Correct Interpretation of the Bible

[machew]

I want to start by saying, that I Love the church and wholeheartedly believe it to be God's chosen vessel and people to manifest the gospel of the Kingdom on the Earth. This post is not meant to demean the church or anyone here or bring guilt or condemnation. The purpose of this post is to highlight mistakes that the church has made repeatedly over it's history. My hope is that all who read this would not contribute to and/or make the same mistake of past history.

I have put a lot of scripture in this post on purpose, and to really benefit from this post all the scripture should be read carefully..

Key Verses:

John 1:14(NASB)

14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Context:
The Jewish religious leaders sent people to Corinth to convince them of the law (the Old Convenant), that they had to follow standards and rules, and that righteousness with God came from good works, extensive knowledge about the Word of God, and how well you followed it (Contrary to the New Convenant sealed by the blood of Jesus).


1 Corinthians 2(NASB)(emphasis mine)

1And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

2For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

3I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,

4and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

5so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

6Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;

7but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;

8the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

9but just as it is written,
"THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."

10For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

13which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

14But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

15But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

16For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:1-6(NASB)(emphasis mine)

1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

2You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

3being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.

5Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

6who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The church has made the same mistake over and over again in the past

The Bible becoming your god and not God(pride in your own knowledge of the Bible)

Throughout church history wars have been fought(between Christians), people have been burned at a stake, people have been assassinated, and the church has split and divided a horrendous amount of times.

This all resulted because of contradicting theologies(even blasphemous theologies). We have had more than 1500 years with the same canonized Bible. Nothing in the Bible has changed. We as a church have had 1500 years to understand the Bible and get good theology that we can all agree on. So what gives?

The problem is when people come to the conclusion that they know the Bible better or can interpret the Bible better than everyone else (or even most people). Think about this statement. What is the inevitable consequence of this way of thinking?

1. There is now no room for greater revelation of the scriptures (because you assume to know everything)
Yet the Bible says God wants to take us precept upon precept, and glory to glory.

2. People aren't allowed to disagree with your interpretation of scriptures (because if you know everything, they must be wrong)
Yet the Bible says God alone has all knowledge, and that the Holy Spirit is the only one who knows the things of God

3. If God does something outside of your interpretation of scripture, then you can't accept it as God (even though it might really be Him)
Yet the Bible says God ways are higher than our ways and our thoughts.

4. God looks a lot more like your understanding of Him, rather than who He truly is.
Yet the Bible asks the questions who can know His thoughts and His ways?(He is an infinite God who can't be confined to the limitations of human intellect)

The Pharisees made this mistake. Is your faith and assurance of your righteousness based on your knowledge of the Bible or on the blood of Jesus and your relationship with Him? Jesus gives some very sobering language to the Pharisess (the 7 woes) in Matthew 23. In John 5 Jesus highlights the primary problem of the Pharisees which unfortunately seems apparent in a lot of churchs today:

John 5:39

39"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;

Too many Christians know so much about God, but don't really know Him. This is what Jesus had to say about this:

Matthew 7:21-23(emphasis mine)

21Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.

22Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?

23And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].

Jesus connects not obeying and doing the will of the Father as the consequence of not knowing Him.
Please understand, I am not bringing this to bring about guilt or shame or condemnation, but only to bring a necessary soberness.

The church needs to stop making it's foundation on the agreement of non-essential doctrines but on common unity in Who they have given their life to. Have you given your life to a doctrine or a person? Does your God look a lot like you or a lot like God? Do you know what grieves His Spirit? Have you felt Him grieved before? Have you shared intimate times with God where you wish it would never end? Have you read the Bible to God, and had Him answer your questions? When you open your Bible do you look forward to getting to know the Bible better or getting to know Him better?

Don't make the same mistake of the ages. If you are filled with the pride of your own knowledge of God, you will never know Him until you are willing to give that up. If you don't give it up you will cause destruction in not only your own life but also in the lives of others.

1 Peter 5:5 (emphasis mine)

5You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

Who is the one who gives us understanding of the Bible according to the Bible? The Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit God? Of Course. So what is the ineveitable consequence if you are prideful about your knowledge of God. Will the Holy Spirit continue to teach you the Bible? Look at the verse above.

So why hasn't the church gained great agreement in understanding the Bible over the past 1500 years? Pride in knowledge about God rather than knowing God.

Lets look at John 1:14 again:

14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

It says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is the Word of God. Later on, God sent His Holy Spirit and Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide us and teach us and will do what He would have done had he been here.

