Interpreting the Bible
Q: Skeptic asks: My problem is how "man" constantly needs to interpret what the Bible says. Why didn't God just plainly tell us?
It's so deep it would take 80 years to gather all the treasure it contains. But we can gather the bigger picture, large amounts of it, and clear doctrine, teaching, warnings and blessings in a much shorter timeframe. It's also why Christians should be in the Word, reading every day. And why we grow in the faith, and why it takes a lifetime of reading and applying.
So we can properly interpret Scripture
A: There's a few things to point out.
1. God has said all He wanted to reveal. Please note, an unbeliever does not see it all. They can see a scratch of the surface, and still be blind to what those things talk about and mean. Jesus said it is hid from those who are blind. Those who do not seek truth. Those who do not seek after God, hardly see nothing.
Plus, those who are Born Again, have recieved spiritual life from God... and the Holy Spirit reveals it all to us. Scripture says it is spiritually discerned. Without the Holy Spirit, you cannot understand it.
1 Corinthians 2:10
But to us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God
Because it is spiritually discerned:
1 Cor. 2:14
But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
2. Your main question is actually about Hermenutics- the science and study of Scripture. Proper interpretation.
The Bible is not to be interpreted from mans view. Man cannot push his view of Scripture. We can only interpret it as the Author intended and the Author of Scripture is God himself.
Scripture must be interpreted as it says & is intended, not trying to make it say what someone wants it to say. It has one interpretation for all time. It doesnt change with the times to follow culture either.
When we look at Scripture we see essential teachings, and through the centuries Christianity noted these as doctrines & creeds. To help us stay within the confines
of what Scripture actually says.
So we can properly interpret Scripture
Short A: There is only one interpretation to the original Greek and Hebrew sometimes the same meaning comes from the use of different word usage. But there are many applications to Scripture some right and some clearly wrong. Always remember... "Scripture Interprets Scripture". That's why the Bereans studied the Scriptures to ensure what was being taught to them was true to what God had said.
First, a proper method of interpreting Scripture requires that Scripture be interpreted in a way that is consistent with its context. This means that a passage must be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the audience to which it is written, those it is written about, whom it is written by, and so on. It is critical to know the author, intended audience, and historical background of each passage one interprets. The historical and cultural setting will often reveal the correct meaning of a passage. It is also important to remember that Scripture interprets Scripture. That is, often a passage will cover a topic or subject that is also addressed elsewhere in the Bible. It is important to interpret all of these passages consistently with one another.
Finally, and most importantly, passages must always be taken in their normal, regular, plain, literal meaning unless the context of the passage indicates that it is figurative in nature. A literal interpretation does not eliminate the possibility of figures of speech being used. Rather, it encourages the interpreter to not read figurative language into the meaning of a passage unless it is appropriate for that context. It is crucial to never seek a “deeper, more spiritual” meaning than is presented. Spiritualizing a passage is dangerous because it moves the basis for accurate interpretation from Scripture to the mind of the reader. Then, there can be no objective standard of interpretation; instead, Scripture becomes subject to each person’s own impression of what it means. 2 Peter 1:20-21 reminds us that “no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Applying these principles of biblical interpretation, it must be seen that Israel (Abraham’s physical descendants) and the church (all New Testament believers) are two distinct groups. It is crucial to recognize that Israel and the church are distinct because, if this is misunderstood, Scripture will be misinterpreted. Especially prone to misinterpretation are passages that deal with promises made to Israel (both fulfilled and unfulfilled). Such promises should not be applied to the church. Remember, the context of the passage will determine to whom it is addressed and will point to the most correct interpretation.* Are there general truths that can be understood (God revealed) from things said to Israel, yes. But one cannot take specific promises for Israel to the Church.
Finally, and most importantly, passages must always be taken in their normal, regular, plain, literal meaning unless the context of the passage indicates that it is figurative in nature. A literal interpretation does not eliminate the possibility of figures of speech being used. Rather, it encourages the interpreter to not read figurative language into the meaning of a passage unless it is appropriate for that context. It is crucial to never seek a “deeper, more spiritual” meaning than is presented. Spiritualizing a passage is dangerous because it moves the basis for accurate interpretation from Scripture to the mind of the reader. Then, there can be no objective standard of interpretation; instead, Scripture becomes subject to each person’s own impression of what it means. 2 Peter 1:20-21 reminds us that “no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Applying these principles of biblical interpretation, it must be seen that Israel (Abraham’s physical descendants) and the church (all New Testament believers) are two distinct groups. It is crucial to recognize that Israel and the church are distinct because, if this is misunderstood, Scripture will be misinterpreted. Especially prone to misinterpretation are passages that deal with promises made to Israel (both fulfilled and unfulfilled). Such promises should not be applied to the church. Remember, the context of the passage will determine to whom it is addressed and will point to the most correct interpretation.* Are there general truths that can be understood (God revealed) from things said to Israel, yes. But one cannot take specific promises for Israel to the Church.
