But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, the same veil is still there; it is not unveiled since in Christ it is set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds, but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
—2 Corinthians 3:14–16

Wow. What a profound statement of a Christ-centered hermeneutic. It also goes to show how interpretation is a spiritual enterprise, and not a scientific or even artistic one. You cannot be led by systems of doctrine or even systems of interpretation. The Spirit gives light to interpretation. This makes it dangerous and exciting.

Another note: it’s interesting that the verses that follow this highlight are often used to talk about spiritual freedom. I wonder if the freedom and newness that Paul talks about is, in fact, freedom in biblical understanding and interpretation—a freedom to see what things in the Bible have been pointing to all along, rather than simply being fixed on a simplistic and literalistic meaning of the words.

For more on Scripture as a Christ-centered, living act of divine communication rather than merely a collection of words, read: What IS the Bible? Let’s Discuss.

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