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| WHY DO PEOPLE
MISINTERPRET THE BIBLE? |
#208
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People obviously misinterpret the Bible; otherwise,
everyone would interpret it alike. Since two interpretations of
the very same verse are sometimes geometrically opposed to each
other, they cannot both be correct. Somebody is wrong about
something. It seems that we should all be able to read the Bible
and understand the will of God. But let us not deceive ourselves
into oversimplifying the process of Biblical interpretation.
Even the apostle Peter said that some of the writings of Paul
were “hard to understand” (II Peter 3:15-16). He went on to say
that the “untaught and unstable” have a tendency to “distort”
the Scriptures “to their own destruction.” However, we need to
recognize that Peter did not say the Scriptures were
impossible to understand, just “hard.” In fact, Paul said,
“when you read you can understand my insight into the
mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4). We must also realize that we
have an adversary who is the “Father of lies” (John 8:44). There
is nothing that helps the cause of Satan more than for the
Scriptures to be tangled and confused. Paul wrote, “And even if
our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the
unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of
the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (II Corinthians
4:3-4). Satan wants us to become so discouraged by the tangled
web of denominational confusion that we just give up and think
that truth does not exist.
So then, WHY are there so many interpretations of the
Bible, represented by so many different groups? Interestingly
enough, the preconceived expectation a person brings into Bible
study has a lot to do with the interpretation derived. In other
words, we often find the Bible teaches exactly what we want it
to say. Our “approach” to Biblical interpretation greatly
influences our “conclusion.” There are about “Seven Different
Approaches” to Biblical interpretation which result in the
varied beliefs we see in the denominational world today.
1. The Mystical Approach says that only special people can
interpret the Scriptures (those with a mysterious rapport with
God). Cults have historically thrived on this mentality since it
is so easy to control people who are willing to let someone else
do their thinking for them.
2. The Spiritual Approach says that anyone can interpret
the Scriptures after they become “Spiritual” enough. The
emotions seem to play a big part in this one. The key question
is, “What does this verse speak to me?” It is believed that the
Holy Spirit will insert meaning into our minds as we read. We
wonder why the Scriptures are needed at all if answers are just
telepathically communicated to us. Another problem is that any
ten “Spiritually In-Tune People" are likely to come up with ten
different interpretations of the same verse relying on this
approach.
3. The Allegorical Method says that the Bible is totally
figurative. Nothing means what it says on the surface. A deeper,
more meaningful interpretation must be sought than what seems to
be obvious. There can be no doubt that division and confusion
will result from this one.
4. The Rationalistic Approach says that science and nature
is the standard for truth and that reason must be our guide in
Biblical interpretation. Using this approach, we would have to
discount the miracles of the Bible because they can't be seen in
nature. Any moral teachings which oppose our own socially
evolved practices must also be rejected. In essence, this
approach is humanistic. Man has placed himself in the role of
God and condensed the Bible to a neat little handbook of
uninspired philosophies. Those determined to hold this view
point might as well leave the Bible alone altogether, for the
Bible reveals things which science and nature cannot measure nor
perceive. Thus, the Bible is a totally frustrating nuisance for
these people.
5. The Dogmatic Approach begins with a doctrine which is
preconceived to be true, then sets out to find Bible verses to
make it appear believable. If one is not concerned with context,
a string of sentences can be collected from any book which
appear to prove a point. Once again, the fallacy with this
approach is easy to see. Rather than allowing the Bible to speak
for itself, the advocates of this philosophy try to force the
Scriptures to concur with their own beliefs.
6. The Literal Approach is just the opposite from the
Allegorical. In this one, everything in the Bible is
deemed to be literal. Even prophetic images and apocalyptic
monsters, which are obviously intended to be figurative, are
interpreted literally. Those who hold this approach pride
themselves with having a superior faith to allow them to believe
even the absurd.
7. The Inductive Approach seems to be more reasonable than
all the others. Rather than trying to read an interpretation
into the text, this view strives to draw out the
meaning which the author originally intended. It reasons from
the specific to the general. That is, before drawing a general
conclusion about a Bible doctrine, every passage dealing with
that topic is consulted. This approach is based on the belief
that the Scriptures are inspired. Thus, all facts will harmonize
-- no contradictions will exist. The over-riding question in
this approach is: “What did this mean to the original author and
audience?” The context surrounding a verse, when it was written,
to whom it was written, circumstances, customs, language, and
other passages on the same subject all play a part in correct
interpretation. Those who utilize this approach to Bible study
have an easier time coming to united interpretations of
Scripture.
Please do not become discouraged by the tangled web of
deceit that Satan has spun. Perhaps you can now see why so many
different interpretations are held. It is true that correct
interpretation of the Bible demands study and commitment; but
the alternative is far worse, an embittered attitude that truth
does not exist. Believe me, every verse of Scripture has but one
interpretation: the one intended by the inspired author. Don’t
give up. Like the Ethiopian nobleman of Acts 8:31, be willing to
ask for some help. And, be like the Bereans of Acts 17:11,
“examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things
were so.”
| Bible
Probe |
WHY DO PEOPLE
MISINTERPRET THE BIBLE? |
208
|
1. Would you say that some things in the Bible are “hard to
understand”? (II Peter 3:15-16)
2. What kind of people “distort” the scriptures “to their own
destruction”? (II Peter 3:16)
3. Are the scriptures impossible to understand?
(Ephesians 3:4)
4. Who would like to see the gospel “veiled” and our minds
“blinded” to the truth of scripture?
Who is the “Father of Lies”? (John 8:44; II Corinthians
4:3-4)
5. Briefly describe the fallacy with each of the following
methods of Biblical interpretation:
Mystical
Spiritual
Allegorical
Rationalistic
Dogmatic
Literal
6. When we say the Inductive Method of Biblical Interpretation
reasons from the specific to the general, what does that mean?
7. To determine what a scripture meant to the original author
and audience, we must consider the _________ surrounding the
passage, _______ it was written, to _______ it was written,
_______________, _________, ____________, and other ___________
on the same subject.
8. Agree/Disagree: The tangled web of denominational confusion
is a powerful tool of Satan to discourage people from learning
God’s Word for themselves.
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Your Bible questions answered here.