Applying a literal method of interpretation to Scripture results in the pieces of the puzzle coming together.
A passage must be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the audience to which it is written, those it is written about, whom it is written by, and so on. It is critical to know the author, intended audience, and historical background of each passage one interprets. The historical and cultural setting will often reveal the correct meaning of a passage. It is also important to remember that Scripture interprets Scripture. That is, often a passage will cover a topic or subject that is also addressed elsewhere in the Bible. It is important to interpret all of these passages consistently with one another.
Finally, and most importantly, passages must always be taken in their normal, regular, plain, literal meaning unless the context of the passage indicates that it is figurative in nature. A literal interpretation does not eliminate the possibility of figures of speech being used. Rather, it encourages the interpreter to not read figurative language into the meaning of a passage unless it is appropriate for that context. It is crucial to never seek a “deeper, more spiritual” meaning than is presented.
Spiritualizing a passage is dangerous because it moves the basis for accurate interpretation from Scripture to the mind of the reader. Then, there can be no objective standard of interpretation; instead, Scripture becomes subject to each person’s own impression of what it means. But, 2 Peter 1:20-21 reminds us that “no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
And Scripture is revealed/taught to us by the Holy Spirit, according to the Bible.
And we are warned about false teaching...
2 Timothy 4:3-4: "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
Titus 1:9: "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."
2 Timothy 4:3-4: "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
2 Timothy 3:16-17: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Our interpretation of the Bible should be what the author, GOD, intended. 👉We cannot make up things we think it says, or [horrors] try to reinterpret it based on our culture; race, politics, ideologies, philosophies, gender & identity politics, etc.
Related Resources
Herman Who - Understanding Biblical hermenutics
Interpreting Scripture in 14 points (free)
Seminar course on Hermenutics (free)
Longer A: Interpretation will depend on your pre supposition. If you're making it say what it doesn't say... that's where false teachers and false pastors, and cults and false religions get their views from. They push into the Bible what they want, and don't look at what it actually says, and do not compare/study the early NT era historically held teachings to it.
The false teachers don't go back to either what the text clearly says (topical across all Scripture in context), & didnt look historically at Apostle John's students teachings, (and the few among those we have those early NT era writings from). I would say from after Apostles apprentice students died 155 AD (?), to the reformation era, (seems obvious) most had no clue about the Bible and just made up whatever they wanted to with little actual knowledge of what Scripture says [it is also why traditions and rituals started in some offshoots of so called Christian groups (until the Reformation)]. So prior to the reformation 99% of people didn't read/illiterate. They only heard about God on Sunday & worked 6-7 days a week. And those few who had a Bible since the Reformation, rarely read it cuz traditions and rituals took over the religion and the people just went along with whatever the leaders in those false churches said, as they did before.
After the Apostles & their students such as Ignatius & Polycarp (155/200 AD) things of the Bible got hidden & lost from people for hundreds of years in most places in the world. Not all but def hidden across Roman empire. Religion started to be used to control people (such as the case with catholicism). After the reformation thru the 1800s Biblical truth and access to it was restored to most people in the West, but remember most were still worker bees & many were usually not very educated, in late 1800s to early 1900s most had a 4th or 6th rate reading level if that. Later I'm 1950s some had 8th grade level (which is why some Bible translations were written for simple minded for easy understanding and others written at 8th grade level, which would be considered high school level today).
There were pockets of locations in the West with a few solid preachers who had access to & learned from recovered writings of Apostles students. But, few had access to that rare info, & the rest simply trained under a bad or solid preacher. Apprenticeship was standard learning in the past for a career job. Much later after the reformation some had access to college for a degree in Theology. But most were bumping in bumkin towns, and they made assumptions on what they wanted it to say or assumed the Bible said xyz, when it didn't. They randomly skimmed something in the Bible and just made up a teaching for Sunday message. Others had actually read and studied the Bible and compared their understanding with the Apostles students writings that were pretty well preserved. But, if one reads and studies the Bible alone, and are saved, the Holy Spirit will teach and guide them. The problem is, most werent & didn't. That's where error entered into the churches in times past.
In the 50s and 60s we had a sort of a new reformation where people could access the historical Apostle & students info for research and study. Yes colleges/universities (originally created by Christians) offered good college education in theology, when a few more colleges started popping up. Harvard and Yale were Christian colleges, and there were a few more here and there. But today access to those early writings and writings of reformers expanded, and good pastors became known. We all now have access to sermons from them, theology books and very good, deep, solid stuff they've written available to almost anyone, even globally (!) And through ministries that started out in western radio such as Moody, JV McGee and Gty. And it's used globally [and expanded greatly thru internet era at least since 2016]. There's global colleges started by western Christian groups, and people outside the west became literate and educated in the Bible in modern/recent years.
