QUESTION
Is it advisable to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for Bible study and in Christian ministries?1
ANSWER
Generative Al (referred to here simply as GenAI) is a form of artificial intelligence capable of creating new material, such as text and images, by learning patterns from vast amounts of existing data. It is readily accessible today through tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft CoPilot. GenAI has been described as ‘the defining technology of our times’2, with some even suggesting its impact may be ‘more profound than fire or electricity’3. As its use becomes more widespread in professional and personal contexts, an important question arises: does GenAI have a place in Bible study and Christian ministry?
To answer this, it is helpful to reflect on how GenAI works. GenAI does not think, understand or possess knowledge in a human sense. Instead, it processes large datasets and generates responses by predicting likely sequences of words based on patterns it has learned. Consequently, GenAI does not discern truth. It produces plausible answers based on probability.
Positive uses of GenAI
Used carefully, GenAI can be a helpful tool in finding information particularly on well-established and uncontroversial biblical subjects. In this respect, it can be used in a similar way to traditional study aids such as concordances, Bible dictionaries and encyclopaedias. However, in comparison, it is far more sophisticated, being faster and broader in scope, albeit sometimes less reliable.
Appropriate uses would include:
- Locating scripture passages: GenAI can quickly identify Bible verses related to general themes or concepts, such as grace, forgiveness, or suffering, which can then be examined in their proper context.
- Comparing passages: It can bring together parallel accounts (e.g., the harmonizing of the Gospels) or help outline timelines, such as that of Old Testament prophetic ministries, with other biblical events.
- Background research: GenAI can place Bible books and chapters we may be studying in their historical, cultural, and geographical context, for example, explaining the setting of the church at Ephesus.
- Language and structure: It can help outline passages and identify key themes which can be a useful starting point for deeper personal study. Gen Al can also be used, with care, to compare related Bible words, such as the Greek words for ‘love’.
- Writing assistance: GenAI is particularly useful for improving clarity, grammar, and flow in written material.
- Practical support in ministry: It can be useful in drafting notices, summarizing meetings, or assisting with administrative tasks.
In all these cases, GenAI can function as a tool to assist, not as a source of authority. It can gather and organize information, but it cannot replace careful reading of scripture or dependence on God.
Dangers of GenAI Use
Despite its usefulness, GenAI presents significant risks, particularly because of how persuasive and authoritative its outputs can appear. Three key concerns are especially relevant:
- Is it true? GenAI draws on a wide range of sources without consistently distinguishing between what is reliable and what is unreliable, or between truth and error. While it may often generate answers that appear biblically grounded, it can also produce responses that are confused or doctrinally unsound. In some cases, it may even generate entirely fabricated information, so-called ‘hallucinations’. Users should therefore exercise care, requesting sources and comparing them directly with the scriptures.
- Is it wise? Biblical wisdom is not merely knowledge but the ability to live rightly before God and to apply biblical principles in real life scenarios. It involves moral discernment, spiritual maturity, and experience gained through walking with Him. While GenAI can provide information, it cannot offer true wisdom. Many areas of Christian life, such as bringing spiritual guidance into challenging situations, require sensitivity, discernment, and the application of‘living by faith’. These are beyond the reach of any algorithm.
- Who is the author? GenAI can generate sermons in seconds; however, it has no personal faith and no relationship with God. Those who teach the word of God are called to do so through time spent in His presence, carefully meditating on the scriptures, 2 Tim. 2. 15. The Spirit of God becomes the true author of the message, as He impresses it upon the heart of a gifted teacher and enables him to share it with the people of God. Those who replace this spiritual exercise with Al-generated content risk becoming ineffective and inauthentic in the teaching of God’s word.
In conclusion, GenAI is a powerful and potentially useful tool, but it must be used with discernment. It can assist with information gathering, organization, and communication, but it cannot replace the foundational elements of Christian life, such as Bible study, prayer, the work of the Holy Spirit, and personal spiritual growth.
