How Do We Study the Bible?
The following article is one in a series on how we should study the Bible.
That’s Your Interpretation
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard someone say, “That’s just your interpretation” during a discussion or debate about theology or the Bible. The statement usually occurs when I try to establish a point by referring to a particular passage of scripture (See the article Why We Can Trust the Bible). It seems to be the favorite fallback position when all logical arguments are exhausted.
But what does it really mean, “your interpretation”? It is a commonly employed technique to infer that principals established by scripture are not settled truth but are flexible depending upon who reads them. The argument is that we cannot dogmatically hold to any particular teaching of the Bible because it is subject to our own biases and views. While that sounds kinda intellectual and enlightened, it’s not a good argument.
Sure, we do indeed filter the things we read and hear through the sieve of our own experience and world view. But, we really don’t assign all kinds of different meanings to things that are plainly presented or stated. When my wife, Eva, says “I love you” I don’t ponder the meaning of her words other than to acknowledge that she has some deep affection for me. Why? Because I know her, we’ve spent time together. And, because I know her, I can accurately put her statement into its proper context – she loves me! Yeah!
The key then is context. Allow me to give an example. Say I write the following sentence, “It’s dark outside” onto a piece of paper. That’s all I say, nothing more. Now, a hundred years from now my descendents and other interested persons find the paper and begin to debate what I meant by “It’s dark outside”. Without knowing me or the context in which I wrote the words, any reasonable interpretation of what I meant is valid. I could have been talking about the weather, the time of year or even the moral or social conditions of society. However, if I write a five-thousand word essay on the moral depravity of the current society and cite examples, statistics and various quotes and end the essay with “It’s dark outside”. If my descendents find that essay and read the final quote they have no reasonable choice but to conclude that I was referring to moral darkness. To do otherwise is not reasonable. Intellectual honesty demands that the interpretation be in harmony with the context.
The more you know about something or someone, the more you are able to put into context what they say or do. Studying and interpreting the Bible is no different. Indeed, our interpretation must stand on our understanding of the writer, the times in which the book, chapter or passage was written and to the identity and nature of the intended audience. We must also set each book into its proper context in light of the whole Bible. To do otherwise is an improper hermeneutic.
The truth is, interpreting the meaning of scripture is not difficult. Nor is it mysterious. It does require study. We must understand the context. To take a passage of scripture out of the context in which it was written is to do violence to the meaning of the text. We also compare what one biblical writer has said about a particular subject with another. We must, whenever possible, let scripture interpret scripture. If we are diligent and apply these simple rules to our study, we will reach a good understanding of the meaning and proper interpretation of Bible passages. We may not avoid the accusation that it’s “just our interpretation” but we will have firm doctrinal ground upon which to stand.
¹Hermeneutics is a term used to describe a method of systematic study of the Bible. There are a number of good books and articles on the subject. Here are a few of my favorites:
Guidelines for the Understanding of the Scriptures, J. Vernon McGee. Through the Bible Radio.