--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In sum, disciples might do well to avoid…" description: "\"“In sum, disciples might do well to avoid the bibliolatry that characterizes scripture as unerring truth. Parley Pratt made this point himself in The F..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/terryl-l-givens-20241_bible_in-sum-disciples-might-do-well-to-avoid_2531195.jpg" --- # In sum, disciples might do well to avoid the bibliolatry… ![“In sum, disciples might do well to avoid the bibliolatry that characterizes scripture as unerring truth. Parley Pratt made this point himself in The Fountain of Knowledge, a small pamphlet he wrote in 1844. With elegant metaphor, he noted that scripture resulted from revelatory process and was…” quote by Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/terryl-l-givens-20241_bible_in-sum-disciples-might-do-well-to-avoid_2531195.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/terryl-l-givens-20241_bible_in-sum-disciples-might-do-well-to-avoid_2531195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/terryl-l-givens-20241_bible_in-sum-disciples-might-do-well-to-avoid_2531195.jpg) > ““In sum, disciples might do well to avoid the bibliolatry that characterizes scripture as unerring truth. Parley Pratt made this point himself in The Fountain of Knowledge, a small pamphlet he wrote in 1844. With elegant metaphor, he noted that scripture resulted from revelatory process and was thus the product of revealed truth, not the other way around. We do well to look to a stream for nourishing water, but we do better to secure the fountain. That fountain, Pratt noted, is “the gift of revelation,” which “the restoration of all things” heralds.21 Or, in George MacDonald’s metaphor, we should hold the scriptures as “the moon of our darkness, . . . not dear as the sun towards which we haste." p56”” [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treat scripture as a source of revelation, not an infallible authority; seek the divine gift behind the text. **In simple terms:** Scripture is a guide, not absolute truth. Key Takeaway Prioritize revelation over literalism. Themes faith interpretation authority humility Mood contemplative inquisitive Type theological reflective When to use this quote - personal study - sermon preparation - interfaith dialogue - educational curricula Key Concepts theology revelation epistemology Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern revelation from tradition? - What role should critical thinking play in faith? A Different Perspective Literalism can ignore context and lead to dogmatism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [George Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-macdonald-2/) [Noted Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noted-scripture-1344193/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) [Scripture Resulted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture-resulted-1344191/) [Scripture Unerring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture-unerring-1344194/) [Scriptures Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scriptures-moon-1344192/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“I've been very influenced by folklore, fairy tales, and folk ballads, so I love all the classic works based on these things -- like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-windling/i-ve-been-very-influenced-by-folklore-fairy-tales-and-folk-ballads-so/) [Terri Windling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-windling/) > [“Lewis’s hero George MacDonald once put it (and as the children’s journey to Aslan behind Lucy’s leadership demonstrates), “Obedience is the opener of eyes.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rigney/lewis-s-hero-george-macdonald-once-put-it-and-as-the-children-s/) [Joe Rigney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rigney/) > [“It is a greater compliment to be trusted than to be loved. George MacDonald”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-johnson/it-is-a-greater-compliment-to-be-trusted-than-to-be-loved-george/) [Rick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-johnson/) > [“With every morn my life afresh must break The crust of self, gathered about me fresh; That thy wind-spirit may rush in and shake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/with-every-morn-my-life-afresh-must-break-the-crust-of-self-gathered/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Christopher Westcott slowly drank his pint of ale at the Bird and Baby, as locals liked to call the Eagle and Child, and basked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-dobson/christopher-westcott-slowly-drank-his-pint-of-ale-at-the-bird-and/) [Melanie Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-dobson/) > [“Communion with God is the one need of the soul beyond all other need,” wrote George MacDonald. “Prayer is the beginning of that communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/communion-with-god-is-the-one-need-of-the-soul-beyond-all-other-need/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [We don't have a soul. We are a soul. We have a body." George Macdonald, 1892](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/we-don-t-have-a-soul-we-are-a-soul-we-have-a-body-george-macdonald/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“George MacDonald made the following observation: Instead of crushing the power of evil by divine force; instead of compelling justice and destroying the wicked;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/george-macdonald-made-the-following-observation-instead-of-crushing/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [My wife and I have this discussion all the time. Her primal influences are J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald. Mine are Rudyard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/my-wife-and-i-have-this-discussion-all-the-time-her-primal-influences/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [An almost perfect relationship with his father was the earthly root of all his wisdom. From his own father, he said, he first learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-almost-perfect-relationship-with-his-father-was-the-earthly-root/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Creators of literary fairy tales from the 17th-century onward include writers whose works are still widely read today: Charles Perrault (17th-century France), Hans Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-windling/creators-of-literary-fairy-tales-from-the-17th-century-onward-include/) [Terri Windling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-windling/) > [George Macdonald said, 'If you knew what God knows about death you would clap your listless hands', but instead I find old people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/george-macdonald-said-if-you-knew-what-god-knows-about-death-you/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [George MacDonald gives me renewed strength during times of trouble--times when I have seen people tempted to deny God--when he says, "The Son of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/george-macdonald-gives-me-renewed-strength-during-times-of-trouble/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Many