When studying the bible; and making interpretations, how do you know that you have interpreted correctly. How do you weigh up what you have discovered.
2007-07-11 01:51:25 · 28 answers · asked by 8 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If you went to Honest John's used car lot and his charming smile and gracious manner enticed you into buying a 1949 Nash rambler for $5,000 and said you got the best deal of the century, only to have the bumper fall off as soon as you left the lot you would know you've been suckered....However, if you had known John for a number of years, you would have given him another nickname other than 'honest', maybe something like 'slick' or 'shyster'...
It's the same thing with God, the more you read His holy inspired Word, the Bible, the more time you spend in worshiping Him, studying what He says and applying it to your life, the more you get to know Him...You see the results of listening to what He says. You know, because you have spent 'time' with Him. You have applied what He has taught you to your life and you see the fruit of it....Once you ask Him into your heart, the Holy Spirit will guide you, He will let you know when things are wrong and He will let you know when they are right...
You can't "know" someone unless you spend time with him or her...
2007-07-18 12:23:43 · answer #1 · answered by Domino 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The idea that all revealed truth is to be found in "66 books" is not only not in Scripture, it is contradicted by Scripture (1 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Timothy 3:15, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Peter 3:16). It is a concept unheard of in the Old Testament, where the authority of those who sat on the Chair of Moses (Matthew 23:2-3) existed. In addition to this, for 400 years, there was no defined canon of "Sacred Scripture" aside from the Old Testament; there was no "New Testament"; there was only Tradition and non-canonical books and letters.
Protestants claim the Bible is the only rule of faith, meaning that it contains all of the material one needs for theology and that this material is sufficiently clear that one does not need apostolic tradition or the Church’s magisterium (teaching authority) to help one understand it. In the Protestant view, the whole of Christian truth is found within the Bible’s pages. Anything extraneous to the Bible is simply non-authoritative, unnecessary, or wrong—and may well hinder one in coming to God.
Catholics, on the other hand, recognize that the Bible does not endorse this view and that, in fact, it is repudiated in Scripture. The true "rule of faith"—as expressed in the Bible itself—is Scripture plus apostolic tradition, as manifested in the living teaching authority of the Catholic Church, to which were entrusted the oral teachings of Jesus and the apostles, along with the authority to interpret Scripture correctly
2007-07-17 17:42:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question. Sometimes you don't and you realize it later when someone shares their interpretation and something hits you inside and things click and you say, "Yes, that's it!" The bible said it takes 2 or more witnesses to confirm something and I guess I follow that rule when reading the bible, too. If I read a scripture I usually don't grab onto an interpretation without it the Lord confirming it in another way, also. Sometimes the Lord confirms it through events in your life and sometimes He does it by tying scriptures together for you and giving you a larger picture so you know you're on the right track.
2007-07-11 09:33:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bible is not hard to understand, but people make it hard. Its like that question about tongues. Those who believe its a jibberish have really took those scriptures and never studied it. All one has to do is start in Acts and look the meaning up and read carefully one will soon realize its just a language, not a jibber jabber thing they do in some churches.
When I would study I always used the Who, What, Where , When, and How.
After I studied a subject it always seemed my Pastor would teach on the same subject for the service.
2007-07-11 09:16:23 · answer #4 · answered by iwant_u2_wantme2000 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I study the Bible, if I am seeking an interpretation for me, I pray to God to teach me through His Holy Spirit. The interpretation is usually for me alone (unless I pray to give me wisdom to help others- in which I usually refer them back to the Book).
The Bible is a Living Book. The more you read the more you learn. I received more understanding each time I read through.
The Lord will give you understanding (if you are truly seeking) and give you as much as you can handle.
I have listened to other people's interpretations and if I get confused, I will go back to the Book and read myself.
I have my own interpretations of certain passages that others haved totally messed up (according to me), but The Lord will work with us each individually.
There is no need to "weigh up" what you have discovered if it gives you general comfort in your walk with the Lord.
Too many people listen to too many false teachings instead of reading for themselves. The Bible is the written Word of God.
2007-07-11 09:22:06 · answer #5 · answered by Amoeba Man 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Studying the bible is not only reading. It is more complicated than that. You have to go from one text in the Old Testament, the n to find what it means, you go to the New Testament and vice versa. It takes time. It is the only book I know that takes a lifetime to read, to study and to understand. You don't interpret, you correlate the sequence of events. Notice how one verse follows another verse that has no connection from the previous one? That is why you see footnotes at the lower portion of each page of the bible; that is to guide you what verses or texts are involved or are connected in meaning.
2007-07-18 23:39:27 · answer #6 · answered by annabelle p 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If God is truly Love, then don't be deceived by all the cruelty and hate that men have put into Bible interpretation.
I'd stick with the New Testament and then only things that Jesus actually said.
Jesus primary message is love (even of your enemies), non-judgment, and charity toward those in need. If any Bible interpretation conflict with this message..it is wrong.
Seek out those who seek the truth. Run from those who claim to have found it.
2007-07-11 09:01:49 · answer #7 · answered by Honest Opinion 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is important to always pray before you read/study your Bible. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you and reveal to you what you need.
Always make sure to keep the verses in the context they are in. It is too easy to take out a verse here and a verse there and make it say anything. So look at the verse in light of the whole context. Who was saying it, to whom they were saying it to, where they were, what was happening in the story, etc.
Keep it all in mind when studying. When you are done, pray and praise God for what He has shown you. As long as you begin and end in prayer, you can't go wrong.
2007-07-11 09:14:02 · answer #8 · answered by Me 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bible is self-validating. The problem is folks take one passage and base their opinions on that one passage. The bible is not a book to read, it's a manual to study.
It's also important to understand that the bible was written long ago for a primarily Jewish culture and we need to understand that culture to get the correct interpretation.
2007-07-11 08:59:08 · answer #9 · answered by High Flyer 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are many commentaries out there that can be used to assist with interpreting original intent. I find it particularly enlightening when I simply email my pastor and ask the question. Heck, he's been to school for this! He's always glad to give us an answer. There have been more than one ocassion that I've had to ask him. And I always tell the group that I'll get them an answer back by the next time we meet. Hope that helps - katiefish <><
2007-07-11 09:20:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