The Bible rarely asserts its authority self-referentially. When it does, we should pay attention. Second Timothy promises that “all scripture is inspired by God.” The scripture Timothy refers to—the only scripture the New Testament knows—are the Hebrew scriptures, what we call the Old Testament. It is a gift from God, and it instructs us in the salvation that faith in Jesus brings.

God has given us variegated scriptures. The voice of God’s written word comes not as that of a monotone speaker but rather resembles a raucous family argument over good food, stretched out over centuries. The Bible is not a single book, but a library of many (sixty-six for most Protestants; more for other Christian denominations) with different authors and settings. Some parts disagree with other parts. This suggests that God wants us to discern truth through many and varied voices.

Our text from Jeremiah continues Torah’s tradition of limiting retribution. Exodus promises that God’s mercy extends to a thousand generations. (See Exodus 34:6-7.) That’s a heap of mercy. It continues with what seems like a curse—iniquity on children to the third and fourth generations. That’s a lot less punishment than mercy, but the prophets are not satisfied. As we read yesterday, Jeremiah 31:29-30 disagrees with Exodus: God punishes no one for their parents’ sins. See the trajectory of mercy started in Exodus and continued in Jeremiah?

Scripture is not a word in granite or marble. It is a word on soft, fleshy hearts. (See Jeremiah 31:33.) Discerning its truth—drinking its marrow—requires argument, debate, discernment, and delight. That’s how God makes us, mere humans, more like God.