C S Lewis On Scripture

by Michael J. Christensen

C. S. Lewis' thoughts on the nature of Biblical inspiration, the role of revelation and the question of inerrancy.

Genres: Religion, Theology, Christian, Nonfiction

126 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Michael J. Christensen, Ph.D.
Michael J. Christensen (M.A., Yale, Ph.D., Drew), is Associate Professor in the Practice of Spirituality and Director of the Shalom Initiative for Prophetic Leadership and Community Development at Drew University. He also is Senior Pastor of Epworth Berkeley United Methodist Church and Founder of WorldHope Corps, Inc.

He was “graduated with distinction” from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, with a B.A. in Literature and a minor in Psychology (1977). He has an M.A. in Religion from Yale Divinity School (1981) and a Ph.D. in Theological and Religious Studies from Drew University (1997). Currently, his research and writing interests include: apocalyptic eschatology, comparative spirituality, inter-religious theology, asset based community development, and social transformation.

Ordained in the Church of the Nazarene and a clergy member of The United Methodist Church, Dr. Christensen is author or editor of nine books and numerous articles on practical theology and spiritual practice.

Reviews

[Preston Scott Blakeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christensen presents an accurate — accurate in what I have read, at least — and accessible theological reflection on one of the most widely read Christian thinkers: C.S. Lewis. I found this short read to not only be helpful in understanding the role of scripture in the thought of Lewis, but also helpful in defining terms such as inspiration, revelation, inerrancy, authority, and myth. Christensen defines these terms according to various theological camps — the ancients, liberals, orthodox, neo-orthodox, and fundamentalists — in order to best contextualize Lewis in the light of various beliefs, yet also in an effort to avoid the fallacy of confining him to any given systematic theological structure. In the process, Christensen quotes everyone from the ancient St. Augustine to the existentialist Søren Kierkegaard, diverse quotations that are thoroughly appreciated. Personally, it was consoling to learn that many great “Saints” have struggled to interpret the line between myth and fact, something I have wrestled with on my own spiritual pilgrimage.

[Eric Morrissey]

Very insightful book on CS Lewis’s thinking. Short but good. I especially appreciated the insight into Lewis’s understanding of the word “myth.” Lewis is admittedly not a theologian and himself says to submit his theological stances to those more experienced than he. All the same, I appreciate his insight. Especially loved the author delving into Sehnsucht, which is perhaps what draws me most into Lewis. Short but good read.

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A careful and thoughtful exposition of CS Lewis' views on Scripture. Christensen's arguments are full of grace. In reference to Communion, he points out Lewis' admission that his view probably seems more magical than theological to most people, but that the divine command was, "Take, eat," not "Take, understand." "Here a hand from a hidden country touches not only my soul but my body." (p30)

On the question of animal souls, Lewis an ardent anti-vivisectionist suggested he was in the good company of "old maids" and the likes of John Wesley. (p32)

Repentance "is not something God demands of you before He will take you back and which He could let you off if He chose; it is simply a description of what going back is like." We need to repent but we are helpless to do so without God. (p33)

Poetic language - alliteration, vowel-music, figures of speech, images, association - is the means employed to portray artistically those realities and experiences which are perhaps indescribable in ordinary prose. ... The existential or "modern" approach to literature is concerned with art for art's sake. The Platonic or "classical" approach is concerned with art for Truth's sake. (p48)

"Every poet and musician and artist, but for Grace, is drawn away from love of the thing he tells, to love of the telling." The Great Divorce (p49)

Lewis identifies the characteristics of myth as
(1) can be distinguished from allegory
(2) is fundamentally extraliteral
(3) has elements of fantasy
(4) embodies universal reality
(5) has a unifying effect on the receiver
(6) functions as a bridge between worlds (p61)

[Shelley Alongi]

