Reading the Bible with the 'Director's Commentary' On

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
John 16:7 (NIV)

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…”
2 Tim 3:16 (ESV)

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

In 2005, Americans spent over $22 billion on DVD sales and rentals, 13 billion more than they spent watching movies in the theater. It appears that when it comes to the overall movie experience, Americans now prefer to stay at home rather than venture to their local theaters. The 2006 Academy Awards show was more than just a night of honoring film’s great actors, actresses, directors and composers; it was also an all out petition for the viewing public to once again grace the sacred halls of America’s movie houses.

Part of the motivation behind this mass exodus may be the theater’s exorbitant ticket and refreshment prices. Americans may finally be saying “enough!” to shelling out fifteen dollars for a few hundred popped corn kernels and six to twelve cents worth of carbonated flavored water. No doubt home visual technology has also played a part, with in-home flat screens boasting picture quality as clear as (if not clearer) than the real thing.

But another chink in Hollywood’s theatrical armor is the many extras and special features now found on most DVD titles.

One of the most utilized DVD special features is the Director’s Commentary option. Watching a film with the D.C. feature enabled allows the viewer the rare opportunity to “hear” the creator, director or writer describe and define the contents of his or her creation. As each scene unfolds, those having written, directed, produced or starred in the film shower us with new content information, thoughts about direction, joys in certain filming moments, and the reasoning behind subtle symbolism or turn of events in the story. It is as if these creators are sitting in the room with us, sharing their secrets, personally relating their intentions, and unveiling some of the deepest desires of their film creations.

By enabling the Director’s Commentary feature, a movie on DVD takes on a whole new meaning. Without the D.C., we can only view and experience the surface of the film. But the commentary unlocks a myriad of new and complex layers beneath the movie. It becomes a far more enriching experience, bringing greater depth to both the commentators and their creations. It increases intimacy between the viewer, the creator, and the creator’s product. It is a moment of joy for the creators as well for it is their opportunity to share the wonder and labor behind their creations. We experience communication and connection on a far deeper level: through the film we see the creator’s product… but through the commentary we see the creator’s heart.

UNLOCKING A DEEPER PARALLEL

It is easy for Christians to view the Bible as a product. We consider it a very crucial, even essential product, but a product nonetheless. We focus on the surface of the text, remaining passive observers of the writing. We read the Bible like we used to watch films; content that what is right in front of us is all there is. But the Bible was never intended as a product. Nor were Christians to remain content with mere passive observation. Scripture states the Word is “living and active.” But instead of simply accepting these words, we can use the parallel above to help validate the claim and extract its deeper meaning. For we propose that the Bible might also have a Director’s Commentary feature, and through its engagement God’s Word and God’s world will explode with new relevance and purpose.

A QUICK SCRIPTURAL STUDY

Before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples that it was better that He go, for in His place He would send the Holy Spirit (John 16:7, the first passage above). The Daniel Project will unlock a myriad of new depths to that statement, but one point in particular serves for the sake of this article:

The Holy Spirit is the inspired author of the Bible.

The second scripture above (2 Tim 3:16) describes the Biblical text, and specifically its supernatural production. The verse states that the scriptures were “breathed out by God.” Other translations unveil that scripture was ‘inspired by God’ or ‘God breathed.’ In His original 1828 dictionary, Noah Webster defined “inspiration” as:

“The infusion of ideas into the mind by the Holy Spirit; the conveying into the minds of men, ideas, notices or monitions by extraordinary or supernatural influence; or the communication of the divine will to the understanding by suggestions or impressions on the mind, which leave no room to doubt the reality of their supernatural origin.”

It was the Holy Spirit that “inspired” God’s chosen human authors. It was His whisperings they put to parchment. And after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:9-11), the One who inspired the book (at that point, scrolls) was available to all of mankind. The Spiritual Writer of the Biblical text is the same Spirit now indwelling every new creation (2 Cor 5:17). Ponder this for a second, if the same Holy Spirit that indwells us is also the writer of the Bible – then we have the capacity to understand the reasoning and history behind His words, should He wish to reveal it. Depth of revelation is tied to relationship. In other words, as our relationship with the Holy Spirit increases, the “director’s commentary” feature of the Bible can be further engaged.

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
John 14:26 (NIV)

The more we partner with the Holy Spirit, the inspired author of the Bible, the more God can share with us the reasoning behind His text, the subtleties of His stories, the specifics behind His word choices, the correlation between different segments and sections of the Book. And like the DVD commentary relationship between creator and viewer, we develop a far richer understanding and appreciation of both the Creator and His product. We were not only meant to understand the rich surface of the text, but also to discover all of the hidden intricacies and subtle particulars of scripture that only its author knows.

