Interpreting Scripture?

Question

Who do you think is best at interpreting Scripture-Oneself or Church and Tradition

Answer 1

The church.
If you give the same book to a group of people each would interpret it in a different way and not only because of their own experiences, to which they relate the book to, but also due to missing out words, not understanding words...

The church has been analysing and debating the content of the scriptures for hundreds if not thousands of years. Why would anybody dismiss all of that intellectual and COLLECTED interpretation in favour of one single interpretation that would be ones own, single, and almost certainly biased interpretation of the scriptures - particularly given that the scriptures are intended to guide.

Answer 2

The Holy Spirit is best at interpreting scripture! When we read the Holy Bible, we pray that the Holy Spirit will 'reveal' the truth of the message of the passage we are reading. No scripture is of private interpretation, as the Bible states, but we are free to ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand what God is trying to say to us in a certain verse or passage of scripture.
Those who trust man to reveal God's word to them will get man's revelation, and hopefully they have prayed to the Holy Spirit beforehand!
Thank God most scriptures are very clear, like John 3:16, and don't really need praying over to interpret.

Answer 3

I believe in interpreting the Scripture by oneself with the Holy Spirit guiding though...we all know what happened when the church was in control of the Bible...that is what was called the Dark Ages...with all the torture chambers and people being burned

Answer 4

Tradition shouldn't be discounted. If you have as near to the original text as possible then that's good. My opinion may not be the truth. But I think that as the original texts come to light the traditions will be proved. I think if people study they can interpret scripture with the Holy spirits help. I think God protects his word. I also think there are some crap doctrines about that are truly man made.

Answer 5

I don''t know, all I know is you have the responsibility to get your answers for your self. No church or religion will answer for you. When you really want to know something you look for the answers.
The important thing is to interpret Scriptures by Scriptures. That is, interpret the Bible according towhat the Bible already says elsewhere.

Answer 6

We, all of us, interpret scripture. But for my money the best tend to be the professionals. They'll argue amongst themselves on some points but they have a lot of prior knowledge which they can bring to bear on something. I do not always accept that they are right, but they are worth discussing things with.

Answer 7

You, by studying the scriptures with the help of the Holy Spirit. That is how the bible instructs us to find the truth.

Answer 8

Like any other literature, those qualified to interpret. In this case it would be the church (but not necessarily always the RC church, rather the universal Catholic church)

Answer 9

Jesus said where two or more are gathered in my name I will be there too. So as the saying goes the more wiser heads interpreting the better I think.

Answer 10

Understand what it is that you really want to know and the answer will eventually come to you. That old adage comes to mind, 'when the student is ready the teacher appears'.
Wisdom and knowledge is found in myriad places and in various texts so open your Self to Truth and Enlightenment and they will be yours. All is within.
More Peace