--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since—and this is why it changed how I…" description: "\"“Since—and this is why it changed how I read the Bible—God chose to communicate in language, since language is always shaped by context, and since God ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/scot-mcknight-10650_quote_since-and-this-is-why-it-changed-how-i-r_1578130.jpg" --- # Since—and this is why it changed how I read the Bible—God… ![“Since—and this is why it changed how I read the Bible—God chose to communicate in language, since language is always shaped by context, and since God chose to speak to us over time through many writers, God also chose to speak to us in a variety of ways and expressions. Furthermore, I believe that…” quote by Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/scot-mcknight-10650_quote_since-and-this-is-why-it-changed-how-i-r_1578130.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/scot-mcknight-10650_quote_since-and-this-is-why-it-changed-how-i-r_1578130.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/scot-mcknight-10650_quote_since-and-this-is-why-it-changed-how-i-r_1578130.jpg) > ““Since—and this is why it changed how I read the Bible—God chose to communicate in language, since language is always shaped by context, and since God chose to speak to us over time through many writers, God also chose to speak to us in a variety of ways and expressions. Furthermore, I believe that because the gospel story is so deep and wide, God needed a variety of expressions to give us a fuller picture of the Story.”” [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God uses diverse language and writers over time to convey the gospel fully, acknowledging that context shapes meaning. **In simple terms:** God speaks through many words and writers to give a fuller picture. Key Takeaway Embrace multiple perspectives in faith study. Themes faith interpretation diversity context storytelling Mood reflective inquisitive Type theological explanatory When to use this quote - Bible study - sermons - personal devotion - academic research Key Concepts theology revelation communication Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing varied expressions affect your understanding of scripture? - What benefits arise from hearing multiple voices? A Different Perspective Different traditions may claim exclusive truth, limiting openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Context God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/context-god-4808308/) [God Chose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-chose/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Gospel Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel-story-716689/) [Read Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-bible/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [It's important to remember the Gospel is a story; not a set of bullet points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/it-s-important-to-remember-the-gospel-is-a-story-not-a-set-of-bullet/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If content is King, context is God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/if-content-is-king-context-is-god/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [Content is king, but context is God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/content-is-king-but-context-is-god/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [“The best apologetic, therefore, is what it always was: the old, weird, incomprehensible, great, gray-green, greasy Gospel story—just laying out in front of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-capon/the-best-apologetic-therefore-is-what-it-always-was-the-old-weird/) [Robert Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-capon/) > [Jesus himself, as the gospel story goes on to its dramatic conclusion, lives out the same message of the Sermon on the Mount: he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/jesus-himself-as-the-gospel-story-goes-on-to-its-dramatic-conclusion/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Interestingly, it's as though the gospel story of Jesus is the archetypal heroic journey, the embodiment of the very adventure that all people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/interestingly-it-s-as-though-the-gospel-story-of-jesus-is-the/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [The grinding power of the plain words of the Gospel story is like the power of mill-stones, and those who can read them simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-grinding-power-of-the-plain-words-of-the-gospel-story-is-like-the/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [A philosophy may explain difficult things, but has no power to change them. The gospel, the story of Jesus' life, promises change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/a-philosophy-may-explain-difficult-things-but-has-no-power-to-change/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“The gospel is the story of God covering his naked enemies, bringing them to the wedding feast, and then marrying them rather than crushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch/the-gospel-is-the-story-of-god-covering-his-naked-enemies-bringing/) [Edward T. Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch/) > [“Some people read the Bible as if its passages were Rorschach inkblots. They see what is in their head. In more sophisticated language, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/some-people-read-the-bible-as-if-its-passages-were-rorschach-inkblots/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [“Until we learn to read the Bible as Story, we will not know how to get anything out of the Bible for daily living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/until-we-learn-to-read-the-bible-as-story-we-will-not-know-how-to-get/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [Our biggest problem is that we have an entire culture shaped by a misunderstanding of the gospel. That so-called gospel is deconstructing the church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/our-biggest-problem-is-that-we-have-an-entire-culture-shaped-by-a/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [“God blessed us with so many beautiful things around us 'NATURE' and then gave us the precious gift 'LIFE' to enjoy. So, why worried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manik-ghawri/god-blessed-us-with-so-many-beautiful-things-around-us-nature-and/) [Manik Ghawri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manik-ghawri/) > [God chose what is weakest in the world to shame the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/god-chose-what-is-weakest-in-the-world-to-shame-the-strong/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [Perhaps God chose me to be an atheist?