Does anyone have the authority to tell you, that your interpretations of the Bible are wrong?

Answer 1

Everybody's entitled to their opinion but only God's counts!

Answer 2

Of course.

And just how do you know that YOUR interpretaion is right?

For example, many Christians use the following to prove that God said you can eat anything:

"Act 10:9 Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour:
Act 10:10 and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance;
Act 10:11 and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth:
Act 10:12 wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.
Act 10:13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.
Act 10:14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.
Act 10:15 And a voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.
Act 10:16 And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven. "

But if they were to continue reading, they will find that this has ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING to do with clean and unclean food: it has to do with PEOPLE.

I do not know Hebrew nor ancient Greek; I am not too familiar with the customs of ancient peoples; I know only a little about hermeneutics; etc, all skills required to properly interpret the Bible.

If there are people who have spent 50 or 60 years studying these things, just who am I to tell them that THEY are wrong? Of course, if there are disagreements between two such people, THEN I have to use other methods to decide which to accept.

Answer 3

This is a very touchy? Every body wants to be right, and
most people don't want to receive instruction. So in ?'s like
this, let us use the bible (KJV) as our main reference.
The book of 2nd. Peter, cha. 1,vs.20. Knowing this first, that
no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Private, means (one's own separate) interpretation, means
(explanation or application). The book of Isaiah, cha.55:8;
says it this way. For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. The last part
of Romans 10:14 says, and how shall they hear without a
preacher. 1Corinthians, cha.12:vs.28-31, And God hath set
some in the church......Ephesians, cha.4:vs.11-13; And He
gave some..... God has always supplied a shepherd to lead
sheep. But today, hardly anyone wants to be led.

Answer 4

Yes. The Holy Spirit does.
We must Pray and ask the Holy Ghost to reveal the Truth of scripture to us. Not our (private) Interpretation.
2 Peter 1:19-21 (King James Version)

19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21For 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.

Answer 5

NO. But
How can you make up your mind, when there are so many
interpretations out there & you do not read,write or speak
hebrew or greek. So if someone tells you something check
the scriptures & ask someone who knows the biblical
languages, because we have many translations & para-
phrased bibles. Everything you read is not always what we
think it says, often we need a new perspective/paradigm.
Sometimes a long time after you hear something it starts to
make sense. Eat the meat, spit out the bones & whatever
else you do not agree with, put it on the shelf until either it
makes sense or throw it out.
It works I assure you. Things I heard 30 years ago now make
sense.

Answer 6

I hope no one....however it seems as if everyone is an authority that has that power. Just watch this forum for any period of time. Or offer a possibility that you feel you can make an argument for and watch these sweet, dear Christians stomp the life out of it. As an example I will offer the thumbs down I will receive for this answer.

Answer 7

Certain ones, I would think have the proper understanding because they have studied the principles of hermeneutics.
People often times can make errors. Those among us that have studied the word, or even went to seminary, these ones have been trained.
Any one of us have the ability to read and understand. Not all have taken the time to diligently examine.
If someone does tell me I am incorrect, I ask them why. I look to see if their words are true, valid. If they are correct, I accept it, and have grown in understanding.
If they are incorrect, I try to show them why.
Either way, the goal is (should be) growth, a mutual building up of each other. Too often I have seen people get all prideful or argumentative. They have forgotten why they read the Bible in the first place.

Answer 8

No, but listening to others views can help clarify things for you and it's never good to think that you are the only one with the right answer or that your group is. Thinking outside the box and keeping an open mind will serve you well.

Answer 9

If you can't back up what it says in the Bible with other scriptures then it's interpretation may be wrong.

Answer 10

No one has the authority, but we all have the right to do so.

Answer 11

No. But anyone can tell me, in love, that my interpretation is wrong and I hope I will listen carefully.