Why is the bible so open to interpretation?

[PeterJens]

I was thinking that God could make His heart clearer, not have so many phrases that can
be taken a different way.

"Be perfect as the Father is perfect"
"Anything not of faith is sin"
"Believe in Jesus Christ and you will have eternal life"
"The law brings death but the spirit brings life"

Now all the above phrases can be taken more than one way. For some they are condemning
for others they are a statement of hope and freedom.

I begin to realise one recurring them. If love dwells in your heart, if you see freedom in the cross
service in your ministry, purity in your walk, there is only one real interpretation of these verses.

If you have a struggle of sin in your life, live in legalism and defeat, then these verses are not
freedom but bondage.

So your theology will be taken not on the words but what is happening in your life.
And so it will be on judgement day. The sheep to heaven the goats to destruction..

But the real point is until that time all will feel they have it right, because our hearts will always
justify where we are and why.

My only hope is to walk humbly before the Lord, with a clear conscience and pure heart, and
trust the love He has put in me. Then I will see the way through, from the depths of my soul
to the heights of heaven.

So Amen to you all, and I encourage you to find purity and holiness, and then, only then, will
we see God and ourselves with the clarity He promised.

I have not arrived, I still aspire to see more, and the more I see, the more there is still to
discover, Hallelujah.

 

[PeterJens]

Lazerus and the rich man

Send me back to my brothers and family so they do not come to this place.
Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

So the bible has enough to paint a picture of God.
But people want to discount Moses, the prophets, and Jesus and taken their
version of freedom and failure over sin, though everything points to a different
faith.

Words in a book at just that. It is the living image in a person that is their
faith. Some have very little of the words yet see Jesus, while others have all
the words yet make their own version.

This is why the Kingdom of heaven and love are not easy or simple, and finding
truth requires you to be born of heaven.

It appears even this is unclear, and few get the big picture, as demonstrated
here on cc.

 

[crossnote]

I was thinking that God could make His heart clearer, not have so many phrases that can
be taken a different way.

"Be perfect as the Father is perfect"
"Anything not of faith is sin"
"Believe in Jesus Christ and you will have eternal life"
"The law brings death but the spirit brings life"

Now all the above phrases can be taken more than one way. For some they are condemning
for others they are a statement of hope and freedom.

The bible is perfectly clear. It is our flesh that clouds up the water.
No matter which way God stated something we'd find a way to confuse the matter.

As we continue in His Word the fog progressively lifts.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Who [is] wise, and he shall understand these [things]? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD [are] right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. Hosea 14:9

 

[PeterJens]

The trap appears to be you see what you want to see.
Which is Gods intention, to make the evil seek good, or those who desire freedom
to find it?

Even in Israel many were taken out of Egypt yet many were also executed along
the way. What is the path? To find life out of a world lost and doomed.

Who is wise? Those who stay behind and accept the worlds ways and try and
make a secure life for themselves or those who follow Christ in obedience?

Those who try and keep their life will loose it, and those who loose their life
for Jesus's sake will keep it for eternity.

 

[PeterJens]

Purity and holiness - the cleansing of the soul and heart.

I have met many people who just laugh at this idea. They are totally convinced they can never find
freedom. But if this is so, why are you following Jesus?

Hidden behind the excuses and lies is simply dark hearts thinking unresolved evil can stay hidden
and never repented of. The heart is always desperately wicked and in denial.

 

[PeterJens]

The bible is perfectly clear. It is our flesh that clouds up the water.
No matter which way God stated something we'd find a way to confuse the matter.

As we continue in His Word the fog progressively lifts.

This is an interesting contradiction.

Willie-T and Grace7 both agreed with the above comment yet dramatically disagree with most of the christian church, yet we all have the same bible.

You may spot a real irony here.

 

[Dan_473]

Who [is] wise, and he shall understand these [things]? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD [are] right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. Hosea 14:9

Yes!
PROVERBS 1:6 to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

 

[PilgrimPassingThru]

Proverbs 1:5 helps a bit on 1:6

Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Proverbs 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

 

[Zmouth]

I was thinking that God could make His heart clearer, not have so many phrases that can
be taken a different way.

