--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Language is not primarily informational…" description: "\"“Language is not primarily informational but revelatory. The Holy Scriptures give witness to a living voice sounding variously as Father, Son and Spiri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/eugene-h-peterson-1745_father-son_language-is-not-primarily-informational_2092688.png" --- # Language is not primarily informational but revelatory… ![“Language is not primarily informational but revelatory. The Holy Scriptures give witness to a living voice sounding variously as Father, Son and Spirit, addressing us personally and involving us personally as participants. This text is not words to be studies in the quiet preserves of a library…” quote by Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/eugene-h-peterson-1745_father-son_language-is-not-primarily-informational_2092688.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/eugene-h-peterson-1745_father-son_language-is-not-primarily-informational_2092688.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/eugene-h-peterson-1745_father-son_language-is-not-primarily-informational_2092688.png) > ““Language is not primarily informational but revelatory. The Holy Scriptures give witness to a living voice sounding variously as Father, Son and Spirit, addressing us personally and involving us personally as participants. This text is not words to be studies in the quiet preserves of a library, but a voice to be believed and loved and adored in workplace and playground, on the streets and in the kitchen. Receptivity is required.”” [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scripture is meant to be lived and felt, not just studied; it calls for personal engagement. **In simple terms:** Bible is a living voice, not just text. Key Takeaway Engage with scripture personally and actively. Themes faith experience revelation Mood inspirational reflective Type spiritual educational When to use this quote - personal devotion - family worship - community gatherings - education settings Key Concepts theology spiritual practice Questions to Reflect On - How can you experience scripture in daily life? - What does “revelatory” mean to you? A Different Perspective Treating sacred texts as mere academic objects can miss their transformative power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Holy scriptures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-scriptures/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) [Scriptures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scriptures/) ## Related quotes > [“It is useful to reflect that the word 'liturgy' did not originate in church or worship settings. In the Greek world it referred to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/it-is-useful-to-reflect-that-the-word-liturgy-did-not-originate-in/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“Clinton has cheated on Hillary for years,’ I said (to his campaign manager James Carville). ‘I told you the story about the time in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hinton/clinton-has-cheated-on-hillary-for-years-i-said-to-his-campaign/) Karen Hinton > [“What will undo any boundary is the awareness that it is our vision, and not what we are viewing, that is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-carse/what-will-undo-any-boundary-is-the-awareness-that-it-is-our-vision/) [James P. Carse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-carse/) > [The revelatory or visionary is the province of the 'private' artist, who in order to render his personal world comprehensible or even tolerable, must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-coutts-smith/the-revelatory-or-visionary-is-the-province-of-the-private-artist-who/) [Kenneth Coutts-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-coutts-smith/) > [If you merely focus on what we already know, then it's not revelatory. You may as well just go and watch a documentary or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/if-you-merely-focus-on-what-we-already-know-then-it-s-not-revelatory/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [Unpacking books is a revelatory activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-manguel/unpacking-books-is-a-revelatory-activity/) [Alberto Manguel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-manguel/) > [“…the excitement of doing something for the first time had passed. I laid there in the back seat looking at the moon. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hinton/the-excitement-of-doing-something-for-the-first-time-had-passed-i/) Karen Hinton > [“Meditation on the holy Scriptures , free us from mental slavery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/meditation-on-the-holy-scriptures-free-us-from-mental-slavery/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The Holy Scriptures are words taught by the Spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-scriptures-are-words-taught-by-the-spirit/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The book of books, the storehouse and magazine of life and comfort, the holy Scriptures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/the-book-of-books-the-storehouse-and-magazine-of-life-and-comfort-the/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [No man, without trials and temptations, can attain a true understanding of the Holy Scriptures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/no-man-without-trials-and-temptations-can-attain-a-true-understanding/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Next to the Holy Scriptures, the greatest aide to the life of faith may be Christian biographies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/next-to-the-holy-scriptures-the-greatest-aide-to-the-life-of-faith/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Because I am a Christian, therefore, every day in which I do not penetrate more deeply into the knowledge of God's Word in Holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/because-i-am-a-christian-therefore-every-day-in-which-i-do-not/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [In regard to the divine and holy mysteries of the faith, not the least part may be handed on without the Holy Scriptures. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-of-jerusalem/in-regard-to-the-divine-and-holy-mysteries-of-the-faith-not-the-least/) [Cyril of Jerusalem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-of-jerusalem/) > [Every morning, read seriously and reverently a portion of the Holy Scriptures, and acquaint yourselves with the history and doctrine thereof. