According Quote by Miroslav Volf
“I think evangelicals would do better if they concentrated less on bolstering the formal authority of the Scripture - which I certainly would want to affirm - and more on displaying how biblical texts can shape lives in salutary ways, how they are fruitful texts, how they are texts one can live according to.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public lecture on evangelical practice, 2015
Encourages focusing on Scripture's practical impact rather than just authority, promoting lived faith.
In simple terms: Emphasize how the Bible guides daily life.
Key Takeaway
Make faith actionable.
Themes
faith
practicality
authority
living
fruitfulness
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
theological
practical
When to use this quote
- church teaching
- personal devotion
- community outreach
- education programs
Key Concepts
theology
applied ethics
spiritual formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can churches balance authority with lived relevance?
- What practical changes can believers make today?
A Different Perspective
May overlook doctrinal precision needed for theological consistency.
![“I have argued elsewhere (Fighting Words: The Origins of Religious Violence [2005]) that we need to treat ethics in biblical texts just as we treat ethics in any other works of ancient literature. It is a vacuous exercise to pick and choose which atrocities were really ordained by any gods and…” quote by Hector Avalos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/hector-avalos-91785_ancient-literature_i-have-argued-elsewhere-fighting-words-t_2573037.jpg)
![“More than two hundred death penalties are gone from the law books, but the [biblical] texts that authorised them remain.” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fa0/mark-twain-22_bible_more-than-two-hundred-death-penalties-ar_2288236.jpg)
![“Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, Elie Wiesel is also the author of more than 40 books. As relevant as anything to today's discussion are the insights into the Biblical texts that are contained in his lectures and books. They include Messengers of God [1976], Five Biblical Portraits [1978]…” quote by Hershel Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/327/hershel-shanks-25800_biblical_awarded-the-nobel-peace-prize-in-1986-el_864515.jpg)