If we really want to know and be experts on the Word of God, then shouldn't we devote all of our time to knowing the One who is the Word of God? Just a thought. :-)

I think these Scriptures could fit in.

Luke 10
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

"What does the bible say and how do you interpret it?"
...

Good thread though, I really like that. I definitely think that would be a smart idea. If we want to become experts and teachers of the Word we must first know the Word! (The Word became flesh).. We need to know Jesus.

[cookie39]

Originally Posted by machew

I want to start by saying, that I Love the church and wholeheartedly believe it to be God's chosen vessel and people to manifest the gospel of the Kingdom on the Earth. This post is not meant to demean the church or anyone here or bring guilt or condemnation. The purpose of this post is to highlight mistakes that the church has made repeatedly over it's history. My hope is that all who read this would not contribute to and/or make the same mistake of past history.

I have put a lot of scripture in this post on purpose, and to really benefit from this post all the scripture should be read carefully..

Key Verses:

John 1:14(NASB)


Context:
The Jewish religious leaders sent people to Corinth to convince them of the law (the Old Convenant), that they had to follow standards and rules, and that righteousness with God came from good works, extensive knowledge about the Word of God, and how well you followed it (Contrary to the New Convenant sealed by the blood of Jesus).


1 Corinthians 2(NASB)(emphasis mine)


2 Corinthians 3:1-6(NASB)(emphasis mine)


The church has made the same mistake over and over again in the past

The Bible becoming your god and not God(pride in your own knowledge of the Bible)

Throughout church history wars have been fought(between Christians), people have been burned at a stake, people have been assassinated, and the church has split and divided a horrendous amount of times.

This all resulted because of contradicting theologies(even blasphemous theologies). We have had more than 1500 years with the same canonized Bible. Nothing in the Bible has changed. We as a church have had 1500 years to understand the Bible and get good theology that we can all agree on. So what gives?

The problem is when people come to the conclusion that they know the Bible better or can interpret the Bible better than everyone else (or even most people). Think about this statement. What is the inevitable consequence of this way of thinking?

1. There is now no room for greater revelation of the scriptures (because you assume to know everything)
Yet the Bible says God wants to take us precept upon precept, and glory to glory.

2. People aren't allowed to disagree with your interpretation of scriptures (because if you know everything, they must be wrong)
Yet the Bible says God alone has all knowledge, and that the Holy Spirit is the only one who knows the things of God

3. If God does something outside of your interpretation of scripture, then you can't accept it as God (even though it might really be Him)
Yet the Bible says God ways are higher than our ways and our thoughts.

4. God looks a lot more like your understanding of Him, rather than who He truly is.
Yet the Bible asks the questions who can know His thoughts and His ways?(He is an infinite God who can't be confined to the limitations of human intellect)

The Pharisees made this mistake. Is your faith and assurance of your righteousness based on your knowledge of the Bible or on the blood of Jesus and your relationship with Him? Jesus gives some very sobering language to the Pharisess (the 7 woes) in Matthew 23. In John 5 Jesus highlights the primary problem of the Pharisees which unfortunately seems apparent in a lot of churchs today:

John 5:39


Too many Christians know so much about God, but don't really know Him. This is what Jesus had to say about this:

Matthew 7:21-23(emphasis mine)


Jesus connects not obeying and doing the will of the Father as the consequence of not knowing Him.
Please understand, I am not bringing this to bring about guilt or shame or condemnation, but only to bring a necessary soberness.

The church needs to stop making it's foundation on the agreement of non-essential doctrines but on common unity in Who they have given their life to. Have you given your life to a doctrine or a person? Does your God look a lot like you or a lot like God? Do you know what grieves His Spirit? Have you felt Him grieved before? Have you shared intimate times with God where you wish it would never end? Have you read the Bible to God, and had Him answer your questions? When you open your Bible do you look forward to getting to know the Bible better or getting to know Him better?

Don't make the same mistake of the ages. If you are filled with the pride of your own knowledge of God, you will never know Him until you are willing to give that up. If you don't give it up you will cause destruction in not only your own life but also in the lives of others.

1 Peter 5:5 (emphasis mine)


Who is the one who gives us understanding of the Bible according to the Bible? The Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit God? Of Course. So what is the ineveitable consequence if you are prideful about your knowledge of God. Will the Holy Spirit continue to teach you the Bible? Look at the verse above.

