Basil: Reverence and the Word of God

Of the thought of Basil of Caesarea Christopher Hall writes, “Thus, because the text [of the Bible] itself is holy, derived from the work of the Holy Spirit, interpreters of the text must approach it with a reverent disposition. Whatever is said about the ideas of the text must match the exalted nature of its divine source” (Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers, 87).

From this brief quote I draw three simple and ministry-shaping ideas. First, the text of the Bible is holy because its source is holy. It’s not so much that we make a big deal of words and phrases and paragraphs and pages, as we do the infinitely holy Being who inspired these things. Words and such matter, but they matter to the degree that their source matters, and since the Holy Spirit matters to an infinite degree so does the Word he inspired.

Second, we must approach the text of the Bible with the same reverence we would show in the presence of God himself. To approach his Word is, in a way, to approach him, and thus we must learn to tremble and treat his Word with the honor due his name. To gain insight into the Word of God is to hear the voice of God, and this calls for a unique level and quality of reverence.

Third, when it comes to teaching, preaching, and writing about the Word of God, we must learn to express ourselves in a way that “matches the exalted nature of its divine source.” This means, at least, (1) that our teaching must flow from our personal pursuit of God, that is must be saturated with the aroma of the presence of him who gave us his Word. (2) That our teaching must accurately portray what is found in the Word. To play fast and loose with God’s Word is to defame his sacred name, and this is a most serious sin. (3) That our teaching must be imbued with an affection appropriate to its source. As Jonathan Edwards so helpfully taught us, light produces heat. Godly truth produces godly affections, and both are necessary to honor God and his Word.

The one who would dare teach and preach the Word of God must carefully stoke the fire of reverence in his heart, for this will in turn stoke that fire in the hearts of the people.