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/perhaps-god-chose-me-to-be-an-atheist/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) ## More by Scot McKnight > [“If you want to know how Jesus understands the Christian life, the place to begin is with what he means by kingdom of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/if-you-want-to-know-how-jesus-understands-the-christian-life-the/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [God's idea of redemption is community-shaped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/god-s-idea-of-redemption-is-community-shaped/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [“The test results also suggest that, even though we like to think we are becoming more like Jesus, the reverse is probably more the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/the-test-results-also-suggest-that-even-though-we-like-to-think-we/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [We need to shed our unearthly and nonsocial and idealistic and romantic and uber-spiritual visions of kingdom and get back to what Jesus meant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/we-need-to-shed-our-unearthly-and-nonsocial-and-idealistic-and/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [“One of my favorite kingdom preachers is Minneapolis pastor of Sanctuary Covenant Church, Efrem Smith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/one-of-my-favorite-kingdom-preachers-is-minneapolis-pastor-of/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [To walk into the Jefferson memorial is to be in a temple of the pure idolatry of reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/to-walk-into-the-jefferson-memorial-is-to-be-in-a-temple-of-the-pure/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [The ultimate end of redemption is that we worship God with our whole being and in the whole company of the redeemed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/the-ultimate-end-of-redemption-is-that-we-worship-god-with-our-whole/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [Those who aren't following Jesus aren't his followers. Its that simple. Followers follow, and those who don't follow aren't followers. To follow Jesus means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/those-who-aren-t-following-jesus-aren-t-his-followers-its-that-simple/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [God's love entails a covenant commitment on the part of with us, and that covenant commitment means a promise to be with us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/god-s-love-entails-a-covenant-commitment-on-the-part-of-with-us-and/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [“To reveal what the kingdom of God is like, Jesus tells parables. And these parables usher his listeners and readers into a world he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/to-reveal-what-the-kingdom-of-god-is-like-jesus-tells-parables-and/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [“God did not give the Bible so we could master him or it; God gave the Bible so we could live it, so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/god-did-not-give-the-bible-so-we-could-master-him-or-it-god-gave-the/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [Our biggest problem is that we have an entire culture shaped by a misunderstanding of the gospel. That so-called gospel is deconstructing the church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/our-biggest-problem-is-that-we-have-an-entire-culture-shaped-by-a/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [Angels are here and around us; perhaps all around us. But we have to have an ear for them and an eye for them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/angels-are-here-and-around-us-perhaps-all-around-us-but-we-have-to/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [“This has to be emphasized, because today too many of us emphasize kingdom but ignore the Holy Spirit and Pentecost and church—as if kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/this-has-to-be-emphasized-because-today-too-many-of-us-emphasize/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [Angels will frequently - even when they're comforting us with good news - touch the awe of God's eternal presence and drive us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/angels-will-frequently-even-when-they-re-comforting-us-with-good-news/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) [Explore all 64 Scot McKnight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) ## More Gospel quotes > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [You can't live for God until you learn how to live because of God. And you can't go and make good choices for God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-donehey/you-can-t-live-for-god-until-you-learn-how-to-live-because-of-god-and/) [Mike Donehey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-donehey/) > [The gospel assures you that your value is not dependent on your looks or material possessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-l-jack/the-gospel-assures-you-that-your-value-is-not-dependent-on-your-looks/) [Elaine L. Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-l-jack/) > [“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/) > [My mother kept asking me, 'When are you going to do a gospel album?' And I've always wanted to do a gospel album. Everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/my-mother-kept-asking-me-when-are-you-going-to-do-a-gospel-album-and/) [Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/) > [If you want to see the big stuff that God has, you've got to take some risk and trust only in the Gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/if-you-want-to-see-the-big-stuff-that-god-has-you-ve-got-to-take-some/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [How happy we would be if we could find the treasure of which the Gospel speaks; all else would be as nothing. As it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/how-happy-we-would-be-if-we-could-find-the-treasure-of-which-the/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [“I have established my throne in heaven, and my kingdom rules over all. The day is mine, and mine also the night; I established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-yun/i-have-established-my-throne-in-heaven-and-my-kingdom-rules-over-all/) [Zhang Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-yun/) > [The good word of the Lord with which we must nourish is the simple doctrine of the gospel. We need not fear either simplicity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/the-good-word-of-the-lord-with-which-we-must-nourish-is-the-simple/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-the-gospel-isn-t-good-news-for-everybody-then-it-isn-t-good-news/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing. In all conditions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/if-we-have-faith-in-jesus-christ-the-hardest-as-well-as-the-easiest/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Its not living the gospel thats hard. Its life thats hard...How often do we make the mistake of talking to our youth about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/its-not-living-the-gospel-thats-hard-its-life-thats-hard-how-often-do/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [Once God saves us He doesn't move us beyond the gospel, but He moves us more deeply into the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/once-god-saves-us-he-doesn-t-move-us-beyond-the-gospel-but-he-moves/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Perhapsthemost sublimeinsights oftheJewishprophets and the Christian gospel is the knowledge that since perfection is love, the apprehension of perfection is at once the means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/perhapsthemost-sublimeinsights-ofthejewishprophets-and-the-christian/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [I listened to gospel music because that was just our culture, you know? My parents are pastors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/i-listened-to-gospel-music-because-that-was-just-our-culture-you-know/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) [Browse all 1,857 Gospel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Since—and this is why it changed how I read the Bible—God chose to communicate in language, since language is always shaped by context, and since God chose to speak to us over time through many writers, God also chose to speak to us in a variety of ways and expressions. 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