And through new scriptural understandings, we can uncover how the scriptures tie into the Creator’s other crucial creation: the span of all human and physical existence. The Creator has given His creation a mantra for this level of discovery, showering great value on those willing to excavate His hidden treasures: “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” Proverbs 25:2 (NIV). It is like going on a great treasure hunt, and having the one who hid the treasure whispering direct clues to its location. Scripture claims that there are treasures hidden so deep they can only be discovered through relational access to the One that buried them.

“No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.” I Cor 2:7 (NIV)

“For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.” Mark 4:22 (NIV)

“You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? “From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.” Isa 48:6 (NIV)

“However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him,” but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Cor 2:9-11 (NIV)

John Wesley stated: “For the Spirit searcheth even the deep things of God – Be they ever so hidden and mysterious; the depths both of his nature and his kingdom.”¹

LIVING AND ACTIVE?

As just evidenced, the Biblical text appears to corroborate the claims in this article. But when the final verse (Heb 4:12) is analyzed through the lens of the DVD Director’s Commentary, even greater weight is added.

“For the word of God is living and active…” Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

To the atheist and agnostic the inspired writer’s claim of a “living and active” piece of literature is asinine; the Bible is little more than a product, and an archaic if not noxious one at that:

“Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.” Isaac Asimov

“If all the historic books of the Bible were blotted from the memory of mankind, nothing of value would be lost.” Robert Ingersoll

So let’s take this scriptural claim back to the DVD Director’s Commentary concept once again. A film, as a surface product, is static. Regardless of how many times we watch it, the same film remains. But if we replay the film with the director’s commentary enabled, the film has, at that moment, morphed beyond a static product. With the D.C. enabled, the film intrinsically becomes more “living and active.” Through their additional comments and thoughts, its creator or creators give their film new life. As stated prior, we understand a bit more about the creators and their film creation in that moment. However, once we’ve watched the D.C. enabled version, the film is no longer “living and active.” It becomes a static product once more. There is nothing new to discover and nothing new its creator’s can disclose that we haven’t already seen or heard through our previous viewing.

But…

… If were we given daily access to those who wrote, produced and directed the film and each day these creators’ shared with us new information about their creation, that daily interaction would perpetually increase the film’s “living and active” quality. Without access to its creators, a film remains a static product. But with new daily information about their creation, the creators’ film remains indefinitely active. The more we interacted with both the film and its creators; the deeper the living and active understanding we would have of both. In this case, it is not the creation that causes the film to become living and active, instead the conduit is our access to its creators.

A SHARP CONTRAST OF WORLDVIEWS

Like Christianity, most religious systems are founded on some sort of text or series of texts. But no other worldview or religious system asserts this level of access between its Author (deity) and its sacred text. No other worldview gives humanity its inspired writer as an indwelling entity. Therefore, no other religious text may objectively claim itself to be “living and active.” Furthermore, no other religious system’s god or gods, acts consistently with how a creator (in this case the director or storywriter) interacts with his creation. (read “The Greatest Story Ever Lived”:furthering-the-creators-storyline.html for another powerful example)

Through the lens of the DVD Director’s Commentary, the “living and active” scriptural claim is shown to be neither asinine nor contradictory. Only the Biblical text can perpetually become more living and active, because humanity has been given direct access to its Writer… provided proper relationship. Quoting Asimov, “properly read,” the Bible does not validate atheism (the non-existence of God); instead, scripture is validated once again through another existential (in this case, technological) reality. More surprising, for the depth and richness of this metaphorical Biblical correlation, it is only in the last few years that such a connection could be made.

WHAT MUST WE DO NOW?

The purpose of this article is not to load another talking point into our apologetic arsenal. It is to evoke inspired action. The Author of the Biblical text is anxiously looking for those through whom He can develop relationships intimate enough to engage His scripture’s Director’s Commentary feature: “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Ch 16:9. We have been given far more access to God’s book than we may have comprehended. The relevance of the Word of God is far more crucial and transformative than the world presupposes. The Author is simply waiting for more and more of His followers to click on the Director’s commentary feature of scripture.

Doing so will unveil a glorious world like nothing ever produced and packaged on a DVD. Read deep. Read often. Daily ask the Holy Spirit to give you rich insights into His written text and act in confident faith that He will do so. Read the Bible with the Director’s Commentary on and watch the scriptures explode with significance, relevance, and vitality and your appreciation for the Author, His Word and His world grow vibrantly. Because it doesn’t end with you. We believe that as you continue to engage this feature, your scriptural discoveries will cause the world to marvel.

FOOTNOTES:

¹ Wesley, John. “Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2”. “John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible” 1765.