is a good for a christian to read and interpret the bible itself ?

Question

I sometimes wonder , if wheter or not , it is good for a christian to read the bible, or just let the church or the religious organization decides of what he has to believe ...Because of so many interpretations of the bible verses, the bible can become a dangerous book and a book of confusion or many ..because its religious organization gives their interpretation of a passage ..isn't it better to just trust in the religious organization rather than the bible directly ?

Answer 1

No.

The way you have worded your question could cause it to be a rather complex issue.

In the Catholic Church (if this is leaning toward a Catholic attack) actually does encourage Bible reading and scripture study. In the Mass (Daily and Sunday...Catholic Mass is held everyday, not just once or twice a week) there are the "Readings"...bible verses from the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Gospel and they all relate in the particular Mass.

Scripture is so important to Catholics that a system is in place that inside the Mass the entire Bible is read through in a 3 year cycle. You cannot say that about any Protestant church.

The Catholic Church does not tell its members what to believe as it imperically interprets the Bible, but does give instruction in how to read it, in that nothing should be taken piecemeal, but in its entire proper context. In other words, don't just read, "Don't judge lest ye be judged"...but the entire book, or at least chapter to get the full and proper context of that one statement.

The Catholic Church does recognize the Holy Bible and Sacred Tradition both as teaching authority for the Church. Most Protestant denominations have excluded a church authority and now settle for the Bible Alone, or "Sola Scriptura", which is why there are now between 40,000 and 50,000 different Protestant Christian denominations. When they disagree, they just split off and start a new church. There is mass confusion and little unity among all these groups and the primary reason is personal interpretation of Holy scripture.

The Holy Bible itself supports the belief in an Oral Tradition and central Apostolic Church teaching authority. Remember, there was NO New Testament or Gospel scriptures in the 1st Century...those are the people that wrote it...later. All of Jesus' teachings were oral, as well as the Apostles until they decided they should write it down.

In 2 Thess 2:15 it says to hold fast to the traditions (teachings) we have given you, whether ORALLY or by Letter. A clear distinction showing teaching was done orally and by written letter or scripture. And in 2 Peter 3:15-16 we see, "And concider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you, speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. IN THEM ARE SOME THINGS HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE IGNORANT AND UNSTABLE DISTORT TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION, JUST AS THEY DO THE OTHER SCRIPTURES. In 2 Peter 1:20 we also see Peter teaching simply that prophecy of scripture is not for private interpretation...we need the leadership of Apostolic authority to help us properly interpret scripture.

Yes, inside Holy Bible scripture it tells us we need a valid Apostolic Church leadership to help us with scripture. Thus the Catholic Church has the Magesterium....the teaching authority of the Church to work along side with the authority of the scriptures.

Answer 2

How do you know they are right? the religious leaders in Jesus day were not teaching the truth? Called them white washed graves. Luke says the majority of people will die. When the wicked are destroyed. Most Religious organizations are seeped in lies. Santa Clause is a lie, easter bunnie, even the cross?
He never died on a cross that was incorporated in the 3rd century. Romans never hung people on cross but upright stakes.
Christmas is not Jesus birthday. never did say how many wise men came to see jesus.
The list is endless. They say you are going to hell and the bible says that what God told Adam when he sinned was:
For dust you are and to dust you will return. Never said anything about hell. The wages of sin is death.
So that's another lie. It is all geared to make money.
They insist on the ten commandments and we are not under the old law. But then they don't keep the sabbath if they believed it they would and war is murder. Never lie or commit adultry and they do and the churches don't speak out against it.
The religious organizations are not doing gods will. Never have and probably never will. So if you want to know God's will you better read the bible. If some religious organization is right then how come there is so many of them? Can't all be right?
They are just different people making money.

Answer 3

Charles Russell, the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses, interpeted the Bible in a series of books called Studies in the Scriptures. Among some of his teachings in these Studies, were that the Time of the End began in 1799, Jesus came back invisibly to the earth in 1874, and that 1914 would see God's Kingdom fully established in the earth and what is known as the 'rapture' would occur, probably around October 1, 1914. Although Pastor Russell did not claim to have any divine revelations, he did attribute these teachings to the direction of the Lord's Holy Spirit which enlightened him to see God's "Divine Plan" so that he was able to impart it to others.

He viewed his writings as so essential to knowing the truth that he wrote this in 1910:

"Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the Divine Plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see also that if anyone lays the Scripture Studies aside, even after he has used then, became familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years, - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the Scripture Studies with their references and not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures."

In time, Jehovah's Witnesses stopped studying the Studies in the Scriptures and so today they no longer believe the 'light' of the Bible as taught by Pastor Russell. However, they still continue to accord Watchtower publications this same exalted position, as being indispensible to Bible interpretation.

Answer 4

There arent "multiple interpretations". If you look at the grammar, and the way the sentences, paragraphs, and books are constructed in the original language, and under the idea that it was written by the author to communicate (take an idea from the author and allow you to understand it) then there is one and only one interpretation of the text.

When its spoon-fed by a denomination (or cult) then the ideas are never as fully worked through, internallized, or believed in, as when it is explored by the individual.

