devotional conversation

Reclaiming One's Heart: How Christology Lost Its Devotional Core

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10

This cry, manifesting in the poetic layers of the psalmist’s soul, is the revelation of the Bible’s underlying philosophy. At its core, the Hebrew Scriptures call for inward transformation through a sincere acquaintance with its words: “Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace... lay up his words in thine heart” (Job 22:21–22). Knowledge, to the Bible’s mind, is not propositional or metaphysical. It is personal, reflective, and intimate: “...through knowledge shall the just be delivered” (Proverbs 11:9).

But what became of this simple, yet meaningful devotional experience, in early Christianity?

Paul and the Early Shift Toward Metaphysics

According to Marshall (1967), Paul's writings represent a critical theological shift. While Paul's letters include moral exhortations and personal struggles, his Christology primarily conceptualizes the Jesus character as a supramundane figure (p. 78), a being of divine essence who stands in metaphysical proximity to his God. In Galatians 4:4, Paul refers to his Christ as being sent from God, implying a preexistent, divine being rather than a prophetic teacher rooted in human history.

Marshall shows that by the time Paul writes, within only two decades of the Jesus character’s supposed crucifixion, a Hellenistic ontology begins to dominate, even an abstract framework emphasizing this figure’s divinity in cosmic, rather than existential, terms (pp. 86–88). This early Christian turn was not accidental; it was fueled by contact with Greek ideas of the “divine man” and Gnostic notions of a descending redeemer. Jesus was no longer merely to be thought of a real and living man, one who taught his hearers to be clean-minded before God, but a metaphysical solution to “sin”— a celestial ransom.

From Jesus’ Simplicity to Council Complexity

Zachhuber (2021) highlights how this metaphysical focus deepened as Christianity moved into the fourth and fifth centuries. The Church councils, particularly Chalcedon (451 CE), did not just define who the Jesus character was—they codified him into philosophical categories derived from Greek metaphysics, such as physis, ousia, and hypostasis (Zachhuber, 2021, pp. 209–211).

As Zachhuber (2021) laments, Christology became so scholastic and technical that it lost the organic vitality of earlier Jewish spirituality. What once was a moral and relational appeal for a “renewed spirit” became a debate over whether “Jesus” had one nature or two, or whether his hypostasis aligned with divine or human substance. The devotional conversation had been colonized by the conceptual tools of Stoicism and Middle Platonism, not by the philosophy within the Psalms or the Proverbs.

Hellenistic Philosophy and the Loss of Hebrew Intimacy

The shift wasn't merely theological; it was philosophical. Zachhuber (2021) notes how later theologians like Gregory of Nyssa or Cyril of Alexandria absorbed and restructured Christian thought to mirror Platonic and Neoplatonic metaphysics (pp. 212–214). In doing so, the Jesus character was no longer primarily a teacher of the inward way but became the cosmic Logos—the rational principle of the universe.

This is a far cry from the personal yearning of the Hebrew Bible, where true knowledge is internalized in the heart and mind. As Psalm 51 indicates, devotion was never about metaphysical comprehension, but ethical devotional sincerity and inner transformation.

The False Images: Paul's Cosmic Christ and the Gospel Jesus

Both Marshall and Zachhuber help us see that the Christ of Paul—and even the progressively mythologized Jesus of the Gospels—represent a theological departure. As the church absorbed Greek categories, it replaced the Hebrew notion of “acquaintance with God” with allegiance to a doctrinal system.

Jesus becomes functionally divine in Paul’s letters, but that functionality is tied to sacrificial substitution rather than the transformation of character. In the Gospels, Jesus is slowly mythologized as a miracle-working demigod, drawing from Hellenistic Jewish and pagan traditions. The result: the devotional emphasis on the heart and spirit gives way to belief in personhood and doctrine.

Marshall (1967) warns us not to overlook this subtle but powerful transition. He writes, “It would be most curious if the early church had proceeded to use this title [Son of God] in a purely functional manner,” and yet this is precisely what occurred in both Pauline and post-Pauline theology (Marshall, 1967, p. 84).

The Way Back: Knowledge That Delivers

The Bible’s spirituality, as Proverbs teaches, rests on the deliverance brought through knowledge, not metaphysical speculation, but knowing in the Hebrew sense: encountering, internalizing, and embodying. “Acquaint now thyself with Him…” (Job 22:21) is not a call to creeds, but to presence.

Christian theology has spent centuries drifting from this central point. Zachhuber is keenly aware of this when he observes that the technical debates of the fourth century often "exact a real loss of religious meaning as the price for doctrinal sophistication" (Zachhuber, 2021, p. 216). The church may have constructed cathedrals of logic, but it did so on the ruins of Hebrew philosophical devotion.

