"Interpreting the Bible" -2 Timothy

Описание: Written By: Rev. Robin A. Riggs, PhD.

Why do Christians differ so much about the meaning of the Bible? Why would God allow such a way that it could be misunderstood? If it can be misunderstood, is there any hope that we can know for sure what it means?

Many Christians have decided that the Bible can mean all things to all people, and that there is no right interpretation. But this would mean that the Bible has no real message for us. We can make it up. Or it would mean there is not way to be sure what the Bible's message is.

In every area of knowledge we have to realize that our human understanding is incomplete. God wrote the 10 Commandments with His own fingers, but that doesn't mean someone can't misunderstand them. Our minds are fallible. But this doesn't mean we can't know anything for sure. It just means that no matter how much we learn, there is always more to learn. But our partial knowledge can be real knowledge. We don't have TOTAL knowledge about everything, but we have CERTAIN knowledge of the truth leading to salvation from sin and to holy living. And God has promised the help of His Spirit in knowing the meaning of Scriptures. Many study the Bible without seeking that help.

Causes of Misinterpretation
1- Ignorance.
-General ignorance can keep us from understanding what we read in other places, not just the Bible. limited vocabulary, for example.
-Ignorance of the WHOLE Bible. The more we learn of what the whole Bible teaches, the more we can come to understand the meaning of certain parts. The Bible is so much of a unity that every part of it correctly without some knowledge of the way it is related to the Bible as a whole. Whoever said the Bible had to be simple?

2- Proof-texting
This refers to the habit of building too large a structure of theology on a singe text or group of texts. It can be done by ignoring the context or by ignoring other passages which give a broader view of truth. Examples: tongues, homosexuality, revelation, slavery, etc. We mush look for the whole council of God.

3- Inadequate Comparison of Context
Eisegesis & Exegesis. Take into account context, meaning of words, occasion of of writing, culture, audience, history. Find out what the author meant to say. (Ex. Matt. 16:17-19) Be careful of isolating verses. Some people quote verses without paying attention to who is speaking & why they are speaking.

4- Inadequate comparison of texts.
It is true that if the Bible says something even once, that is enough for us to believe it. However, we must also understand that because of the unity of the Bible, each part must be interpreted in light of the whole. A passage of Scripture can easily be misunderstood if it is interpreted without consideration of its place in the whole revelation. For example: it's important to understand the relationship between the old and new covenants. Cross reference. Look up what other parts of the Bible say about something.

5- Misleading translations
All translations are useful, but non is perfect. Though some are better than others. Some translations are actually just paraphrases not actual translations.

6- Past teaching
We've been taught a lot of good things. But we need to check everything out. Sometimes we see in a text what we have been taught. (example from Gen. 2:7 in video).

7- Different Views of the world.
Different views of society may affect the way we look at the Bible. Democracy in the USA vs. Theocracy in the Bible. or If someone sees the world as being run by unbreakable laws of cause & effect, one might deny the existence of miracles. Then you will either not believe the Bible, or you must find a different way to interpret it (allegorically, etc.).

8- Personal biases
Self explanatory.

9- Depth of study on a passage.
No one can know everything so we can learn from each other and other Bible teachers.

Basic Rules of Interpretation.
1- study the passage carefully, taking into account words, grammar, etc.
2- Interpret in light of the context- surrounding verses, paragraph, chapter, book, testament, whole Bible.
3- Consider the purpose of the writer.