The reprobate lacks principles. As I am sure you have read, as written in Ephesians 4:14:That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

"Be perfect as the Father is perfect"
"Anything not of faith is sin"
"Believe in Jesus Christ and you will have eternal life"
"The law brings death but the spirit brings life"

Now all the above phrases can be taken more than one way. For some they are condemning
for others they are a statement of hope and freedom.

Of course they can considering the fact that it is written in James 1:8, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." And what is a double minded man but a reprobate, someone who lacks principles.

Take the reference to anything not of faith is sin, if you believe Jesus but doubt that anyone can be perfect before the LORD then he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith.

So believe in Jesus Christ and you will have eternal life? But it is written that Jesus said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:" It is written that man does not live by bread only but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of the LORD doth man live." So if faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God then if seen how can it be of faith, for what hope does one have for that which he sees?


Like it says in Proverbs 4:7:Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.


But in all your getting didn't hear the LORD tell you to get the principle that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, then it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

 

[crossnote]

The bible is perfectly clear. It is our flesh that clouds up the water.
No matter which way God stated something we'd find a way to confuse the matter.

As we continue in His Word the fog progressively lifts.

This is an interesting contradiction.

Willie-T and Grace7 both agreed with the above comment yet dramatically disagree with most of the christian church, yet we all have the same bible.

You may spot a real irony here.

Your post proves the point of my post if you include yourself in the 'we' ... "As WE continue in His Word the fog progrssively lifts".

 

[oldhermit]

I was thinking that God could make His heart clearer, not have so many phrases that can
be taken a different way.

"Be perfect as the Father is perfect"
"Anything not of faith is sin"
"Believe in Jesus Christ and you will have eternal life"
"The law brings death but the spirit brings life"

Now all the above phrases can be taken more than one way. For some they are condemning
for others they are a statement of hope and freedom.

I begin to realise one recurring them. If love dwells in your heart, if you see freedom in the cross
service in your ministry, purity in your walk, there is only one real interpretation of these verses.

If you have a struggle of sin in your life, live in legalism and defeat, then these verses are not
freedom but bondage.

So your theology will be taken not on the words but what is happening in your life.
And so it will be on judgement day. The sheep to heaven the goats to destruction..

But the real point is until that time all will feel they have it right, because our hearts will always
justify where we are and why.

My only hope is to walk humbly before the Lord, with a clear conscience and pure heart, and
trust the love He has put in me. Then I will see the way through, from the depths of my soul
to the heights of heaven.

So Amen to you all, and I encourage you to find purity and holiness, and then, only then, will
we see God and ourselves with the clarity He promised.

I have not arrived, I still aspire to see more, and the more I see, the more there is still to
discover, Hallelujah.

I suppose the first question I would have to ask is what do you think of when you use the word 'interpretation'?
Secondly, I would have to ask, why do you feel that scripture is open to interpretation?

 

[Angela53510]

The reason the Bible seems open to interpretation, is because most people do not understand hermeneutics. To make doctrine, beyond following Jesus, (which the Bible is very clear on!) you need to understand interpretation. Really, even just getting a grip on context would go a long, long way to helping people truly understand the Bible.

And if you are going to be a theologian ​and make up doctrines from scratch, a knowledge of Greek and Hebrew would help immensely. Plus, lose the KJ English. So many things were interpreted in a way we do not understand.

I fear so many times when people say, "Yes, but the Holy Spirit will guide you in all truth!" And somehow God has directed this individual to come up with some very strange and bizarre doctrines, instead of reading the whole verse (at the very least!) let alone the passage, the chapter and the book! I've been studying John this month, and it is an amazing book. And this verse in particular must be read in context.

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." John 16:13

So what is the particular truth John is proclaiming in this verse? Is it that Joe Blow, in 2016 will suddenly get a revelation about theology, the nature of God or sin, or grace that no one has ever had before? (Even the Reformation had a LOT of people involved and all of them were fluent in Biblical languages, had studied to show themselves approved, and "networked with each other.")

Reading this verse, it is more about what is going to happen in the future, but NOT eschatology. Rather reading the rest of the chapter, Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit helping them and revealing to them about what the death and resurrection of Jesus means, and very importantly what would happen on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

"He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."


"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.”17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?”18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’?

