Has Familiarity with the Bible Bred Contempt?

The proverbial saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt” has been traced back to the 13th century writings of Geoffry Chaucer (author of The Canterbury Tales), who wrote in The Tale of Melibee, “over-great familiarity engenders contempt.” Even earlier than Chaucer we may trace the idiom to St. Augustine who, in the 5th century, stated, vulgare proverbium est, quod nimia familiaritas parid contemptum, (It is a common proverb that too much familiarity breeds contempt.)  Perhaps Augustine was inspired by Jesus who said, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country.”

To understand how familiarity breeds contempt, let’s put the phrase in more modern terminology, using the Law of Diminishing Returns as an analogy.  A definition of this Law, and this is an oversimplification, is when “more of X becomes less in value.”  For example, the local burger joint has an all-you-can eat option for $15 this Monday night.  The first hamburger tastes great.  The second is excellent – what a deal! The fifth makes you want to puke, and the next day, when offered another opportunity to do the same for only $10, you turn green and your palms sweat.  At some point during this meal there was an optimal value or benefit to “more,” which then, according to this Law, reached a tipping point and “more” diminished in value.   

Since the advent of the printing press the Bible has sold more than any other book in history, yet today, less people, including Christians, value its content. More often than not it is shelved and gathering dust, only opened to record a birth, marriage, or death.   Too many people consider the Bible to be a treasured relic; beyond its prime to produce further value. The Library of God, as I like to call it, is not a dead text, but a living collection of works by human hands and provided by God. Some have aptly called it, “God’s love letter to humanity.”   

This living library is composed of 73 histories, proverbs, psalms, prophecies, stories, gospels, acts and letters to both individuals and groups.  What we call the Old Testament is known by modern Jews as the “Tanakh” which is an acronym for the Torah (Law), Nevi?im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). The New Testament is broken down into four general areas; the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Letters, and Revelation.  All combined, this living library was written over a period of 1,400 years. 

The last of the 73 books was written nearly 2,000 years ago, but the entire work remains a living Word of God for every succeeding generation.  Consider the Apostle Paul’s second letter to young Timothy (3:16-17), he writes, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  In essence, it is a living set of standard operating procedures that encompasses every aspect of our human life, authored by our Creator for the benefit of each generation. 

The Bible has intrinsic and eternal value. 

Unlike a new food craze, where we binge to the point we never want to taste again, one cannot become overly familiar with the Bible.  We can, however, as human beings lose interest.  Fickle creatures that we are, boredom is in our DNA.  When I become lax in my reading of Scripture, and my eyes do get tired of reading, I like to mix it up a little by listening to the Word instead. This past year I have derived much value from listening to an audio Bible.  My favorite version is the recorded voice of David Suchet, a Christian convert and English Actor who recorded the entire Library of God.  His version, and many others, is free on Biblegateway.com.

The Word of God was originally transmitted from mouth to ear for generations.  That we have the option of either reading or hearing only enhances our ability to bask in the light of God’s Word.  If you don’t like reading, then at least listen.  Whether you are doing dishes, fixing a widget, or just tired after a long day at the computer, keep company with the Bible.  No matter how much more time is spent in Sacred Scripture, there will never be less value.  And no one, to the best of my knowledge, has ever overdosed on Scripture.