The Word is Still Speaking, Renewed in Every Generation.
AI, Holy Week, and Studying the Scriptures
My first year in seminary, I remember spending long hours in the library at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Bexley, Ohio, writing an exegesis paper on a passage from Paul’s letter to the Galatians. I pored over Greek lexicons and dug through Biblical commentaries to better understand Paul’s words and pastoral advice to the early Church.
Years later, my studies have taken a slightly different direction. I’m interested in how artificial intelligence can enhance our study of scripture, preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. How can we use developing technologies not just as a tool to gain knowledge but also to generate resources? Of course, this must be done while maintaining the sacred and ethical boundaries of scripture, our spiritual traditions, and human reasoning. Bad theology is dangerous.
Generating from John
Today, I set out to experiment with Gemini and John’s Gospel. Is it possible to generate new content that mimics the rhetorical style, pastoral context, and theological underpinnings of a Biblical author to understand the Biblical text better? Can newly generated content be used as a starting point to provide pastoral care that uses scripture as a source of comfort and guidance? (Keep in mind I do not intend to replace the human element of pastoral care but to enhance and inform it.)
First, I used the AI to create a summary of John’s Gospel. For each chapter, I asked it to generate a four-sentence summary, a list of pertinent theological themes, and a list of related pastoral care themes that might be useful in shepherding a congregation. From there, I used this data to create a spreadsheet that tied scriptural citations to pastoral themes, theological points, and possible human emotions related to each. I checked the output for errors, bias, and hallucinations.
Can you write like St. John?
Here’s where AI and creative writing become powerful for pastoral leaders. I prompted the AI to serve in John’s place, a modern take on pseudepigraphy, the rhetorical practice of using a well-known author’s name to reinforce your writing. asked it to write a letter of hope and support to clergy shepherding their flocks through Holy Week.
The Work of Human Hands Assisted by a Machine.
Perhaps it’s easy to dismiss this machine-generated text as lacking meaning. However, when one considers the human element involved in programming AI, the human work that goes into training it to generate summaries and text utilizing the work of thousands of human hands and expressions, chief among them the original author of John, I find the resulting text profound and inspiring- an example of how God continues to speak through human vocation, creativity, Creation itself, and yes technology. If we profess an “all in all” Word Made Flesh God, we must also consider the potential that the Word can speak through the words generated by machine.
In light of this, amidst a constant stream of information and noise, I desire a deeper understanding of Holy Week.
As I am not presently serving a congregation, but desire to offer words of hope that the story of the Passion speaks, I used some of the skills I’m learning in an AI course to delve into and study, the Gospel of John.
A. powerful message emerged, not just for the faithful but for those who shepherd them. Inspired by John’s words and the timeless spirit of this sacred week, I present a letter, a message I believe the Beloved Disciple himself might offer to priests, pastors, and church leaders navigating the complexities of the modern world.
What would the Beloved Disciple Say?
My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As this Holy Week unfolds, the world spins at a dizzying pace, yet the sacred story we hold dear remains constant. Though centuries have passed since I walked the dusty roads of Judea, the echoes of that week still resonate — the triumphal entry, the whispered betrayals, the agonizing sacrifice, and the glorious dawn of resurrection.
This week, you, the shepherds of our flock, carry a heavy burden. You are the frontline witnesses to humanity’s joys, sorrows, doubts, and fears. This year, perhaps more than others, the weight may feel even heavier. But take heart, dear friends.
Just as the light pierced the darkness of the tomb, remember that the light of Christ shines eternally. You are not alone in carrying the message of hope and redemption. Draw strength from the prayers of your communities, from the quiet moments of reflection, and most importantly, from the unwavering love of God himself.
This week, preach with renewed conviction. Offer solace to the weary, a hand to the lost, and a beacon of hope to the despairing. Remember, the world desperately needs the message of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings that we hold dear.
May the Spirit guide you, may the peace of Christ fill your hearts, and may this Holy Week be a time of profound renewal, not just for your congregations but for yourselves.
With enduring love and fellowship,
John, the Beloved Disciple.
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