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:14-24

It doesn't get much clearer than this - it is about how the Spirit will lead them through this terrible event, the death of their beloved Rabbi, which turns out to be the ultimate victory over sin and death. (The resurrection)

It is not, and never will be a few words about how "God told me this is right" which it is completely wrong. The minute a person says the Holy Spirit has showed it to them, based on John 16:13, they have already lost the battle, because even their rational is out of context.

 

[PeterJens]

I suppose the first question I would have to ask is what do you think of when you use the word 'interpretation'?
Secondly, I would have to ask, why do you feel that scripture is open to interpretation?

My experience of interpretation was listening in isolation to different preachers. Each builds their
view from the words. When heard it makes sense but the final conclusions can be very different.

Now when I say open to interpretation is when you find different christian traditions take a different
emphasis. Now both maybe valid. Some maybe heretical.

What I have learnt to do, is just listen, and work it through. So many things can work for good, and
some end in a bad place. Liberation theology I would argue is one such problem. It grows from a
sense of injustice for one group and desire to fit ones interpretation to meet the desired goal.

The fluidity of scripture is demonstrated by the number of different schools of theological thought
that exist, and each vehemently defends that they have got it right. Now some have, and some are
just blind, while other rewrite the books to favour their view. Some even end up denying scripture
altogether, which is another approach, when empathy with the group is stronger than the authority
of God.

 

[WarriorForChrist]

The reason the Bible seems open to interpretation, is because most people do not understand hermeneutics. To make doctrine, beyond following Jesus, (which the Bible is very clear on!) you need to understand interpretation. Really, even just getting a grip on context would go a long, long way to helping people truly understand the Bible.

And if you are going to be a theologian ​and make up doctrines from scratch, a knowledge of Greek and Hebrew would help immensely. Plus, lose the KJ English. So many things were interpreted in a way we do not understand.

I fear so many times when people say, "Yes, but the Holy Spirit will guide you in all truth!" And somehow God has directed this individual to come up with some very strange and bizarre doctrines, instead of reading the whole verse (at the very least!) let alone the passage, the chapter and the book! I've been studying John this month, and it is an amazing book. And this verse in particular must be read in context.

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." John 16:13

So what is the particular truth John is proclaiming in this verse? Is it that Joe Blow, in 2016 will suddenly get a revelation about theology, the nature of God or sin, or grace that no one has ever had before? (Even the Reformation had a LOT of people involved and all of them were fluent in Biblical languages, had studied to show themselves approved, and "networked with each other.")

Reading this verse, it is more about what is going to happen in the future, but NOT eschatology. Rather reading the rest of the chapter, Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit helping them and revealing to them about what the death and resurrection of Jesus means, and very importantly what would happen on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

"He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."


"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.”17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?”18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’?

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:14-24

It doesn't get much clearer than this - it is about how the Spirit will lead them through this terrible event, the death of their beloved Rabbi, which turns out to be the ultimate victory over sin and death. (The resurrection)

It is not, and never will be a few words about how "God told me this is right" which it is completely wrong. The minute a person says the Holy Spirit has showed it to them, based on John 16:13, they have already lost the battle, because even their rational is out of context.

I agree with your post but are you saying the HS doesn't help us understand scripture?

 

[Angela53510]

I agree with your post but are you saying the HS doesn't help us understand scripture?

I definitely believe the Holy Spirit enlightens things to our hearts. And sometimes what has huge meaning for us, because the Holy Spirit enlightened that passage to us, but not for the next person, because God gave them different verses, that applied to their life.

So God giving me a verse or a passage, or even a whole chapter, though, is not the same as coming up with totally new theology. That requires a lot of hard work, study and training. That is why Paul said to Timothy:

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16-17

People love to quote this verse. And it is a good one! But how many people really understand what God meant by "teaching, reproof, correction and training?" These are not things you can do on your own. The first century Hebrews had an entire system for training disciples, where rabbis who had studied the scriptures, the commentaries and discussed endlessly with other rabbis the truth of Scripture. The context of 2 Tim. 3:16-17 was written in terms of that. Why did Paul go out teaching and preaching? Yes, he proclaimed the gospel, but he also taught many more things. Why did John teach, and write the gospels, his epistles and Revelation? His writings were totally "God-breathed" but many were to counter false doctrines. I bet in his long life, he taught and gave many an inspired sermon. And we are so blessed to have all this written down. But imagine what it would be like to hear Paul, John, James or Peter preach? I bet there was so much more, as John says in his gospel.

