Interpreting the Bible
How should we interpret the Bible? Some Christians believe we should interpret literally, whilst others would disagree with that. It's not unusually for Christians to have two or three differing viewpoints on a particular passage of the Bible. The following article may be helpful in us understanding how we should interpre the Scriptures.
Title: Pass It On - A Rule For Good Bible Interpretation
Author: Rev Michael Bresciani
Article:
With dozens of bible translations available today and a myriad
of voices preaching and teaching from theses bibles how do we
know which is trustworthy? It is simpler than you think.
During the dark ages the scriptures were chained to pedestals in
the major cathedrals of the world. The common people could not
read the bible and even the clergy were limited to reading it
only where it stood. Those days have been eliminated by the
courageous efforts of clergy and reformers like Luther, Calvin,
Tyndale and a host of others who in some cases gave their lives
in the effort. We now enjoy the fruit of their labors throughout
most of the free world. Not only are all the versions of the
bible available here in America but one publisher has begun
offering the bible bound and covered in your choice of designer
colors!
Yet for all of this profusion of bibles one of the flimsiest
excuses for not reading or trusting the bible is still being
used everywhere throughout the land. Who has not heard someone
say, "The bible is open to interpretation and that's why it
can't be trusted"? If honestly examined, this excuse will be
found to be just another one of those "common wisdom of the day"
utterances that has no more truth in it than water in the
desert. It is grown out of ignorance, watered by indifference
and harvested in laziness. It is used glibly but has dire
consequences; in fact it could cost a person their entire future.
The first rule of interpretation says that no one has the right
to interpret the scripture in a merely personal or private way.
...Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of
any private interpretation. I Peter 1:20 If the bible is not
open to private interpretation then it must only be open to
public interpretation. That is the key. The universal bible
believing church the world over has an interpretation that
qualifies this fact, the minor doctrinal differences and the
trend toward liberalism notwithstanding. Whether Pentecostal,
Evangelical, Baptist, Methodist or any other major historical
denomination the bible is interpreted the same. Jesus death and
resurrection is the key to salvation and his teachings are the
key to our best behavior. When people stray very far from this
kind of interpretation of the bible they are bordering on
heresy, cultism or something worse.
Another great rule of sound biblical interpretation is to let
the bible interpret itself. Let the whole bible reflect on any
part of it in particular. You will rarely ever go wrong by
applying this rule. This of course implies that you would have
to study the whole bible. That alone would just about eliminate
any problem with bible interpretation you will ever encounter.
An old preacher from Vermont once told me of a basic rule of
interpretation he had learned while attending Bible College. I
have never forgotten it and I've never failed to use it. He
said, "If the scripture makes plain sense, seek no other sense".
Being complicated is not a prerequisite to being a bible student
so don't bury your self in hidden meanings and obscurities, just
get on with what is known and apparent.
Finally take a lesson from the smallest child. Ask them what
Jesus meant when he said we should love each other, or that we
should forgive others. They know what these things mean even
when those who hide behind the idea that the bible is riddled
with too many interpretations don't. Some passages are simple
but that does not mean they aren't profound. Other passages are
more complex but can be clearly understood by the simplest
approach, much like that of a child. The child like approach to
scriptural interpretation is the shortest route to
understanding; in fact it is also the shortest route to
salvation itself. Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, Whosoever
shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall
not enter therein. Mark 10:15
We must cease to view the bible as some deep manual of religion
only to be known by the initiated or specially trained. Someone
once said that the bible and more so, the New Testament is a
letter from God the Father to his children. Who would think a
letter from your father was meant to create confusion. It would
speak of his love, his intentions, his ongoing plans and his
final return home. It would give instructions and details on
what to do until he returns. No one would throw a letter from
their father in a corner and say I don't understand any of that
so I'll just do what I want to until he returns home and take it
up with him then.
The words of the bible never create confusion. In fact it is the
dismissing of these words that creates confusion. If we hide
behind the worn out cliché about "it is all open to
interpretation" we will find ourselves with no where to hide in
the final day. Jesus said the very opposite about his words, He
said they would illuminate our lives and bring peace to us, not
confusion. In fact they would produce life itself within
us...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they
are life. John 6:33
About the author:
Rev Bresciani is the author of two books and of many articles
both online and in print. Please visit his website at
www.americanprophet.org
Title: Pass It On - A Rule For Good Bible Interpretation
Author: Rev Michael Bresciani
Article:
With dozens of bible translations available today and a myriad
of voices preaching and teaching from theses bibles how do we
know which is trustworthy? It is simpler than you think.