a wrong, and it's curing song, many a road, and many an inn, Room to roam, but only one home, for all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/many-a-wrong-and-it-s-curing-song-many-a-road-and-many-an-inn-room-to/) [george macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I devour history books. I love anything by Thomas B. Costain or George MacDonald Fraser. He writes magnificent history, and he also wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/i-devour-history-books-i-love-anything-by-thomas-b-costain-or-george/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) ## More by Terryl L. Givens > [Relationships are the core of our existence because they are the core of God's and we are in His image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/relationships-are-the-core-of-our-existence-because-they-are-the-core/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [A supreme deity would no more gift us with intellect and expect us to forsake it in moments of bafflement, than He would fashion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/a-supreme-deity-would-no-more-gift-us-with-intellect-and-expect-us-to/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [The earliest religious texts in the West ascribe to humankind both a prehistory and a destiny among the gods. M. David Litwa presents a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/the-earliest-religious-texts-in-the-west-ascribe-to-humankind-both-a/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“In the Garden story, good and evil are found on the same tree, not in separate orchards. Good and evil give meaning and definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/in-the-garden-story-good-and-evil-are-found-on-the-same-tree-not-in/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“...God is not exempt from emotional pain...One the contrary, God's pain is as infinite as His love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/god-is-not-exempt-from-emotional-pain-one-the-contrary-god-s-pain-is/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“The secret of happiness is this: let your interests be as wide as possible,” he said. He then made his point with the simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/the-secret-of-happiness-is-this-let-your-interests-be-as-wide-as/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“The most terrifying specter that haunts the modern psyche is not death or disease or nuclear annihilation. It is loneliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/the-most-terrifying-specter-that-haunts-the-modern-psyche-is-not/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“the biblical scholar Richard Elliott Friedman notes that “probably the most remarkable difference of all” in disparate passages “is their different ways of picturing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/the-biblical-scholar-richard-elliott-friedman-notes-that-probably-the/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“If Joseph initially thought only Mormons had access to truth or goodness, he was abruptly corrected of his misperception a year into the Church's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/if-joseph-initially-thought-only-mormons-had-access-to-truth-or/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“His desires are set upon the whole human family, not upon a select few. He is not predisposed to just the fast learners, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/his-desires-are-set-upon-the-whole-human-family-not-upon-a-select-few/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [What is always at stake in any decision we make is what that choice turns us into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/what-is-always-at-stake-in-any-decision-we-make-is-what-that-choice/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“In the vision of Enoch, we find ourselves drawn to a God who prevents all the pain He can, assumes all the suffering He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/in-the-vision-of-enoch-we-find-ourselves-drawn-to-a-god-who-prevents/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“As an inmate of a concentration camp, Corrie Ten Boom heard a commotion, and saw a short distance away a prison guard mercilessly beating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/as-an-inmate-of-a-concentration-camp-corrie-ten-boom-heard-a/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“If we are co-eternal with God, then it is not God's creation of the human out of nothing that defines our essential relationship to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/if-we-are-co-eternal-with-god-then-it-is-not-god-s-creation-of-the/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [“The scriptures, said Paul to Timothy, are given for “correction” and “instruction in righteousness.”3 They are likened by the Psalmist to a lamp that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/the-scriptures-said-paul-to-timothy-are-given-for-correction-and/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) [Explore all 31 Terryl L. Givens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) [Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/) > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In sum, disciples might do well to avoid the bibliolatry that characterizes scripture as unerring truth. Parley Pratt made this point himself in The Fountain of Knowledge, a small pamphlet he wrote in 1844. With elegant metaphor, he noted that scripture resulted from revelatory process and was thus the product of revealed truth, not the other way around. We do well to look to a stream for nourishing water, but we do better to secure the fountain. That fountain, Pratt noted, is “the gift of revelation,” which “the restoration of all things” heralds.21 Or, in George MacDonald’s metaphor, we should hold the scriptures as “the moon of our darkness, . . . not dear as the sun towards which we haste.\" p56”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terryl L. Givens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/in-sum-disciples-might-do-well-to-avoid-the-bibliolatry-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/in-sum-disciples-might-do-well-to-avoid-the-bibliolatry-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/terryl-l-givens-20241_bible_in-sum-disciples-might-do-well-to-avoid_2531195.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/terryl-l-givens-20241_bible_in-sum-disciples-might-do-well-to-avoid_2531195.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/terryl-l-givens-20241_bible_in-sum-disciples-might-do-well-to-avoid_2531195.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In sum, disciples might do well to avoid the bibliolatry that characterizes scripture as unerring truth…” — Terryl L. Givens", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Terryl L. Givens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In sum, disciples might do well...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/in-sum-disciples-might-do-well-to-avoid-the-bibliolatry-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/in-sum-disciples-might-do-well-to-avoid-the-bibliolatry-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```