Why is the Bible written in a way that you can interpret what it means in a lot of different ways?

Question

Why didn't they makie it simpler?

Answer 1

Imagine that we are good friends. One day we are talking:

Me: Wow, you will not believe this new book I've been reading!
You: What's it about?

Me: It is a manual for living a better life. It is also a guide to creating a better society for ourselves and our children. It has changed my life!

You: That sounds like an important book. Who wrote it?

Me: The author is supposed to be the smartest person in the universe.

You: That's amazing -- if the author is the smartest person in the universe, the book must be absolutely brilliant. I can't wait to see it. Do you have a copy with you?

Me: Absolutely! I carry it with me everywhere I go! Here, have a look for yourself...

You open the book to a random page, and you find this:
Any of the people of Israel, or of the aliens who reside in Israel, who give any of their offspring to Molech shall be put to death; the people of the land shall stone them to death. I myself will set my face against them, and will cut them off from the people, because they have given of their offspring to Molech, defiling my sanctuary and profaning my holy name. And if the people of the land should ever close their eyes to them, when they give of their offspring to Molech, and do not put them to death, I myself will set my face against them and against their family, and will cut them off from among their people, them and all who follow them in prostituting themselves to Molech.
If any turn to mediums and wizards, prostituting themselves to them, I will set my face against them, and will cut them off from the people. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes, and observe them; I am the Lord; I sanctify you. All who curse father or mother shall be put to death; having cursed father or mother, their blood is upon them.

If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbour, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death. The man who lies with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death; they have committed perversion; their blood is upon them. If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. [Leviticus, chapter 20]


You are not quite sure what to say. You look at me for a moment. Wtf is that all about ? Does it sound like a smart god wrote it ?

Answer 2

I don't think they're really is a such thing as a way of writing that is so simple it can't be interpreted more than one way.

Yes, I agree with a previous answer that you need the holy ghost to be able to interpret things correctly...and a little understanding of historical and cultural context doesn't hurt either.

I also think that sometimes God wanted there to be more than one interpretation - for example the parable of the good Samaritan is a great story about being nice and caring for others, it's also a very good allegory for the savior and His role in healing all of us. I find both of those interpretations to be beautiful and right.

Answer 3

Because it is called the living word and can mean something different for you than me. It meets you right where you are at.
Also as far as translations- it is written in an ancient language and in translation many words (of the same word) have different meanings in different context. They have tried to most fit the word with the context of the letter or chapter. Humans are interpreting it into the many languages. We would all be better off if we could learn to read the original language but that aint gonna happen.

Answer 4

Good question with no easy answer.
If God would have desired such, the Bible would have been written like a book of mathematics or a cookbook given straight direct instructions/recipes to mankind, his creation. This would have been very easy and convenient for him (and for us) and people but would have been created like puppets. And although the Bible itself is timeless, I don't think that it was his intention to make us mindless robots.
We have been equipped with our own soul, will and ratio, and together with these and other characteristics which differentiates us from the animal kingdom we should be able to really understand God's purpose for us. That's what life is about, I suppose, a quest for the Truth.

Answer 5

Man has failed to be led by the Holy Spirit and has interpreted the Holy Bible as he chose.

2 Peter 1:20 - Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Luke 11:13 - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Matthew 13:14 - And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Answer 6

The problem is that the bible was first written in the ancient languages of the world. Then scholarly men took these writings and tried to interpret them to the best of their abilities. However due to their human nature, many mistakes have been made and others have retranslated and retranslated or edited over the years. This compilation of corrections has often made the true meaning unclear or lost.

Answer 7

The Bible is for everyone. It has every answer you could ever need within it. Things can be interpreted in many ways so that it can speak to everyone.

However, that does not mean it's okay to try to slander the Bible by saying it says things which it does not.

Answer 8

The Bible is not for private interpretation. This means that there is only one way to interpret it. It helps to have the Holy Ghost, then you will have the Spirit of the author!! He will lead you in The Truth!!

Answer 9

The Catholic Church has the authority to interpret Scriptures -- a gift given to it by God himself.

Protestants, on the other hand, are free to read into the Scriptures anything that they wish -- which is why there are over 30,000 different denominations within Protestantism -- which is a slap in the face to Jesus himself who desired that "all may be one".....but they are off doing their own thing.....

Answer 10

because it was interpreted by a lot of different people with different levels of power. The first to ever translate the bible were the rich / royals. the other 90% of the population weren't allowed to come into contact with it. Look up the history of whom had their hands on the Bible to begin with and you'll see why.

Answer 11

The Bible is our way of getting closer to God. It is God 'speaking to us'. It is not open to any "If's or "But's" It is a clear-cut, black & white picture of God and how He wants ourrelationship with Him to be. You cannot be "lukewarm".

The first sin occured when Eve was question by the serpent about what God really said. Eve considered the serpent's thought, although God was clear on what He said. "Thou shalt not eat of the tree of...or you shall surely die..." Eve turned it around and replied to the serpent, "Yes, God did say you shalt not eat of the tree in the middle of the garden...or you shall surely die..." That was Eve's mistake....she said something that God said that God did not say.

The Bible is to be our way of living, according to God. (And Jesus). When Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days, he was then tempted by the devil. But each time, Jesus came back at the devil and said, "It is written..." It is written. God is clear on what he wants. It is clear-cut and simple.