So why hasn't the church gained great agreement in understanding the Bible over the past 1500 years? Pride in knowledge about God rather than knowing God.

Lets look at John 1:14 again:


It says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is the Word of God. Later on, God sent His Holy Spirit and Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide us and teach us and will do what He would have done had he been here.

If we really want to know and be experts on the Word of God, then shouldn't we devote all of our time to knowing the One who is the Word of God? Just a thought. :-)

I have know argument with what you said about know the Word, but just because someone corrects someone on the Word of God does not mean they have pride, I love the Lord and I don't even have to be reading the bible for God to answer a question or we just talk. he answer my question before I even get to the end of it. yes I so agree with you cause about five years ago I told God just that. I know of you but how do I get to know you. honestly it was the otheer way around.. God asked me one day while I was driving.. do you know me.... I started thinking of scriptures.. and God said, No! do you know me not just know of me.. He show me an example; as he always does, to get me to understand what he is saying. He ask me do I know Micheal Jordan? I said , not personally, but I read about him. God said it is the same for him, I read about him from the Bible but I have not got to know him "personally" I said, God I don't think I do.. I asked God how can I know him in a person way? all that day, God asked me many questions.
who is th one that got you out of trouble, God I said it was you... then you know me as your deliverer. when you had not enough money yo pay your bills, for clothes, food and all your needs, and no one else could help you, who gave you all you needed? God it was only you. then you know me as your provider. when I snatched you out of the streets, from being a drug dealer and a gang member, what have I became to you? you have been my savior and my redeemer, you have bought me with a price fiom doing the will of satan. when he stopped me from being raped, killed, beaten.. he is my protector, my sacturary, my fortress, my refuge.. when he kept me from doing 6-30 year for someone elses drugs and well as my own.. he showed me mercy and pour his grace out on me as he also doing that time changed my whole life. As I went to court for three n half years, I went back to school and got baptized, got a job I didn't go looking for. all in a matter of three years fearing God, he is my everthing. he has kept me sain, when I knew that I was loosing my mind.. I was molested as a child, in a home a abuse, in the street I have seen people gunned down. but not like I had to watch the man that was at the time five months pregenant by die with a bullet hole in his head, after a drive by shooting in which I just three minutes before walked away from. not to say countless of friends who were not in a gang die in the street. but God kept my mind and my heart. he is the anchor of my soul. when he got me I was a mess and through the knowledge of his world was how he begun to talk to me on a spiritual level. but before I knew the Bible, I knew my heavenly Father... from him teaching me to be daughter, a servent to men for his glory. I have been drugged and raped at the age of thirteen... and I held that in telling no one,, until God was in my life and he took away the shame of all my past... he is all I have, he is the air I breath, my soul patteneth after him as the deer after the water brook..
I say all this and I tell you, I have not even touched the tip of my life, not even! but I"m still here; cause God came and got me... it bringing me to tears just to know and remember how wonder and loving he has been to me..
When I speak the Word, I want everyone to have what he gave me from it. that is life in him and his life in me.. so don't think it's pride.. cause you don't know who God is in people lives.

[machew]

Originally Posted by cookie39

just because someone corrects someone on the Word of God does not mean they have pride

I agree that there are times when someone does need correction. What I was talking about is when people are not ok with you, unless you agree with them. It is when the need to be right is taking precedence over the Love of God.

[cookie39]

I also want to say that, yes; John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... 1:14 and the Word became flesh. and Jesus said,
Psalms 40:7...Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
if we want to get to know God we must go to the source, " The Bible" and it will guide us to know God personally.

We also know that the Word of God has so much in it for us.... I just don't agree with you on how the Bible is interprted, there is no such thing in the Bible that tells anyone to interpret it... it is only reveal by the Holy Spirit of God and if you have him in you, the Word will come for he give understanding not intepretations. if we are to interpret the Bible then no one will be wrong to what the meaning is.

