christians, if the bible can be interpreted in many different ways, how do you know yours is the correct one?

Answer 1

"Faith," etc. Which just means they don't know, but they're going to insist anyway.

Answer 2

The reason there are different denominations within Christianity is because the Bible allows for us to have differences of opinions. Within Christianity there are very few essential doctrines that define what it means to be a Christian. These essential doctrines are,

Jesus is both God and man (John 1:1,14; 8:24; Col. 2:9; 1 John 4:1-4).
Jesus rose from the dead physically (John 2:19-21; 1 Cor. 15:14).
Salvation is by grace through faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3:1-2; 5:1-4).
The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:8-9).
There is only one God (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8)
God exists as a Trinity of persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (See Trinity)
Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary (nature of incarnation)
As long as a church believes in these essential doctrines, then it is Christian. However, there are many things in the scriptures that have been interpreted in different ways. For example, what day of the week should be worship on, Saturday or Sunday? Should we baptize by sprinkling or baptize by immersion? Do we take communion every Sunday, once a month, or once a year? The answers to these questions do not affect whether or not someone is a Christian. It is in these issues, and others like them, that denominations are formed. It does not mean that one denomination contradicts another. It means that though they agree in the essentials, they differ in some nonessentials. This is permitted in Scripture:

Answer 3

Ah, see, there's the problem. A lot of fundamentalist Christians believe the *only* interpretation of the Bible is a literal one.
As for me, I think it's largely a matter of faith, and understanding that different people come to God in different ways. I don't like putting God into a box and saying what he can and can't do.

My own interpretation is that ultimately, you have to live your life as best you can according to the two commandments Jesus gave us (after all, any Bible scholar worth their salt knows that Jesus came to do away with the crazy laws and requirements that were in the old Testament). To be Christian is to be Christ-like, and that's what I try to do. Others feel a need for a stricter, harsher God, but I've never really understood why. I don't know for certain that my interpretation is "the right one," but I have faith that if I am getting things wrong, God will still forgive me.

Answer 4

You need to realise that the Bible is a spiritual book. The Bible is alive. This may sound funny to you but - yes, the Bible can be interpreted in many ways but they all mean the same thing. As long as the individual is filled with the Holy Spirit then their interpretation will be correct.

One Holy Spirit filled Christian can read a passage in the Bible and the Holy Spirit within that person will tell him what God wants that individual to understand by the passage. A second Holy Spirit filled Chrisitian can read the same passage and the Holy Spirit can convey something different to that individual because God wants to tell that person something different.

Remember the Bible is the ONLY book in the world that is ALIVE. As long as the person has given their life Jesus Christ and is filled with the Holy Spirit then their interpretation will be correct, even if they speak to another Holy Spirit filled Christian who has a different interpretation. If both interpretations were given by the Holy Spirit then both are correct.

Jesus Loves You. Ask Him to receive the Holy Spirit and if you are sincere He will give it to you.

Answer 5

Sure the Bible can be interpret different ways in some areas by Christians. Most of these have to do with cultural interpretations (ie--Paul said that women should always cover their heads in worship...my wife doesn't...is that bad?). In many ways it has a lot of similarities with interpretation of any document, like the Constitution of the US. Different highly-skilled lawyers differ on what they think different parts of the Constitution means. (Am I allowed to own any gun or just a gun that is reasonable for my personal defense?) It depends on how literally you are going to interpret it.

The problem with the Bible is, being a document that speaks mostly with regards to spiritual matters, it is very difficult to nail down exactly how literally you should interpret it. (Using my earlier example: I see that Paul isn't talking about cloth and heads, he's talking about respect in worship and authority in families. Today, my wife and I choose to follow Paul's direction by dressing up for Church and showing respect for worship by turning cell phones off, etc.)

Believe me when I say that most of the arguments Christians have over what the Bible says are about things that are "non-essential". Kind of like an extra-credit question on a test. When it comes to the important material like "Jesus dying on the cross" and "God existing and creating the world" you aren't going to find different interpretations of that amongst Bible-believing Christians.

Answer 6

You don't for sure. That's why the bible is the most debated book ever!

Everyone can get something different out of an event you see on the street. Its about perception, and how you see things personally. The bible is much the same. As your perception changes, you might see something in a totally diff way. This is why people spend entire lifetimes reading the bible.

Answer 7

Dear Friend,

I believe that in the most part, Gods word, the bible, should be read as it is written There are obviously the prophetic books that are written using many symbols, but given holy spirit, most of these are quite straight forward to understand, with little time and study.

I also thnk that God uses the bible to communicate certain things with us, for example, very often a certain verse may glare out of the page at you and be very relevant to your life at that particular time. The Bible is more than just a book, 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" God uses the Bible to speak to our hearts, and to draw us closer to him.

God Bless

Answer 8

Believe in God, the ultimate power only. All the religious books are only interpretation by different men. Burn all the books...

All the major religions practiced are divided into sects which create more confusion than any good. Shows the egoes of the great men.

Live a virtuous life and forget about books......Am sure to get thumbs down by outraged christians.....for there are no liberal christians.

Answer 9

The Bible can only be interpreted in one way, that is God's way and the Bible clearly tells us, "Try the Spirit to see if it is of God. God well tell you if you will listen. The problem is most people don't want to listen, because sometimes He says things that they don 't like. This is when they take it and change it to fit their own mold. However this does not work with God. It is either His way or no way. Also God does not speak to the ears, He speaks to the heart

Answer 10

Christian Bibles, regardless of the translation all contain the Word of God. A few of them were just re-written in a modern form using someone else's translation, and those sometimes take on the tone of the one doing the re-writing's beliefs, like the Living Bible for one example, but for the most part it is okay. It is best to make sure that it is a translation from the Hebrew and Greek texts. If a person is truly looking for the truth, God will make sure that he finds it! It is good to pray for understanding from God, when reading the Bible, and it really helps to have someone to help you put it all together so that you are not misled by men's doctrines and preconceived notions.

1 John 4:1: "Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world."

Proverbs 2:1-5: "My son, if you will receive my sayings and treasure up my own commandments with yourself, 2 so as to pay attention to wisdom with your ear, that you may incline your heart to discernment; 3 if, moreover, you call out for understanding itself and you give forth your voice for discernment itself, 4 if you keep seeking for it as for silver, and as for hid treasures you keep searching for it, 5 in that case you will understand the fear of Jehovah, and you will find the very knowledge of God."

Proverbs 3: 5 & 6: "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. 6 In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight."

Answer 11

That's the problem -- the Bible interprets itself, it's black and white. It's when we justify something that we try to make interpretations that suit our actions.

Take the verse, "Love your enemies" for example...or "whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart"...it doesn't have to be interpreted -- the Bible wasn't made to be interpreted, His Word is there to be obeyed.

"They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge..."

"Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil is understanding..."


Any interpretation that contradicts what is in the Bible is not from the Spirit because His Words are "Spirit and they are life".

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God...For who hath known the mind of the Lord...but we have the mind of Christ..."