Bible-only Christians: What resources besides biblical texts are relevant to interpreting scripture?

Question

Do you consider history, archaeology, art, patrology, liturgical tradition, etymology, paleography, or early Christian writings?

For example, would the writings of the Fathers of the Church help us understand the Gospel as preached to early Christians?
http://www.catholic.com/library/fathers_know_best.asp

For the many answerers who said the Holy Spirit, how do we discern the Holy Spirit? If direct revelation were the means, we wouldn't be getting 30,000 different answers.

See Acts 15, where the leaders appointed by Jesus work together to discern the Holy Spirit:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2015:28-29;&version=31;

Answer 1

There are excellent suggestions mentioned by many answers. Some I particularly liked are
The Holy Spirit
Concordance
Dictionary
My ability to reason
Historical and archaeological works

Really, anything else which *claims* to interpret scripture or instruct in living a Christian lifestyle *has the potential* to be a valid source for interpreting scripture. Certainly, the "church fathers" are worthwhile sources for interpreting the scriptures, as it gives us insight into how specific early Christians interpreted those same scriptures! I would add (and I know that you will approve) that the Roman Catholic Catechism is one of the most thorough, consistent and well-organized references for a Christian available today.

However,

You should realize that we "fundamentalist" Christians, in general, accept *only* the bible as *authoritative.* This has much more weight than any source that is merely "relevant", regardless of how *useful* these resources may be in understanding the bible. Most important is the recognition (also held by the Roman Catholic Church) that there are no doctrinal contradictions within the bible itself. The bible, taken in whole, is the primary reference for what we should believe, because it is a partial view of what those who were instructed by Jesus himself believed. It is admittedly incomplete (scripture itself attests to this), but I believe that it *is* sufficient, and that it is also essentially without error (there are, of course, translation and source errors that have been uncovered over the centuries).

Jim, not a RC, http://www.jimpettis. com/wheel/

Answer 2

Personally, I think everything you mentioned is relevant to interpreting scripture. For interpretation it's important to look at things as a sum of its parts as well its parts.

The writings of the Fathers of the Church would certainly help understand how the Gospel was PREACHED but you must be able to discern between what is preached and what is truth.

I agree with others that the holy spirit is definitely one of the most important resources for discernment.

For anyone truly interested in interpreting biblical texts they must look at and analyze everything from history, culture, language, relationships...everything you've mentioned. And of course political relationships, also evaluating what a person can gain or lose from saying or preaching or doing something is very important. Asking "why" someone would say or do what they did. Asking about motives. Etc. Etc.

I had a discussion once with someone about Jesus and Muhammed, and he pointed out that Muhammed had motive for political gain (or safety) at the time, whereas Jesus didn't. (And a bunch of other stuff....but won't get into that here..and I am certainly not an expert, just a listener.) (i like to focus on the on the language, culture, etymology, translations, etc.)

Take into consideration the history, the physical, the spiritual, the psychological...(but of course overanalyzation is possible also...sometimes too many details make us miss the obvious.)

I'd say look at each of the "parts" of history, ask about the "whys" and look at the results and the sum of the total "parts". Sometimes everything will fit together like pieces to a puzzle.

Answer 3

I WOULD CONSIDER THE WRITINGS OF JOSEPHUS TO BE MOST INFORMATIVE AS WELL AS BOOKS ON ARCHEOLOGY AND THE CULTURE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE TIMES THE BIBLE IS WRITTEN. I BELIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT WE UNDERSTAND THE BIBLICAL TEXTS. I KNOW A MAN WHO CALLS HIMSELF A 'CATHOLIC EVANGELIST' AND WAS NEVER ENCOURAGED TO READ THE BIBLE BY THE PRIESTS. WELL, HE BEGAN READING THE GOSPELS........HE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS HIS LORD AND SAVIOR AND THIS MAN WITH A 6TH GRADE EDUCATION CAN INTERPRET THE SCRIPTURES BETTER THAN MANY HIGHLY EDUCATED PEOPLE.
IF YOU READ THE BOOKS OF JOHN AND PETER, IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE EARLY CHURCH AND ALSO SEE HOW FAR IT HAS BEEN STRAYED FROM.

Answer 4

My mother was so strict about the bible that she considered any other book to be a betrayal to the bible... as in, if you're reading something else, you're spending energy reading that should be spent on the bible.

That being said--that she was the most strict Christian I had ever met--the only other book she would crack open was the Strong's Concordance. She didn't like history, because she thought it was blasphemous, so she didn't like reading about the early church. To her, if it wasn't the bible or a book to help with Hebrew alter-meanings, then it was useless.

I don't adhere to that, but then, I'm not Christian any more either.

Answer 5

Yes to most but not the writings of the clergy. They have proved to be the ones at the forefront of concealment and bringing in pagan teachings as Christian to taint true worship.

Also a knowledge of current world conditions, an open heart, and prayer. All these things help to understand what God wants us to know today for our lives.

Answer 6

Read 1 Corinthians 2:12. This explains it.
Read the whole chapter to gain an even clearer understanding.
Historical works, especially those that expose a clear understanding of the Biblical culture would be of help, as would Archaeological works, but care should be taken to insure that nothing places a meaning into the text.
Language study goes a long, long way.
Ultimately, the only reliable source we physically have is the Bible.

Answer 7

The Holy Spirit. I also use the concordance, the maps, and the dictionaries that are included with a good on-line Bible.

Too many times the writings of the "Fathers of the Church" were based not on biblical interpretation but the false assumptions and conclusions of men.

Answer 8

oooh there are TONNES of things! strongs concordance, insight on the scriptures, all kinds of diaglotts, learning to read other languages and seeing how things are translated into THOSE tongues and why.

historical, geological and geographical manuals, most encyclopaedias have varying levels of value depending on the subject you are trying to study or verify.

the comment from one fella about catholic stuff leading to hell: dont worry about that.

you need to go up 23 to 54 and follow the signs.

your ro cath encyc. was very honest in admitting the Xmas traditions are all pagan/ heathen, and they admit the triad god was from the egyptians and babylonians.

so, i would keep those in your library.

if you still think you are headed to hell, though, or the protestants are sure, i would not want to get you lost. below is a map to hell.

:-)

Answer 9

Interpretation of the Bible depends upon the understanding of the reader.There is no road map for interpretation.

Answer 10

Well the Holy Spirit is needed to spiritual discernment. However I have found that Ellen G Wite writings and Bible commentaries helpful (http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/browse.tpl)