Introduction: How to Interpret Scripture
How to Interpret Scripture
As Seventh-day Adventists, we are Protestants, which means that we believe in sola Scriptura, the Bible alone as the sole authoritative foundation of our faith and doctrines. This is especially relevant in the last days, when, as Ellen G. White said, God will have “a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms”. — The Great Controversy, p. 595.
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Of course, we are not unique among Protestants in claiming “the Bible and the Bible alone” as the foundation of our faith, even though many who make that claim believe in things like Sunday as the New Testament replacement for the seventh-day Sabbath; the immortality of the soul; eternal torment in hell for the lost; and even a secret rapture in which Jesus quietly and surreptitiously returns to the earth and snatches away the saved while everyone else is left wondering how those people could have disappeared.
In other words, just having the Bible, and claiming to believe it, is one thing, as important as that is. But, as the proliferation of false doctrines (all supposedly derived from Scripture) reveals, we need to know how to interpret the Bible correctly as well.
Hence, the subject of the Adult Bible Study Guide for this quarter, “How to Interpret Scripture”. In it, we begin with the assumption that Scripture, as the Word of God, is “the infallible revelation of His will” and “the standard of character, the test of experience, the authoritative revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God’s acts in history”. — Seventh-day Adventists Believe, … (2nd ed.) (Nampa: Idaho: Pacific Press® Publishing Association, 2005), p. 11. In short, Scripture is the foundational source of the truths that we believe and proclaim to the world. Or, as the Bible itself says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). “All Scripture”, of course, means all Scripture, even the Scripture that we might not like, that might step on our toes, and that, to use contemporary parlance, might not be “politically correct”.
From this starting point, then, we will examine how the Bible teaches us to interpret itself. That is, rather than first going to extra-biblical sources such as science, philosophy, and history (which, if used correctly, can be a blessing), we will seek to uncover from within the biblical texts the tools that reveal the great truths found in its sacred pages. We are told that “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21, NKJV). And we believe that among the things these “holy men of God spoke” were keys to helping us interpret the Word of God.
For instance, how did Paul or the other gospel writers interpret the Old Testament? If what they wrote was inspired by God, then certainly how they read and interpreted the Scriptures could be central to helping us learn to do the same, as well. And how did Jesus Himself use and interpret Scripture? We won’t find a better example on how to read the Bible than from Jesus.
At the same time, we will explore our own presuppositions, and reasoning about context, language, culture, and history and how they impact how we read and understand the Word of God. How are we to interpret the parables, prophecies, sacred history, admonitions, songs of praise, prophetic visions, and dreams — the whole spectrum of inspired writing found in the Scriptures?
All these questions and more will be explored this quarter because, as doctrines like eternal torment in hell or Sunday sacredness show, believing in the Bible itself isn’t enough. We must learn how to interpret it, as well.
Frank M. Hasel, Ph.D., is an Associate Director of the Biblical Research Institute (BRI) at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Michael G. Hasel, Ph.D., is Professor of Religion at Southern Adventist University and Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum.
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Quite possibly, before we start interpreting the Bible we really need to enjoy reading it. I know that there are some people who do not enjoy reading anything and I understand that, but for most of us, reading it for ourselves and enjoying the experience of reading is a distinct possibility.
I have always enjoyed reading and trying to understand what I am reading. It took me a while to appreciate literature, in fact, it was after I had left high school that I read some of the great classics of literature and started to appreciate the craftsmanship that had made them so appealing to many. As a kid, I enjoyed reading books on science, nature and astronomy, and among them, I had some favourites. At the time I had to read the Bible right through (including the genealogies and lists) in one year as an MV requirement - that was pretty hard going for a 13-year-old.
As I matured, however, I appreciated the Bible as literature, helped quite remarkably as it happened by an incident in a public high school. One of the requirements for my English class was to do book reviews, so being a bit of a smarty-pants and being able to lay claim to having read the whole Bible through, I wrote a book review of the Bible. My unchurched teacher responded by taking a couple of weeks to discuss the Bible as literature in class, and in doing so, laid the foundation for enjoying Bible reading for the rest of my life.