Galatians 1:12..But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:25..Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Ephesians 1:17...That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him
Ephesians 3:3-6How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby,when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Matthew 11:25...At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes
Matthew 16:17...And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Luke 2:26....And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ
2:35...Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed
10:21...In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
John 12:38...That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Roman 1:17..For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith
8:18...For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
I Cor. 2 :9-10...But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God
14:30..If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
Galatians 2:23..But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed

I did not give you all these scriptures out of pride nor did I give them just for you. but to show what God has shown me.. that you can not under no circumstance can we interpretate the Bible. What ever the meaning of one scripture in the context of the chapter in which it comes from is the same no matter where or how we use it.. or we will be in danger of teaching another doctrine. can we take the color red and put it in this sentence " I red the whole Bible" it sound right but it is not right.
so God knew that we will need help with understanding him, the part of him that he has revealed to us. "His Word" if we be still and listen to God he will open our spiritual eyes and ears. pray before reading, and prayfully read.. seek the truth and knowledge just to put down another but to help them. to much is giving; much is require...so lets us speak the Word with a boldness but also in the spirit of love. as God reveal himself to us by his Word, lets us glorify him by living it. being doers and not hearers only. and letting the profit us by mixing it with faith.

With all Godly love may his peace through Jesus Christ rest in our hearts.

[machew]

Originally Posted by cookie39

I also want to say that, yes; John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... 1:14 and the Word became flesh. and Jesus said,
Psalms 40:7...Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
if we want to get to know God we must go to the source, " The Bible" and it will guide us to know God personally.

We also know that the Word of God has so much in it for us.... I just don't agree with you on how the Bible is interprted, there is no such thing in the Bible that tells anyone to interpret it... it is only reveal by the Holy Spirit of God and if you have him in you, the Word will come for he give understanding not intepretations. if we are to interpret the Bible then no one will be wrong to what the meaning is.

Galatians 1:12..But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:25..Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Ephesians 1:17...That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him
Ephesians 3:3-6How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby,when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Matthew 11:25...At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes
Matthew 16:17...And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Luke 2:26....And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ
2:35...Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed
10:21...In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
John 12:38...That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Roman 1:17..For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith
8:18...For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
I Cor. 2 :9-10...But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God
14:30..If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
Galatians 2:23..But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed

I did not give you all these scriptures out of pride nor did I give them just for you. but to show what God has shown me.. that you can not under no circumstance can we interpretate the Bible. What ever the meaning of one scripture in the context of the chapter in which it comes from is the same no matter where or how we use it.. or we will be in danger of teaching another doctrine. can we take the color red and put it in this sentence " I red the whole Bible" it sound right but it is not right.
so God knew that we will need help with understanding him, the part of him that he has revealed to us. "His Word" if we be still and listen to God he will open our spiritual eyes and ears. pray before reading, and prayfully read.. seek the truth and knowledge just to put down another but to help them. to much is giving; much is require...so lets us speak the Word with a boldness but also in the spirit of love. as God reveal himself to us by his Word, lets us glorify him by living it. being doers and not hearers only. and letting the profit us by mixing it with faith.

With all Godly love may his peace through Jesus Christ rest in our hearts.

I am not sure if you misinterpreted what I was posted because I actually agree with everything you just said. In fact much of the purpose of my post was to highlight what you just said.

Blessings! :-)

[cookie39]

Originally Posted by machew

I agree that there are times when someone does need correction. What I was talking about is when people are not ok with you, unless you agree with them. It is when the need to be right is taking precedence over the Love of God.

I say Amen to that, but you should not let that bother you, because Pride come before destruction and God does not care for egos. what is it for a man to gain the whole world and loose his soul. as you have posted the Apostel Paul said that he did not come to please man, but God.......... so if people want to try to interpret the Bible to be right they are going to be wrong for 1 God don't reveal to the pride,
James 4:3...Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
this is why so many people don't have the truth because God has not giving it to them. and their pride is revealed in them.
I pray you keep your heart before God and in God.
because I know how being in these christian web sites can cause disencouragement, but God told me that it would be pride if I stopped coming; cause in it it will be looking down on others and to keep giving his Word as he has reveald it to me, because there are people who will receice the truth and yes, there will be those who want to be right and reject it... God said that I just need to know that's between them and He. so I give glory to God fro brothers like you. Therefore dispite of what they say God by his Holy Spirit will reveal the truth to those who are seeking it, I know he did it for me. I get a bad headache when I try to read something that is not from God. even before I realize that it is not according to the doctrine of Christ. or when I hear someone say something not right the Holy Spirit screams "that's not right " all down in me and give me scriptures now that I have been taught them by him,,, they come a flooding in my mind. so we know that when we speak the truth, which is the Lord that speaketh it through us, they will know it if they are seeking it .
To God be the Glory.

[greatkraw]

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Conflict and controversy can be constructive.

The church would not have made as much progress embracing doctrine as it has except for sincere people honestly debating their individual perspectives.

It took 4 centuries for the Church just to get a handle on the Trinity.