So we study - and that means really digging deep. We pray, and God will illuminate things. A good preacher can also make the Bible come alive, through not just the Holy Spirit, but a lot of hard work and studying.

But does that same preacher make up his own doctrine? Doctrine, as in going beyond the Bible, or interpreting it wrongly, because that person failed to heed to the aspects of good hermeneutics. The Holy Spirit would NEVER lead us astray and give us a truth that comes out of twisting verses or cherry picking.

 

[LaurenTM]

Proverbs 1:5 helps a bit on 1:6

Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Proverbs 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

reading some of the threads and this one is no exception, I would conclude that a wise man is open to interpretation by some of you

however, that is not open to interpretation where God is concerned

the irony of a thread trying to state the Bible is 'open' to interpretation with the adverb 'why' proclaiming that a fact, is beyond silly

Paul speaks of 'another Jesus' and I think have seen that particular Jesus hanging around some of these threads

'open to interpretation' is indicative of disagreement and disagreeing with everyone is indicative of personal interpretation

 

[PilgrimPassingThru]

reading some of the threads and this one is no exception, I would conclude that a wise man is open to interpretation by some of you

however, that is not open to interpretation where God is concerned

the irony of a thread trying to state the Bible is 'open' to interpretation with the adverb 'why' proclaiming that a fact, is beyond silly

Paul speaks of 'another Jesus' and I think have seen that particular Jesus hanging around some of these threads

'open to interpretation' is indicative of disagreement and disagreeing with everyone is indicative of personal interpretation

I dont undertsnad what you just said or how it relates can you try again

 

[WarriorForChrist]

I definitely believe the Holy Spirit enlightens things to our hearts. And sometimes what has huge meaning for us, because the Holy Spirit enlightened that passage to us, but not for the next person, because God gave them different verses, that applied to their life.

So God giving me a verse or a passage, or even a whole chapter, though, is not the same as coming up with totally new theology. That requires a lot of hard work, study and training. That is why Paul said to Timothy:

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16-17

People love to quote this verse. And it is a good one! But how many people really understand what God meant by "teaching, reproof, correction and training?" These are not things you can do on your own. The first century Hebrews had an entire system for training disciples, where rabbis who had studied the scriptures, the commentaries and discussed endlessly with other rabbis the truth of Scripture. The context of 2 Tim. 3:16-17 was written in terms of that. Why did Paul go out teaching and preaching? Yes, he proclaimed the gospel, but he also taught many more things. Why did John teach, and write the gospels, his epistles and Revelation? His writings were totally "God-breathed" but many were to counter false doctrines. I bet in his long life, he taught and gave many an inspired sermon. And we are so blessed to have all this written down. But imagine what it would be like to hear Paul, John, James or Peter preach? I bet there was so much more, as John says in his gospel.

So we study - and that means really digging deep. We pray, and God will illuminate things. A good preacher can also make the Bible come alive, through not just the Holy Spirit, but a lot of hard work and studying.

But does that same preacher make up his own doctrine? Doctrine, as in going beyond the Bible, or interpreting it wrongly, because that person failed to heed to the aspects of good hermeneutics. The Holy Spirit would NEVER lead us astray and give us a truth that comes out of twisting verses or cherry picking.

Ok I understand where you are coming from. But lets take a look at Stephen in the NT. He didn't have any formal biblical training and he was preaching and lead by the spirit. "10 [FONT=&quot]But they were no match for Stephen, who spoke with the great wisdom that the Spirit gave him."

I'm really not trying to argue with you about this just trying to get a grasp as to what you are saying. If God can give someone great wisdom through the HS then couldn't He do the same thing for someone reading scripture. I'm not down playing the schooling you have received, I just don't think it is necessary for a Christian to be a theologian to understand Scripture, or learn the original language it was written in.

But then again I would love to be able to read the bible in Greek and Hebrew [/FONT]

 

[LaurenTM]

I dont undertsnad what you just said or how it relates can you try again

then I guess you may need another dose of Proverbs