There are many folk who do not enjoy reading and I understand that. I have been involved in teaching for long enough to know that for a variety of reasons, some people find reading difficult. One way around that problem is to join in conversations with those who do enjoy reading. Sharing ideas is as important as reading and those of who do read should be mindful that we are the eyes for those who do not read.
If we learn to enjoy reading and sharing, then we are in a good position to understand the processes of interpretation we are studying this quarter.
Holy Ghost thanks for revealing yourself throughout scriptures to me.
As I was reading this lesson I always asked God to open the scriptures to me. I.e to reveal the true meaning of the scriptures to me.
One day I was in church and a brother was preaching from Proverbs 31. As he was preaching the sermon for mother’s day I was listening him but my mind was drawn away to a different understanding. Suddenly there appeared to my mind a true interpretation. That chapter true interpretation is about Christ and his church.
Isa 28: 9-10 asked 2 questions, Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?
Answer- them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast.
Paul a learnt man in the scriptures addressing the Corinthians said in 1Cor 3: 1-2. V2 says I have fed you with milk, and not with meat....... Many people might be reading the Bible but if they are babies in the teaching of the Bible, it doesn’t matter what or who say they will not get it. A baby is first fed with milk until they are grown physically then they can eat meat. So is someone who is spiritual as a new or unlearnt Christian. As a Christian reads, prays, study the Bible they grow spiritually. They moves from simple things to more complicated ones. With the help of the Holy Spirit they are able to interpret the scriptures correctly.
Many don’t interpret scriptures correctly because as Isa says Isa 28:10 Precepts must be upon precepts, line upon line, here a little and there a little.
Today's lesson states "... we will explore our own presuppositions, and reasoning about context, language, culture, and history and how they impact how we read and understand the Word of God."
I would invite all readers to keep this phrase uppermost in their minds throughout this quarter. The viewing of scripture through our perceptual filters (resulting in presuppositions) is a subconscious phenomenon that we typically aren't aware we are doing. This has consequently resulted in us essentially viewing God in our image.
Given this reality, it is necessary and beneficial to step back and note and re-examine the presuppositions that we subconsciously impose upon scriptural interpretation. The only way you can do this is to be conscious and intentional about it - guided by the Holy Spirit of course.
Remember, God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8,9). If we derive an interpretation from scripture that has God acting in ways that are just like our ways, we would do well to take a careful re-look at such interpretations.
God, guide us to see you as you really are this quarter. Help us go beyond our presuppositions to learn of your higher ways and thoughts - not so we merely see doctrine, but so we find you in a way that transforms our lives to actually become ever more like you.
I agree we should be careful how we understand the Word and what it means. We must remember that holy men of God wrote the Scriptures as they were inspired by Him. We do not have the authority to say that they didn't mean what they said when they plainly wrote the words the LORD said to them or the thoughts He inspired.
We were made in the image of God originally and through His grace are being changed into His image as we walk with Him, so it helps us to understand His character as we become like Him.
Yes, we have learned to understand the LORD and His Word from learned people who went before us, yes, we should re-examine what we believe but we should not just disregard it because we think we have better understanding of what the Bible should be telling us about the character of God.
We have been told that we will learn new truths but that we should not discard the foundational truths already discovered and tested.
I strongly believe in the Bible. But we should not allow others to mislead us. We should be strong and correct in the way we interpret the Word of God.
The introduction to the quarterly gives a good example of How NOT to Interpret Scripture. The fourth paragraph reads “the Bible itself says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Tim. 3:16). “All Scripture”, of course, means all Scripture”
There is a good reason why the KJV and NKJV italicize the word “is”. “is” is a supplied word. It is NOT in the original Greek!
2Ti 3:16 πασα G3956 γραφη G1124 θεοπνευστος G2315
NKJV & KJV “All Scripture is [italicized] given by inspiration of God”
Remove the supplied italicized “is” and you have a more accurate translation. “All Scripture given by inspiration of God”
ASB “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable”
BBE “Every holy Writing which comes from God is of profit”
DRB “All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable”
The original 1611 KJV and the KJV Bible Ellen White gave to the PUC church included the Apocrypha. Is “all Scripture” inspired?What about the Quran, Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price and all the other sacred scriptures of eastern religions, Mary Baker Eddy and Ron Hubbard?
I would have loved if we started there.
What makes our 66 books different from others and why we do not consider other scriptures said to be sacred