Is ChatGPT Replacing My Bible? A Personal Reflection
AI can be a helpful tool, but are we relying on it more than God’s Word? While ChatGPT can assist with Bible study, it lacks divine authority. The Bible is living and active—AI is just a tool. Let’s ensure technology supports, not replaces, our pursuit of Scripture. Who has priority in your life?
As I was preparing to put together a Bible study for one of our midweek church meetings, I found myself quickly reaching out to ChatGPT for some help. Normally I wouldn't think too much about this, as it's a useful tool for tasks such as summarisation and idea generation. However, on this occasion, I couldn't help but ask myself, "Am I relying on ChatGPT more than my own Bible?". We could take this a step further my asking "Does ChatGPT take priority over the Bible?".
I'm sure this is a question we can all ask ourselves, even if we remove the word "ChatGPT" and replace it with something else we rely on just a bit too much. But in the broader context of AI and the Bible, it's worth challenging ourselves—not just on our reliance on AI tools but also on our Bible study habits.
The Subtle Danger of AI Convenience
One of the dangers of AI tools such as ChatGPT is that they can make it easy to outsource our thinking. When we use them for Bible study, do we see them as helpful tools, similar to a Bible concordance or commentary? Or are we allowing them to override the importance of engaging deeply with God’s Word?
It’s important to recognise that while AI can summarise, generate ideas, and provide helpful insights, it does not carry divine authority. If we become too comfortable depending on it for answers, we risk neglecting the personal effort and spiritual discipline of studying Scripture for ourselves.
Putting Things Into Perspective
When using AI tools for Bible study, it's worth putting things into perspective. As intelligent as ChatGPT may seem, it's still a man-made creation—finite and limited. At its core, it's just a sophisticated system of algorithms and data, assembling words based on probabilities, not divine revelation. It's nothing more than a bunch of zeros and ones which are carefully assembled together to closely reveal an intelligent being. It does not have the power to transform hearts or provide spiritual nourishment.
By contrast, as found in Hebrews 4:12, the Bible is God’s living Word as it's "alive and active". It's inspired, authoritative, and timeless. While technology can assist us, it should never replace the role of Scripture in shaping our lives. The wisdom of the world (including AI) should always be tested against the unchanging truth of God’s Word.
Conclusion
To be clear, I want to state that, when used correctly, AI is an incredibly powerful tool which can be used to help us gain a deeper understanding of God's Word - it was even used to help prepare this blog post!
Technology is a gift, and AI can be a helpful resource. But we must be careful not to let it take the place of God’s Word in our lives. ChatGPT and similar tools can assist us in study, but I can't stress enough that they are no substitute for the authority, power, and divine wisdom found in the Bible.