I first met the work of CS Lewis probably five years ago. I discovered this little book by accident looking for something completely different. :-) Since I am very interested in opinions of the Bible I thought I would read this. I loved it. :-) It answered some questions that I’ve had for a while especially about how to explain mythology and similarities to the Bible. I love reading the Bible I have no shame in admitting that. :-) I will be reading this book over and over again. I don’t think I’ll read the Bible With the same understanding that I have. I’d like some of his opinions and some need more clarification. So this book definitely goes on my reference shelf. :-) Happy reading I think now I will understand the work of CS Lewis better. I always loved the chronicles of Narnia and I am looking forward to reading his actual biography. I read becoming Mrs. Lewis and I don’t remember the authors name about how he met and married his wife and I really enjoyed that book. What I want to do now is read a biography. And :-) read the Bible. Again :-) by the way, another plus for this book is the very capsulized histories of the church and its relation ship to the Bible. I feel like I understand neo orthodoxy a little bit better. However in all of their discussions they never talk about the Jewish understanding of the Bible. I think that will go even further and explaining things.

[Jacob Rush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Some of Christensen's points are thin (his account of the Reformation's view of Scripture, for example). So, too, his highlight of some of Lewis's more "extreme" beliefs. The net-net is he thinks that Lewis is between fundamentalism and liberal. He ends up not aligning Lewis with neo-orthodox views of Scripture, though he says they have similarities.

[Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book grappling with the tricky questions of Biblical inspiration and inerrancy, and reason, imagination/intuition and myth.

If I read it right, Lewis came down solidly believing in the truth of Scripture but understanding that reason can only carry us so far in our pursuit of knowledge, that imagination has a role to play as well, a role that in many ways is the more important role. The resulting hybrid is the best and highest of all, and that we call myth.

But I'm no expert.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this small tome on C S Lewis' view of Scripture. Of course Lewis himself did not write any such book on the subject. From Christensen's research it is clear that Lewis was neither a fundamentalist nor a liberal. His understanding of the Bible was projected through his understanding of literature. For example, Christensen writes, "Our conceptions of God are determined by the images through which the revelation appears. Finite beings in a finite world have no absolute knowledge of God, only analogies, models, symbols and abstractions. 'We cannot see light, though by light we can see things' .

Christensen also quotes a fascinating discussion between Tolkien and Lewis that illustrate the unique and important truth that can be contained within myth.

“But, said Lewis, myths are lies, even though lies breathed through silver.
No, said Tolkien, they are not. Just as speech is invention about objects and ideas, so myth is invention about truth.
“You call a star a star, and say it is just a ball of matter moving on a mathematical course. But that is merely how you see it. By so naming things and describing them you are only inventing your own terms about them. And just as speech is invention about objects and ideas, so myth is invention about truth.”
― Humphrey Carpenter, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

For Lewis then, not every story of the bible had to be literal and historical fact (eg Jonah and the whale). Instead, myth (perhaps based on historical fact) could illustrate and point to a greater more poignant reality. The difference for Lewis is that the gospel of Jesus, his death and resurrection, were historical fact and fulfilment of these mythic shadows.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some of my friends, "C.S. Lewis on Scripture" might be like "Irrelevance on Irrelevance." I think there are some good reasons to second-guess that initial reaction. Michael J. Christensen looks at how Lewis' deep and wide knowledge of literature, poetics, mythology, and philosophy informed his view of Scripture. So in addition to Lewis' Christianity, Christensen spends equal time on his approach to literary criticism, philosophy, and his profound appreciation for myth. More specifically, Christensen addresses Lewis' neo-Platonic tendencies, romanticism and literary fellow travelers, as well as a brief survey of historical views of the inspiration of the Bible. In the appendix entitled "Lewis: The Rational Romantic," Christensen writes, "Reason and imagination for Lewis are the complementary human faculties of knowing." A large part of the book could be seen as unpacking that statement. But that's not to overlook Christensen's situating of Lewis in the context of evangelical controversies about the Bible and how it is understood dogmatically.

[Joey Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, never thought I could disagree so profoundly with the great C.S. Lewis, but that is the reality. I learned much from this book.

[Joel Griffis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lewis's theology is a beautiful green pasture. This book rubs your nose in some of the cow pies. But I suppose it's a fair treatment on the whole.

[Jonathan Lampley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how much is true and how much is not, but regardless it was a good read. I would recommend it.