You are asking to trust an organization, and the organization is made of men, then its too much. NO organization of human beings in the history of the world has ever been 100% reliable, not even the church. Read the bible about false apostles, false brothers, false teachers... these were people INSIDE the original church.

If the leaders trained in person by Jesus couldnt keep the wolves out, then neither can leaders today. If the leaders hand-picked by God the father in the time of Moses couldnt keep the wolves out, then neither can leaders today.

The easiest way to become eaten by a wolf is not to return to the word of God. The easiest way to become wolf-poop is to trust the religious organization.

The best way to resist being overcome is to ground yourself fully regularly and with all of your strength in the words of Jesus, and of the prophets, and of the apostles. Know the ideas that God has put into the book and compare them to what you are taught. If they disagree, then look at what the book says about how to resolve it: go to qualified arbitrating independent authorities, if that doesnt work bring it before the whole body to resolve.

Its really a straightforward thing. If you are going to believe in and obey God, and God commands it obey it. If you are going to say you love God, and if God says its important to him, make it important to you. If you are out to reject it, then get it over with. If you are into exploring it, explore with all the rigor you have, the idea or understanding the text is unambiguously meant to convey.

Answer 5

It's very dangerous to trust a religious organization instead of reading the Bible yourself. This is how the cults are, they interpret the Scriptures and dictate them to the others.
The Scriptures tell us to "study and show yourself approved" and this means we are not only supposed to read the Scriptures, we are to study, look things up, put out effort, if we don't understand what we are reading. We are to study and dig to find the answers, not depend upon someone else.
It is very dangerous to not be reading the Scriptures yourself and to depend on someone else. When you know the truth, you will be able to recognize a lie right away.

Answer 6

Absolutely not! You can read your Bible and pray and ask the Lord to show you what He means. You should know your Bible so you'll know if the people preaching to you know what they're talking about or if they're misleading you. The Bible says to "test the spirits". That means you take what someone is teaching you and check it out yourself in your Bible to make sure they aren't teaching you the wrong thing. Some people use the Bible for their own personal agendas. Also, you can get into a really good church that however good it is, doesn't teach on some things in the Bible. You'd miss out on some of what you should know if you don't read it.

Answer 7

depends on the religious organization. i don't think it could ever really be harmful to study the bible by yourself. The main messages are easily interpreted by all. But i do find having a religious organization for bible study and such can be very helpful and lead to deeper understanding of some of the passages.

Answer 8

Who should I let decide for me?? David Koresh? Jimmy Jones?? the KKK, they all use the bible..
The Bible was written to be read by everyone and that is how it should be read.

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Answer 9

The bible is the inspired writing of God.....
It's a good idea to get into a church that is bible based and teaches the Word....
You are right writing is subject to interpretation but if you get to understand it in context and read and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it like God wants you to ,you will gain a better understanding ..The bible is fascinating ..I will admit I began to read it to disprove as much as I could , then through humility and really seeking the truth I came to a better knowledge of how it works ,not just for me but for all mankind.......
There are difficult passages ,but you study the bible like you would a class in school.....
Compare and contrast translations.......
Get into a Bible study Group you will gain understanding there too........

REMEMBER THIS..... you are like a baby ,don't expect to run a marathon ....you take it a little at a time ,it's studying ......You have to ask a teacher or professor for help ,right ? that's what a bible study is about ..

I saw a movie called "CONTACT" with Jodi Foster..that movie made me realize that there are so many things that we as humans don't understand .Watch it and have a open mind .She is a scientist and a skeptic..Yet shelearns through science that there is something greater than her.....
I will quote a part in the movie that I won't soon forget.you are like the scientist as she was when her dad told her this..."LITTLE STEPS,SPARKS , LITTLE STEPS.' That line comes back in the film as she is experiencing her father's presence after he had died and she is a woman......
Little steps my friend.........study.THE WORD OF GOD .open your mind to it's message...Struggle if you want , I did ..Then , I needed God's presence in my life in a big way ..I began to study, and I will never turn back ....It's the greatest book ever written ..It's up to you to choose......and as a great man of the bible said,"AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE..
WE WILL CHOSE THE LORD ....."

Just the fact that you are curious and asking questions is proof that you are being led to read and understand what the promises of Jesus are..He wants us all to come to know hin=m...Just as you are ...It doesn't matter what you have ,how you look ,or what you have done.There is forgiveness in the words of Jesus.....He has always been there for you and is knocking at the door of your heart....Will you answer ?

Answer 10

Reading the Bible is a good way to get answers to your prayers...

You might read something that directly applies to your prayers or you might have a personal revelation while reading that answers your prayers...

reading the Bible builds up your Spirit and makes you more able to accept the Holy Spirit to receive knowledge from Him...

You should read the Bible and ponder it ... and pray about it to see if what you think it means is true or not... if it is true the Holy Spirit will testify to you of its truth... at one time it may mean one thing and at another time it may mean something else depending upon your circumstances at the time...

it is like looking at something in 3-dimensions from different angles... each angle looks different but similar.