To reclaim one’s clean heart, the devotional conversation must step away from the illusion of Christological precision and return to the raw, honest prayer of the psalmist’s soul. Not a metaphysical Jesus, nor a politicized Gospel Jesus—but a conversation with the living God, the one whose words renews and delivers.

Let the Heart Speak Again

Christians must reckon with the fact that what has been handed down to them (in their religious theory) is a compromised inheritance—one shaped more by Plato and Philo than by Moses and the Prophets. Paul's Jesus, and also the Gospel Jesus, have been so layered with foreign philosophy that one’s original devotional experience and conscience has been obscured.

But the Psalms still call. The Proverbs still promise deliverance through knowledge. Nothing has changed. And Job still reminds us that peace comes not through theology, but through acquaintance with the Bible’s words. The time has come to let our devotional heart speak again—unmediated, unencumbered, and undistracted by the philosophical scaffolding of a church that forgot how to pray, learn, and reflect.

References

Marshall, I. H. (1967). The Development of Christology in the Early Church. Tyndale Bulletin18(1), 77-93.

Zachhuber, J. (2021). Christology in the fourth century: a response.

How to Find Deeper Meaning in the Bible and Achieve Devotional Peace

Why the Bible’s Symbolic Understanding Matters

In today’s world of religion and spirituality, people often connect with the Bible through traditional interpretations that sometimes feel distant or too contradictory to apply. However, by exploring the symbolic meanings within the Bible, we can unlock a deeper, more personal relationship with its words. This approach, guided by texts like Psalm 51:10’s plea for a “pure heart” and Ephesians 4:23’s call for “renewing the mind,” offers a path toward devotional peace and spiritual growth.

In this post, we’ll look at how interpreting the Bible can foster peace and wellbeing, practical ways to start understanding its wording, and a real-life example (my own) of transformative insights gained from scripture. The intention is to show that finding the symbolic meaning within the Bible can bring powerful insights that secure personal and devotional peace.

The Power of Symbolism in the Bible: How It Can Transform Your Belief

The Bible’s rich symbolic language helps it go beyond literal teachings, providing deeper philosophical truths that are for guiding our personal and devotional life. Understanding the language of the Bible’s symbolism enables us to see our own spiritual struggles, values, and aspirations reflected within its words. This approach encourages us to grow spiritually and experience personal transformation through a deeper connection with it.

How to Understand Symbolism in the Bible

Learning to interpret the Bible is valuable for the development of our devotional conversation’s character. Here are a few effective steps, as stated in Isaiah 28:9-12, for identifying and understanding symbolic language in the Bible:

  1. Identify Common themes and illustrations: Recognize recurring images and themes in scripture, such as “honey,” which is used to figuratively illustrate the beauty of the philosophy at the Bible’s core. (Prov. 24:13,14; Ps. 119:103)

  2. Consider Historical and Cultural Context: The Bible will use, for example, language concerning the context of the ecological and geographical culture of the supposed characters within it, like “manna,” which is and can be found (as it has been documented) in the desert within the middle east. It does, according to researchers and archaeologists, taste like honey. If tasting like “honey,” if we can know what honey symbolizes, what is one, when eating “manna,” actually eating?

  3. Reflect on Personal Significance: When you encounter a symbol, such as “honey,” take a moment to reflect on what it is supposed represent within your own devotional journey. This personalized reflection opens up fresh ways to connect with the Bible’s spiritual concepts.

These steps transform the Bible from a static and out-of-date text into a dynamic and evolving work as we gain deeper insights. By understanding its symbols, we connect more deeply with the Bible, inviting its counsel to resonate with us.

How Understanding Ezekiel 18 Changed My Perspective

I am always asked where my doctrinal journey began, and I am always recounting my experience with Ezekiel 18. This chapter reshaped my understanding of personal devotional responsibility, accountability, and justice within the Bible. For example, Ezekiel 18:20 reads, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son…” Herein we are introduced to the concept, despite what popular theology tell us, that each person is accountable for their own actions and experience.

Interpreting this verse symbolically allowed me to move past the idea of “original sin” as a form of inherited fault and instead find the Christian statement of “original sin” to be a narrative deviating from the Bible’s philosophy. This understanding of Ezekiel 18 offered a new, mindful perspective—one where each individual’s relationship with the living God is based on personal accountability rather than inherited guilt. Understanding the language within this verse, I experienced the intended devotional peace and gained the confidence to further explore scripture without the constraints of traditional interpretations.

Applying Symbolic Insights to Daily Life: Practical Tips for Spiritual Growth

Interpreting symbolism in the Bible is more than just an intellectual exercise—it’s a way to invite inward peace into our everyday personal and devotional life. Here’s how to integrate these insights into your routine:

  1. Mindful Meditation on Scripture: Choose a verse to reflect on consistently. For instance, Psalm 51:10’s request for a “pure heart” can become a focus, helping you reflect on forgiveness, renewal, and your present level of wellbeing.

