SO MANY INTERPRETATIONS

I thought I would write an short article on a subject related to our Sunday morning class and our efforts to share the gospel with our friends. Efforts to teach others are often met with an all too familiar “Well, that’s your interpretation.” Or, “there are so many interpretations, how can I know which is right.” Here are three simple practical suggestions that may help avoid that problem.

1. When you are teaching a person let him read the Scripture for himself!

Just giving someone a verbal response, even if you preface it with the Scriptures say…” leaves you wide open for the famous, “that’s your interpretation.” Sometimes it may intimidate the person who is less familiar with the Bible. Or perhaps the person at times will even believe you because you appear so well versed. The weakness is this approach is three fold: (1) He really hasn’t learned anything for himself, (2) he will likely forget what you told him, and (3) he will almost never will form a new conviction as a result of the conversation. There is a great advantage in having them read for themselves. It takes you out of the picture and confronts them with the Lord. Give them the Bible, show them the verse you think best addresses their question, ask them to read it, then ask the simple question; “Ok, you’ve read about this subject yourself now, what does God say about it?” They are now confronted with the Lord, they must deal with the Word, not with your opinion or interpretation. Try it, I think it will help.

2. Learn how to properly study and interpret the Bible yourself. Often, the reason for bad interpretation is a lack of sufficient perspiration. Sometimes the only thing Bible classes at church reveal is how little we apply ourselves to study. We know how Paul praised the Bereans because they “examined the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11) and how he told Timothy, “study to show thyself approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15). The proverb writer beautifully illustrated real effort to know the truth saying, “If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God.” (2:4-5). This implies that the Bible is understandable with the right degree of effort. In a study with an unbeliever lets make sure we don’t contribute more to their misunderstanding rather than understanding of God’s word simply because we did not do our homework.

3. Don’t be too hasty to make it relevant. There is no true learning and Bible study is incomplete without asking the question, “how does this apply to me.” However, practical application is the last step, not the first. Do not rush in your study with someone to make it relevant. In a study I like to say, FIRST, Lets get the facts together surrounding the passage. Who wrote it? Who was he writing to? What was going on that made him write this? SECOND, What was the point of the writer’s message? THIRD, How was it relative to them in their situation? THEN, only after these things have been accurately understood can we ask, now, how is that same teaching applicable in our day? Usually the application will be similar to what it was then, because while times change people don’t. People need to know that the Bible speaks to every generation. However, be careful not to elevate relevance above the fundamental process of getting to it. This also helps avoid the all familiar excuse, “Well, that’s your interpretation.”

Bengel once said, Apply thyself wholly to the text. Apply the text wholly to thyself".

Good luck and remember: do not be ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.” Romans 1:16

Mike