So there's a mix of teachings and beliefs mingled across former times past because of lack of education, lack of literacy, lack of Bible access and reading, and people who were simple minded, along with well educated and higher minded like people are today. I'm sure you know some simple minded people and some bumkin kinds too. All that mixture created various views and teachings, and there was some just outright baloney that sounded good but was false & it decieve people...which is why there's false teaching in so called Christiandom and of course the cults were created by some of it; such as one guy who didn't like the idea of hell [- doesn't matter what you want to believe, what Does the Bible Say, that's the Truth one has to submit to]. The easiest way to debunk the lies and false teachings is - read it!
Today people have full access to the Bible. Read it. When those in false groups read it and study it, they easily can see the majority of error and deception... and then they leave that false denomination or cult. Easy 🤷♀️. Some error is subtle and might not be picked up by some people, but overall the red flags will easily be seen. Esp if you are being drawn by God or are saved.
But the average Christian needs to be reading the Bible daily, to educate themselves, and to grow in maturity. And seeing the false so they can embrace truth. Instead of saying I was born into this, or my family is 8 generations of this denomination. No. They'd leave and (now in tech era) can read the beliefs of church denominations easily online when searching where to go. If there's no statement if faith on the website 👀 stay away from them. They are not standing on anything solid [Biblical].
*Challenge: when you meet a Christian, genuinely ask them: "do you read the Bible daily?" , "More than 15 min a day?" And if not, ask "if you say you love God, how can he communicate with you, and your faith grow if you aren't doing this?" 🤷♀️
If people in the past chose a preacher job, but never had access to that material (above), they just made up what they wanted to, based on own belief ideas, which created false teaching & cults (such as Mormon, JW, 7th Day or false religious organizations from the 4th or 5th century like Catholicism). You get false modern preachers like prosperity, word faith, Charismatic, etc. Who are all over tv. They change the Gospel, and twist what the Bible says, cuz they know most in the church don't even read the Bible. They assume the preacher wouldn't lie 😬. So they never realize it. They live in deception, and are likely not saved but just religious due to the idea of morality and Heaven.
But, for Biblical preachers and teachers, if you get your doctrine right according to Scripture then your doctrine comes from Scripture. Scripture must interpret Scripture for reaching the right conclusions, as it's understood in context.
So dont just believe what others say. Look it up in the Bible. Understand what literal means. Read the Scriptures context. Look up topical word search like Salvation, Heaven, Repentance, Exhort, etc. On a online Bible site. And look up reputable commentaries and related books.
Different denominations, are along the same lines. If they agree with the absolute basics essentials that is within Biblical Christianity, they're considered Christian. Their secondary views of Scripture might have come from bumkin understandings, and are slightly skew but hold to essentials, then they're free in Christ to believe that. They usually grow out of certian views when they read the Bible and either change denominations or just stay (cuz the connections to the brethren that feels family), but they'll now hold a diff view than the denomination.
Those in the false modern churches, if they really do love Jesus, & God's Spirit draws them to desire the Word, they will feed on it, and grow and see truth, and leave that false group, cult, religion and seek out a Biblical church. Just because we have different denominations doesn't mean we do not consider ourselves united. Christians are brethren (brothers and sisters) regardless of what denominations. As long as it's Biblical. If not, NT instructs us not to fellowship with them at all. But we can try to reason with them about those issues, before we break off and away from such ones (individuals or "churches").
Those Christians who read the Bible, benefit greatly. Are kept from deception, and grow in maturity faster.
3. Unsaved who are curious, seeking, and want to know more, are drawn by the Holy Spirit to investigate, and can do so 😊. John 6:44 . Want to hear something amazing that will shock you? God brought you to this info today, and because you have come this far, He is reaching out to you and if you proceed, He will reveal things of Scripture to you. This isn't something that happens to everyone. But it is being offered to you.
Investigate through the eyes of a highly reputable expository preacher expounding Scripture to believers accurately.
>> Hope this info helps << 😊
Final note:
Btw, Biblical Hermenutics do not change with the culture or times, and this (@4:50) clarifies that due to some new nonsense going on today.
* related caution: Gospel Coalition has gone woke and is no longer following Scripture so disreguard anything from them after 2015. Just stay far from them.
Jude 1:3
"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."
Matthew 24:35: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
1 Peter 1:25: "But the word of the Lord remains forever." This is the word that was preached to you.
Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." This verse implies that God's word, which is an expression of his character, is also unchanging.
God's Word does not change. If we have a different interpretation then the reader is wrong and needs to realign ourselves to submit to God's proper interpretation. So do not fall for this new modern nonsense about making something the Bible says to mean whatever we want. God as Author of it has HIS "ONE" correct interpretation and we must recieve it as that one factual truth...and reject any false interpretations.
Proper interpretation is vital and is a deal breaker if your pastor follows the culture. Flee from such a "church".
Related Resources
Footnote:
*gotquestions.org
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