here is what he said... 🧵
800 years ago, a Franciscan friar wrote a guide map for how you should read it.
Here is what he said... 🧵
St. Bonaventure was a Franciscan friar in the 1200s
He went to college with St. Thomas Aquinas
His book, the Breviloquium, is less read than the Summa Theologica
But it contains invaluable wisdom for how to read the Bible
He went to college with St. Thomas Aquinas
His book, the Breviloquium, is less read than the Summa Theologica
But it contains invaluable wisdom for how to read the Bible
St. Bonaventure spotted an overlooked verse in Ephesians 3:18
It says we need to understand "the width, length, height, and depth" of God's word
Bonaventure sees these as the four dimensions of scripture
It says we need to understand "the width, length, height, and depth" of God's word
Bonaventure sees these as the four dimensions of scripture
The four dimensions of scripture are:
1. Width is the plain meaning of the text
2. Depth is Jesus Christ hidden in the text
3. Height is what the text says about eternity
4. Length is how the text applies to daily life
All of the bible contains these four dimensions
1. Width is the plain meaning of the text
2. Depth is Jesus Christ hidden in the text
3. Height is what the text says about eternity
4. Length is how the text applies to daily life
All of the bible contains these four dimensions
Take the story of the Crossing of the Red Sea
1. Moses frees the Israelites from slavery through water
2. Jesus saves you from sin through the water of Baptism
3. God will bring His people to the promised land at the end of time
4. God will intervene to save you from sin
1. Moses frees the Israelites from slavery through water
2. Jesus saves you from sin through the water of Baptism
3. God will bring His people to the promised land at the end of time
4. God will intervene to save you from sin
Or the prophecy in Zechariah 6:13, that the temple will be rebuilt
1. Cyrus will rebuild the temple in 538 BC
2. Christ will die and rebuild the temple of His Body
3. Christ will build the eternal temple in Heaven
4. Christ will make you a temple of the Spirit
1. Cyrus will rebuild the temple in 538 BC
2. Christ will die and rebuild the temple of His Body
3. Christ will build the eternal temple in Heaven
4. Christ will make you a temple of the Spirit
Sometimes these ways "contradict," but that's ok
Ex: A man finds a pearl and sells everything to buy it
Length: Jesus is the pearl and you are the man, so give up everything for Him
Depth: Jesus is the man and you are the pearl. He gave everything to purchase you.
Ex: A man finds a pearl and sells everything to buy it
Length: Jesus is the pearl and you are the man, so give up everything for Him
Depth: Jesus is the man and you are the pearl. He gave everything to purchase you.
There are no "right" or "wrong" answers
As long as your interpretation isn't heretical, it's fine
As long as your interpretation isn't heretical, it's fine
When you read the Bible, ask:
• What does this say about Jesus?
• What does this say about my life?
• What does this say about heaven?
It will make you a better reader of Scripture.
• What does this say about Jesus?
• What does this say about my life?
• What does this say about heaven?
It will make you a better reader of Scripture.
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