How to interpret the Bible
- Denisa Gabriela
- Jun 23, 2020
- 3 min read
Darlings, I want this post to be a great message for those of you who are interested in finding out more about "interpreting" the Bible. I know our natural tendency is to filter things through our personal lenses (which is the self on the "sand"), but the Bible is written by the Word, Who is God and the ROCK. If you stand on the Rock (Jesus Christ), you would definitely not sink. You might be a wife, mother, or simply a woman who wants to bless others in the Lord. Let's see some general overview when it comes to Bible interpretation.
Peter has warned us that no additional, subjective interpretations of the Bible are needed, not from the men of church, nor from other outside authorities, because the Bible itself is its only interpretation: God Himself.
2 Peter 1:20, “No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."
Three references in the Bible tell and warn us about the issue of interpretation: Genesis 41:16; Daniel 2:28; Luke 24:45.
Jesus claimed that the Holy Ghost will overshadow and guide those who are prone to accept the Scriptures as the infallible word of God,
John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth [...].”
That is why the Reformation was entirely based on “Sola Scriptura”, which translated means “By Scripture alone” – no other authorities, traditions, subjective beliefs, common trends, etc.
Obviously, the student at a certain point needs guidance on the Scriptures for the correct interpretations, and these can be gained only through a careful study of the word.
Among many strategies which are helpful in dividing the word of truth, it is very important to consider the law of context. The most erroneous approach in this regard is taking out a verse or certain verses from the Bible and misinterpret them according to your personal beliefs. This attempt is very often used by many people; that’s why a wrong gospel is preached: The gospel of prosperity.
“The old saying is, the three laws of Biblical interpretation are context, context, context!” - Ruckman
That is why the Holy Ghost affirmed in the Scripture,
2 Peter 1:20, “[…] no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”
This means that men are fallible and have no right to correct or add to the word of God as given in the Scriptures: “No sinner, saved or lost, has a right to say the Scriptures mean anything based on his or her own opinion." - Ruckman
Because the society tends to adopt Scripture and adapt it according to “social norms”, since the society permanently alters, it removes certain passages or words just to fit people's selfish opinions to “accept changes according to how much sin they think they can get away with.” - Ruckman
The only proper interpretation is Scripture with Scripture (what God says in His Book with what God says in His Book, since He is the only authority and the only One Who can give interpretations).
For millennia people have interpreted the Bible, a good example being Philo, Josephus, and other evolutionists. The Bible used and is still interpreted according to information found outside it “by lost historians, German rationalists, dead orthodox grammarians, and religionists who followed philosophy, tradition and science […] over what God said in His Book.” - Ruckman
No Hebrew or Greek language is needed to learn or prove the real words of God: they were faithfully preserved and rendered only in the KJB Authorized Version. Many Christian scholars today who are involved in modern translations on the Bible are based on “historico-grammatico-interpretation”. - Ruckman
Contrary to the New Age Movement, to other doctrines, governmental things, public scholarship, etc., the Bible is negative in essence, for it talks about man’s separation of God. Every preacher, teacher, healer who is talking online, on TV, in books or magazines and newspapers about self-love, universal peace, prosperity, positive thinking, your best destiny, your greatest power unleashed, et al, is not on Biblical grounds.
Ladies, we are aloud to biblically homeschool our children, or other sisters from church, but remember to keep the balance when you are taking a stand more than your natural God-given gift of teaching. No woman has authority over a man when it comes to this topic. Keep yourself away from long contradictions, keep it simple and right on point to men.
With great consideration,
Denisa
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