Robert Wilson Lynd, an Irish writer once remarked: “The art of writing history is the art of emphasizing the significant facts at the expense of the insignificant. And it is the same in every field of knowledge. Knowledge is power only if a man knows what facts not to bother about.” Hebrews 4:12 reminds us: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Historiography is reputed to be the systematic study and written interpretation of the human past, using evidence from sources like artifacts, documents, and events to create narratives about past incidents, people, and societies, helping one understand how things changed and why the world is the way it is today. It's not just what happened (the past), but the knowledge about what happened, produced by historians using critical analysis to explain change over time, covering everything from cultures and science to politics and daily life. Its writing includes using research, interpretation, and unifying evidence from the past (primary/secondary sources) to construct a coherent, analytical narrative that explains what happened, why, and how it changed. It focuses on cause, effect, and meaning, rather than just describing events, while considering multiple perspectives and the evolution of historical understanding. It's an interpretive craft requiring clear arguments, rigorous analysis, and proper citation, presented in various forms like essays, books, or documentaries.
From a theological perspective, many faiths, particularly Christianity and Judaism, believe God is the ultimate author or director of history, viewing it as a linear narrative with a divine purpose, culminating in salvation. Humans become characters playing roles in the principal theme, even if modern philosophy questions divine intervention. While the Bible contains historical accounts, its core message is that God orchestrates events, fulfilling prophecies and guiding humanity toward an ultimate conclusion, making the Bible "God’s story."
Many people, particularly within various religious traditions, believe that God is the orchestrator, guide, or "author" of history through divine providence. This does not mean God is considered the perpetrator of evil, but rather that all events, both good and bad, ultimately serve a larger, purposeful divine plan. However, the notion of whether God is the "author" of history depends entirely on the philosophical or theological perspective being considered. In many Christian and Islamic traditions, a "Great God theory" of history prevails, where the divine is seen as being in ultimate control, shaping, and directing events. In this view, God has a sovereign plan for history from beginning to end, and all events, both big and small, happen in accordance with this plan. From this perspective, God is the primary agent, or "perpetrator" in the sense of the ultimate cause and orchestrator of history, working through both human actions (secondary causes) and divine intervention to achieve a final goal.
Historiography is said to be true in that it records events that actually happened, but human understanding of occurrences is complex, evolving narratives constructed from imperfect evidence, interpretations, and biases, not absolute unchanging truth. Historians assimilate evidence (documents, artifacts) and critical analysis to build the most reliable accounts, acknowledging that stories can be shaped by perspectives, including those of the victors. The Bible is widely believed to be the word of God, especially within Christianity, though interpretations vary significantly, with some seeing it as literally true (fundamentalists) and others viewing it as divinely inspired but needing contextual interpretation.
Mainstream Christian denominations hold that God inspired human authors through the Holy Spirit to write scripture. Scripture creates a unique written source of divine revelation, distinct from mere human texts, even while recognizing human authorship. Contrary to certain beliefs, the Bible is not considered a "history book" by some in the modern academic sense of an objective record of facts, but it is considered a collection of ancient documents with significant historical value. Whether it "is history" depends on whether one is referring to its genre, its accuracy, or its role as a source for understanding the past.
The evaluation of history is the critical assessment of historical sources to judge their usefulness, reliability, and accuracy for understanding the past, involving analysis of the source's origin (who, when, where, why) and its content (what information, perspective, bias) to form a reasoned conclusion about its value as evidence. It often uses frameworks like IOPCAM (Information, Origin, Perspective, Context, Audience, Motive) to guide the process. Its truth is a snapshot of reality at the prevailing time that can change with the revelation or discovery of new evidence.
In the carousel of life, historiography needs to be balanced. Correct evaluation of past events is imperative because it allows individuals and societies to distinguish between evidence-based facts and biased interpretations. This process, often called ”writing history,” involves analyzing how historical accounts are constructed rather than just memorizing dates or facts. But "balance" means different things: historians strive for objective analysis by acknowledging biases and presenting multiple perspectives, while also creating a coherent narrative from facts, allowing readers to see complexity rather than a single, simple truth, especially in education where understanding varied viewpoints is crucial. For a balanced view of history, it is essential to remember it's a complex story of both triumphs and failures, where understanding the past requires acknowledging different perspectives, Margaret MacMillan, Warden of the St Antony's College, Oxford once remarked: "We can learn from history, but we can also deceive ourselves when we selectively take evidence from the past to justify what we have already made up our minds to do."
While there isn't a single narrative entitled "The Story of Writing History," several biblical accounts and characters explicitly highlight the process of documenting history and divine messages. The Writing on the Wall (Daniel 5): During a banquet held by King Belshazzar of Babylon, a supernatural hand appeared and wrote a message on the palace wall. Daniel was called to interpret the text - Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin - which recorded God’s judgment: the king had been "weighed in the balances and found wanting," and his kingdom would be given to the Medes and Persians.
History can relate to God as the arena where He reveals His purpose, acts, and character, providing meaning, lessons, and a framework for understanding humanity's journey, with faiths like Christianity and Islam viewing history as a story of divine involvement, commands to remember the past, and a path toward a divine plan, teaching morals, redemption, and fostering trust in God. It is believed that God isn't just an observer but an active participant, orchestrating events to fulfill His will, making biblical history both a divine narrative and a moral guidebook for people to learn from.
2 Timothy 3:16 reveals that all Scripture is "God-breathed" (theopneustos), originating from God, making it supremely useful for teaching truth, exposing error (reproof), setting things right (correction), and training believers in righteous living, ultimately equipping them for good works. It establishes the Bible as a divine, authoritative guide for faith and life, valuable for doctrine, correction, and spiritual growth, ensuring believers are fully prepared for Christian service. It reminds us: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
Amen.