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-hale/every-morning-read-seriously-and-reverently-a-portion-of-the-holy/) [Matthew Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-hale/) ## More by Eugene H. Peterson > [“Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/forget-about-deciding-what-s-right-for-each-other-here-s-what-you/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“Liturgy gathers the holy community as it reads the Holy Scriptures into the sweeping tidal rhythms of the church year in which the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-gathers-the-holy-community-as-it-reads-the-holy-scriptures/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“The core message of the gospel is that God invades us with new life, but the setting for this is most often in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-core-message-of-the-gospel-is-that-god-invades-us-with-new-life/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“Liturgy puts us to work along with all the others who have been and are being put to work in the world by and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-puts-us-to-work-along-with-all-the-others-who-have-been-and/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, For you, GOD, have put my life back together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/at-day-s-end-i-m-ready-for-sound-sleep-for-you-god-have-put-my-life/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [I think pastors are the worst listeners. We're so used to speaking, teaching, giving answers. We must learn to be quiet, quit being so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/i-think-pastors-are-the-worst-listeners-we-re-so-used-to-speaking/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“When I look for help in developing my pastoral craft and nurturing my pastoral vocation, the one century that has the least to commend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/when-i-look-for-help-in-developing-my-pastoral-craft-and-nurturing-my/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Religion is a very scary thing, because a pastor is in a position of power. And if you use that power badly, you ruin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/religion-is-a-very-scary-thing-because-a-pastor-is-in-a-position-of/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [The vocation of pastor(s) has been replaced by the strategies of religious entrepreneurs with business plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-vocation-of-pastor-s-has-been-replaced-by-the-strategies-of/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Repentance is a realization that what God wants from you and what you want from God are not going to be achieved by doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/repentance-is-a-realization-that-what-god-wants-from-you-and-what-you/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [It's essential for us to develop an imagination that is participatory. Art is the primary way in which this happens. It's the primary way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/it-s-essential-for-us-to-develop-an-imagination-that-is-participatory/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“My uncle Ernie didn't believe in God. At least that's what he said. But he always Went to church on Christmas. Which I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/my-uncle-ernie-didn-t-believe-in-god-at-least-that-s-what-he-said-but/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/you-don-t-make-your-words-true-by-embellishing-them-with-religious/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“And the remainder of the Message details God’s intricate and loving plan to redeem, restore, and reconcile creation back to himself after what happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/and-the-remainder-of-the-message-details-god-s-intricate-and-loving/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) [Explore all 210 Eugene H. Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) ## More Father son quotes > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [The two greatest plays ever written were Hamlet and Oedipus Rex, and they're both about father-son relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-two-greatest-plays-ever-written-were-hamlet-and-oedipus-rex-and/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [You are — truly your father’s son, Harry. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-truly-your-father-s-son-harry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Perhaps host and guest is really the happiest relation for father and son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/perhaps-host-and-guest-is-really-the-happiest-relation-for-father-and/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [May all your expectations be frustrated, may all your plans be thwarted, may all your desires be withered into nothingness, that you may experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/may-all-your-expectations-be-frustrated-may-all-your-plans-be/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“Above all else, he loves trilogies. There has never been a trilogy he didn't like, and if you don't understand why, I have three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-lockwood/above-all-else-he-loves-trilogies-there-has-never-been-a-trilogy-he/) [Patricia Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-lockwood/) > [You can as easily love without trusting as you can hug without embracing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/you-can-as-easily-love-without-trusting-as-you-can-hug-without/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“The good son imitates the father with such passion that father and son become each other's chief stumbling block - a situation the indifferent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-girard/the-good-son-imitates-the-father-with-such-passion-that-father-and/) [René Girard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-girard/) > [A son is not a judge of his father, but the conscience of the father is in his son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-soloveychik/a-son-is-not-a-judge-of-his-father-but-the-conscience-of-the-father/) [Simon Soloveychik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-soloveychik/) > [My father is my biggest PRIDE.He did everything which he was capable to do for me in such small salary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/my-father-is-my-biggest-pride-he-did-everything-which-he-was-capable/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [My dad - I mean, we've had our ups and downs, you know, just like any father and son probably has. But, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brady-jandreau/my-dad-i-mean-we-ve-had-our-ups-and-downs-you-know-just-like-any/) [Brady Jandreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brady-jandreau/) > [“The sequence of events described in the gospel is the work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is hardly my own discovery. Consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-f-bird/the-sequence-of-events-described-in-the-gospel-is-the-work-of-father/) [Michael F. Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-f-bird/) > [The last time I put on this uniform (Cincinnati), I think I was eight, for a father-son game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr-2/the-last-time-i-put-on-this-uniform-cincinnati-i-think-i-was-eight/) [Ken Griffey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr-2/) > [When I was around eight or nine I drove up to Byron Bay from Sydney with my Dad. We each played songs to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruel/when-i-was-around-eight-or-nine-i-drove-up-to-byron-bay-from-sydney/) Ruel > [“Here is how Basil of Caesarea puts it: “When the Lord taught us the doctrine of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-m-burge/here-is-how-basil-of-caesarea-puts-it-when-the-lord-taught-us-the/) [Gary M. Burge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-m-burge/) Browse all 305 Father son quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Language is not primarily informational but revelatory. The Holy Scriptures give witness to a living voice sounding variously as Father, Son and Spirit, addressing us personally and involving us personally as participants. This text is not words to be studies in the quiet preserves of a library, but a voice to be believed and loved and adored in workplace and playground, on the streets and in the kitchen. 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