Bob Dylan’s biblical emphasis has been recognized in much of his work, not just from his earlier Gospel releases, but inferences and allusions to it since then, right up to today. This does not seem to be a mere passive poetic or artsy spattering with Bob to suit the whim of a wordsmith. There is simply too much realism and heart and creative inspiration, sometimes clever, that goes into his music.
Does Bob still believe in Jesus as his Savior and the only way to God? Not only has he never renounced his faith, but there is enough there to give credence to Bob and his beliefs to a certain number of us believers than to simply have it written off as coincidence or conjecture from some fleeting lyric or forced interpretation.
What of those days of his presence among Jewish leaders that rubbed some the wrong way? What of his becoming like, what he is, Jewish? What of his seeming to use lyrics relevant only to those some may put in an uncultured category? Is this Bob trying to be all things to all people that he might by all means, whether as under the law or free from the law, see some saved, somehow, in his way? Is it that biblical thing he is trying to do at times?
The emphasis on this site is to let his words speak for themselves. The interpretive aspect will come only after reflection on what appears to be his clear intended meaning from within the song. We should know that context is important in meaning, but there are times it appears Bob is not bound by context to say something. Maybe it is something he wants someone to hear from among, as he sings in Ain’t Talkin’, his “loyal and much loved companions, they approve of me and share my code.” Thus, the Dylan Code.
This is not another numerology-like game with the word code used here. Bob used the word first in his song Ain’t Talkin’, so this site endeavors to build on that with a reasonable perspective based on what is revealed from his own words as a musician and an author.
You can know from studying the Bible that God gives wisdom and grace to approach our world with love and a desire to relate; to get down to where people live their lives and communicate on their level. Is Bob doing something like this? Does he want to see people saved on a variety of levels, especially on the spiritual level? After all, as he has sung or said he believes, the most important message for people is the Good News of Christ crucified for us and risen from the grave.
The biblical record or references on this site will serve to support a truth borne out in a song or its reasonable interpretation. The translation used is the NET Bible.
It should be the prayer of every believer that Romans 1:16-17 will increase in the talk and walk of each of us.
Good News