During the dark ages the scriptures were chained to pedestals in
the major cathedrals of the world. The common people could not
read the bible and even the clergy were limited to reading it
only where it stood. Those days have been eliminated by the
courageous efforts of clergy and reformers like Luther, Calvin,
Tyndale and a host of others who in some cases gave their lives
in the effort. We now enjoy the fruit of their labors throughout
most of the free world. Not only are all the versions of the
bible available here in America but one publisher has begun
offering the bible bound and covered in your choice of designer
colors!
Yet for all of this profusion of bibles one of the flimsiest
excuses for not reading or trusting the bible is still being
used everywhere throughout the land. Who has not heard someone
say, "The bible is open to interpretation and that's why it
can't be trusted"? If honestly examined, this excuse will be
found to be just another one of those "common wisdom of the day"
utterances that has no more truth in it than water in the
desert. It is grown out of ignorance, watered by indifference
and harvested in laziness. It is used glibly but has dire
consequences; in fact it could cost a person their entire future.
The first rule of interpretation says that no one has the right
to interpret the scripture in a merely personal or private way.
...Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of
any private interpretation. I Peter 1:20 If the bible is not
open to private interpretation then it must only be open to
public interpretation. That is the key. The universal bible
believing church the world over has an interpretation that
qualifies this fact, the minor doctrinal differences and the
trend toward liberalism notwithstanding. Whether Pentecostal,
Evangelical, Baptist, Methodist or any other major historical
denomination the bible is interpreted the same. Jesus death and
resurrection is the key to salvation and his teachings are the
key to our best behavior. When people stray very far from this
kind of interpretation of the bible they are bordering on
heresy, cultism or something worse.
Another great rule of sound biblical interpretation is to let
the bible interpret itself. Let the whole bible reflect on any
part of it in particular. You will rarely ever go wrong by
applying this rule. This of course implies that you would have
to study the whole bible. That alone would just about eliminate
any problem with bible interpretation you will ever encounter.
An old preacher from Vermont once told me of a basic rule of
interpretation he had learned while attending Bible College. I
have never forgotten it and I've never failed to use it. He
said, "If the scripture makes plain sense, seek no other sense".
Being complicated is not a prerequisite to being a bible student
so don't bury your self in hidden meanings and obscurities, just
get on with what is known and apparent.
Finally take a lesson from the smallest child. Ask them what
Jesus meant when he said we should love each other, or that we
should forgive others. They know what these things mean even
when those who hide behind the idea that the bible is riddled
with too many interpretations don't. Some passages are simple
but that does not mean they aren't profound. Other passages are
more complex but can be clearly understood by the simplest
approach, much like that of a child. The child like approach to
scriptural interpretation is the shortest route to
understanding; in fact it is also the shortest route to
salvation itself. Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, Whosoever
shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall
not enter therein. Mark 10:15
We must cease to view the bible as some deep manual of religion
only to be known by the initiated or specially trained. Someone
once said that the bible and more so, the New Testament is a
letter from God the Father to his children. Who would think a
letter from your father was meant to create confusion. It would
speak of his love, his intentions, his ongoing plans and his
final return home. It would give instructions and details on
what to do until he returns. No one would throw a letter from
their father in a corner and say I don't understand any of that
so I'll just do what I want to until he returns home and take it
up with him then.
The words of the bible never create confusion. In fact it is the
dismissing of these words that creates confusion. If we hide
behind the worn out cliché about "it is all open to
interpretation" we will find ourselves with no where to hide in
the final day. Jesus said the very opposite about his words, He
said they would illuminate our lives and bring peace to us, not
confusion. In fact they would produce life itself within
us...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they
are life. John 6:33
About the author:
Rev Bresciani is the author of two books and of many articles
both online and in print. Please visit his website at
www.americanprophet.org
posted by Richard at 1:12 pm
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