Interpretation of Scripture 101

One of the things I have attempted to teach over the past 30+ years is that Bible verses ought to be used with integrity. The Bible means what it says and it says what it means, but it is up to the reader to study what the intended meaning is. This can be done without having to know the original languages and most of the time it can be done without word studies. Word studies are important for those who are going to teach but to get the basic meaning of almost any verse or passage in the Bible, consideration of the context in which it’s written, and comparison with other Scriptures, especially those by the same human author can bring great illumination.

   Many times I’ve been told, “Well, a verse can mean one thing to you but it may mean a totally different thing to me.” Or, “The Bible means different things to different people.” Or, “Everyone has their own interpretation.” None of these things are true! The Bible means exactly what it says in every verse. The shortest verse in the Bible reads, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). I submit to you that we all understand this verse clearly and it doesn't mean different things to each of us. Now you may have to read the context to find out why Jesus wept, or what the occasion was, but the verse says and means Jesus wept.

   A verse that is almost always abused and misused is from 2 Peter where he writes, “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” (1:.20) And so someone says, “See the Bible is of no private interpretation; you have yours and I have mine”. But, my friend that is NOT what this verse says. Context is important! What Peter is saying is that he and the other Apostles do not follow “cunningly devised fables” (v.16) nor does he even depend on his own experience, what he has seen with his own eyes, what he has heard with his own ears (vs.17, 18) for, he says, the Bible is a “more sure word” (v.19) because the prophets were moved by the Spirit of God (v.21) to write God’s word and it was not of THEIR own private interpretation. In other words, it didn’t come from them. A little study of context can go a long way. But, of course there will always be someone who doesn't care, or doesn't want to hear because they've got their mind made up.

   Let me give you another example of misused, abused, and misunderstood Bible verses. Now, as Christians we don’t like it when we hear various cults twist the Scriptures but we should feel the same way about other Christians that do it. Most of the time those who misuse Scripture mean no harm but the integrity of God’s word is at stake here. That ought to be important to us. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 2:9 which says, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” I have NEVER heard this verse preached properly, EVER! Most of the time the preacher is preaching on Heaven and he uses this verse to speak of the glories of Heaven which we have not yet seen or heard. BUT, this verse is not about Heaven; it’s about Spiritual truth that is NOW Revealed! The key to understanding this verse is in the phrase, “It is written” which means we can find the original verse in the Old Testament.
   The passage in mind is Isaiah 64:4 which reads, “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” And in its own context is a lament that men do not seek or know God with the blessings that follow fellowship with Him. And in our New Testament text the Apostle writes, that had the princes of this world known the Spiritual blessings that could have been theirs, they would not have crucified our Lord (vs.7,8). He also says that this spiritual truth is now revealed to we who have the Spirit, though that truth was hidden in the past.

   This is followed with the Apostle telling his readers that spiritual matters must be spiritually discerned and that the natural man is unable to discern them (vs.11-14) So, natural men did not understand these spiritual truths before Christ’s crucifixion but now they are revealed to those who have been born again.

                                                                    

 

   I guess then this would be a good place to suggest that if you, the reader, have not trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, please bow to Him now and confess your rebellion against Him, calling for His forgiveness. You will be changed from being a "natural man" who cannot grasp spiritual truth, to being "spiritually blessed"  and enabled to discern the word of God.

   And so, we find that when we do a little research these verses have an entirely different meaning from how we usually hear them. This applies to every verse in the Bible. I have heard countless passages misused by well meaning people and I will continue to attempt to draw attention to the proper use of Scripture. May God’s blessings be upon you my dear friend as you humble yourself to the word of God.