Just My Interpretation? | Practical Theology

“Although common sense and careful observation help us when we read the Bible, they are not enough to understand it rightly. There is a spiritual dimension.”

Sometimes when we talk with others about the Bible, they reject it, saying, “That’s just your interpretation.” They are right about one thing. We all interpret the Bible to understand its meaning. Their error is to assume that each of us has the authority to determine what the Bible teaches or commands. Because the Bible is God’s Word, it speaks with God’s authority.

The authority of Scripture is grounded in what is written, not on the personal ideas of the one who reads it (Matt. 5:17–18; John 10:35). Jesus criticized the Sadducees for rejecting the doctrine of the resurrection. He said, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matt. 22:29). They knew the words. Still, they drew the wrong conclusions.

Although common sense and careful observation help us when we read the Bible, they are not enough to understand it rightly. There is a spiritual dimension. The Holy Spirit enables believers to understand, accept, and believe the truth of the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 2:14, the apostle Paul explains, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

To interpret Scripture correctly, we must first accept its inherent authority as the word of God. Second, we must recognize that God revealed Himself through what has been written, from Genesis all the way to Revelation. Third, when we interpret a Bible passage, we need to consider it in context of the entire Bible. The Bible will not contradict itself; God’s message is consistent. We can also consider the style of literature. The Bible includes many genres. We would not interpret a poem the same way we would a legal document.

But the most important aspect of interpreting the Bible is understanding the central place of Christ in the Scriptures. Jesus said the Scriptures testify about Him (John 5:39). From the beginning to the end, the message of salvation through Christ is clearly expressed.

For Further Study

To learn more, read Understanding and Applying the Bible by Robertson McQuilkin (Moody Publishers).

BY Dr. John Koessler

John Koessler is Professor Emeritus of Applied Theology and Church Ministries at Moody Bible Institute. John authors the “Practical Theology” column for Today in the Word of which he is also a contributing writer and theological editor. An award-winning author, John’s newest title is When God is Silent: Let the Bible Teach You to Pray (Kirkdale). Prior to joining the Moody faculty, he served as a pastor of Valley Chapel in Green Valley, Illinois, for nine years. He and his wife, Jane, now enjoy living in a lakeside town in Michigan.