  2. Slow, Meditative Reading: Don’t just read the Bible. Allow the Bible to read you. Ponder verses like Ephesians 4:23’s call to “renew your mind,” imagining how a renewed mindset could influence your interactions and decisions.

  3. Reflective Writing: Writing about passages helps clarify your understanding of them. Don’t worry about being an “expert.” Write down your understanding and personal reflections, noting how these meanings (whether negative or positive) apply to you.

Through these practices, symbolic interpretation becomes a living part of your spiritual routine, offering insights that encourage peace or contentment, wellbeing, and self-awareness.

Embrace The Bible’s Words for Lasting Peace and Transformation

The Bible invites us to engage with it on multiple levels, and its symbolic language is a powerful tool for personal transformation. By embracing these symbols, we move beyond rigid interpretations and engage with the text in a way that’s meaningful and relevant to our lives. As Job 22:21-22 suggests, laying up the Bible’s words within the heart brings peace—a peace that can transform not just our spirituality, but our entire approach to life.

By seeking out the symbolic meanings in the Bible, you can find inward peace, allowing the words of scripture to speak directly to your personal journey and resonate within you in a deeply transformative way.

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To cultivate a deep, spiritually fulfilling life, it is essential to move beyond self-imposed religious structures to embrace the Bible’s core philosophy. This is not just about following religious policies but about seeking a genuine connection with the Bible, as it says in Galatians 2:19, "Live unto God." This transformative path challenges us to align our understanding with the will at the core of the scriptures, allowing its righteousness to permeate our devotional life.

The Bible continually reminds us that true devotion begins with living "according to God in the spirit" (1 Peter 4:6). This means shifting the focus from mere external religious acts to an internal transformation. Our conversation must be centered on the meaning of the Bible’s righteousness, upholding its counsel as our guide. Psalm 119:116 states, "Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live." By immersing our conversation’s conscience in Scripture, we allow the Bible’s intention to dwell within us, transforming our spirit or mind and leading us to a more fulfilling personal and devotional life.

Understanding the Bible’s philosophy requires us to engage deeply with its “Word.” Our faith’s mind, guided by this Spirit, serves as the instrument for discerning its wisdom. Romans 7:25 affirms, "With the mind I myself serve the law of God." Our mental and spiritual efforts must be aligned with the law of the Bible’s Spirit, where true understanding is manifested. This is the Bible's deeper call: to engage our mind, allowing it to serve and understand its philosophy from a place of love and purpose.

True spiritual wisdom comes from transcending the religious world’s dogmas and misconceptions. The Bible highlights that our belief must leave behind self-centered religious notions to grasp the broader vision of its intended creation. As Romans 7:18 explains, without this wisdom, our devotional experience is bound to an empty practice, disconnected from the true essence of mindful living. The Bible’s call is to experiment with faith, to investigate the Bible’s wisdom, and apply them to our lives through conscious effort.

The Bible’s philosophy centers on the Bible’s righteousness. This righteousness, however, is not limited to ritual or tradition; it must be realized through personal experience and experimentation. The scriptures guide us to pursue the Bible’s commandment with diligence, as only through active faith can we understand and live out the intended experience.

The Bible offers a profound educational journey for our belief’s mind, where wisdom and knowledge of the Bible’s intention lead to its liberation, even like as Proverbs 11:9 asserts, "Through knowledge shall the just be delivered." The pursuit of this wisdom requires us to consistently review and reflect on the Bible’s words, freeing us from false teachings and leading us to fact. This journey involves death to the conversation’s natural constitution, as Romans 6:10 says, so that our understanding may live unto the living God.

The process of sanctification—our belief and its intellect purified—occurs as we engage in the living God’s educational system. This journey leads to the transformation of the mind, allowing us to partake in right wisdom and leaving behind the superficial elements of the religious world. As Colossians 1:13 suggests, our deliverance from earthly concerns happens as we move toward our faith’s higher purposes.

Our faith’s ultimate calling is for us to align it with the Bible’s philosophical intention. The Bible’s philosophy, rooted in a benevolent wisdom, invites us to move beyond mere religious tradition and into a deeper, more meaningful engagement with our understanding. This path is not easy, but it is essential for spiritual growth and enlightenment.

Through this understanding, we move beyond the confines of religious conventions and embrace a higher learning, one that is based upon purpose and guided by wisdom. The Bible’s word’s are a living guide, calling us to live "according to God in the spirit" (1 Peter 4:6), to honor that experience in truth, and to experience the transformative power of those words.