Do you think God intended everyone to interpret their Bible by themselves with no authoritative figure?

Question

I believe this is why we have so many denominations, each proclaiming themselves to be right.

Answer 1

"Do you think God intended everyone to interpret their Bible by themselves with no authoritative figure? No, not anyone can interpret the bible - they probably need the Holy Spirit.
I thought GOD appointed priests to his people, and then I thought Jesus picked people and the Holy Spirit entered the faithful followers of Jesus.
You make a good point.

Answer 2

No. God never meant that. That we need help can be seen by a consideration of Acts 8:26-36. This Ethiopian eunuch was already worshiping God according to the Hebrew Scriptures. Yet he needed help. God supplied him with help.

But Jesus' illustration of the wheat and the weeds helps us to understand that counterfeit christians were planted along with true Christians. A comparison of what most denominations teach with what is in the Bible shows that, rather than following God, most are following men. And many of the doctrines we find that some think are based on the Bible are actually traced to the false religion of Babylon.

God uses the Christian congregation to teach people his way. The question is, however, among countless denominations, which group is truly the Christian congregation of God?

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

It's only been the past couple of centuries that the average people even knew how to read, they had to rely on the interpretations of priests, ministers, whatever, and some of them were obviously very off, such as the poped that started the crusades and the inquisition. These men had too much power, and they wanted more, and since the average people couldn't read, they told them what to believe. Nothing scarier than a power hungry person with authority than a power hunry person with authority that uses the name of God to do evil.

Now, of course, we can read for ourselves, which is why there's so much changing of religions, we make our own decisions, at least most of us.

Answer 4

What, though, about Bible interpretation? Are we free to explain Bible passages according to our own “belief, judgment, or circumstance”? Naturally, most Bible scholars and translators claim that they do not do so but that they are guided by God.

Happily, we have God’s own Word to guide us on this. “You know this first,” said the apostle Peter, “that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit.”—2 Peter 1:20, 21.

Answer 5

No!!! In the OT God gave Priests, Judges, Prophets, and Kings. In the NT He gave us His Spirit to interpret spiritual things. He also gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to help.

When people "don't know about" or don't use these gifts they are left to interpret spiritual things with a carnal mind, which is the complete opposite of God's mind. Hence, we have denominations, cults, and mass confusion about how to interpret the Bible.

Answer 6

I think God made it very simple, "You shall love the Lord thy God w/ all thy heart, mind, soul, and strength" which is an elaboration of "I am the Lord thy God, thou shall have no other God before me." The rest is all interpretation.
Perhaps we choose our different authoritative figures for this reason. I personally rejoice that there are so many places/ways for different people to experience their faith.
I KNOW for a fact mine is the only true way, but, like the menu at McD's, I am happy everyone gets fed.

Answer 7

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

The verses above show us a strong warning to anyone that wishes to add or subtract from the Bible; but yet today and through out history Satan has gotten mankind to do the exact opposite. Today there is a Bible version for every social view. If you are gay there is a Bible for you, if you are a feminist there is a Bible for you, if you are a cultist there is a Bible for you, and so on.
"Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things..." 2 Timothy 4:2-5

Answer 8

yes and no. Some of us can't do it alone. Some of us can and together we can get some answers.

The united church might save some but not all.
Same for the Catholic and Protestants.

It's His wonderful love that extends to us all that allows us to find a place that we can find solace and peace in the way that works for us most.

There is no better denomination than another. All have their issues and all have their strengths.

If you can do it by all means read as much as you can.
But don't be so proud as to think you know it all. We all need to listen and humble ourselves to others around us in order to learn.

Answer 9

The bible was written and edited by these same kind of people. There are a number of books that for political gain were left out of the bible centuries ago. So interpreting something that is already edited is pointless.

I do think that each man or women should find and allow others to find what god means to them individually. If god did not intend for us to each find him (or her) individually we would not have the curiosity, logic, and reason to do so.

Answer 10

I believe that we are to read the Bible and ask God through the Holy Spirit to reveal to us what he wants us to know. The problem today in my opinion is that a lot of Christians don't read the Bible and depend on the preacher to tell them what it says.