Does bible warn us about personal interpretation

[panevino]

Does bible warn us about personal interpretation? What versus?

I recall it asks us to test teachings…

Thanks

 

[James924]

Does bible warn us about personal interpretation? What versus?

I recall it asks us to test teachings…

Thanks

I remember the bit about testing teachings but I can’t be sure where it occurs. I do know that Peter warns us the Paul’s writings on salvation are difficult to understand. Also, in Acts, Philip runs into an Ethiopian who had a scroll of Isaiah (Implying the Ethiopian was rich and literate). He asked, “Do you understand that?” and the Ethiopian responded “How can I unless someone TEACHES me?”

I’m sure there is more that could be relevant to a discussion of interpretation of scripture, particularly one that contrasts the Catholic Church’s Interpretive Authority with the “just read and the Spirit will guide you” mentality found among some of our seperated brothers and sisters.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Here’s what you’re looking for:

2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

 

[MarcoPolo]

There is also some good analysis in the famous Radio Replies apologetics (in the 1930s-40s I believe).

 

[DavidFilmer]

Does bible warn us about personal interpretation?

In a way.

Some Catholics will cite 2 Peter 1:20 (“There is no prophesy contained in Scripture which is a private interpretation”). This is sloppy apologetics, and is easily exposed by any protestant who knows what the verse is REALLY talking about (namely, that the prophesy of the Scripture is not the creation of man, but is that of “men imperelled by the Holy Spirit [to] have spoken under God’s influence” (v.21). This passage simply asserts that the prophesy of Scripture is divinely inspired (not personally inspired). It does not assert that men cannot privately interpret Scripture.

A better example can be found a couple of chapters later:

our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you, speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures. (2 Peter 3:15-16)

Now THAT’S good stuff, and is something that will not blow up in the face of a Catholic apologist. But the protestant will perceive an “escape hatch” (of sorts) in the next passage:

Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the lawless and to fall from your own stability. (v 17)

The protestant will claim that “Pastor Bob” is not a “lawless man” and thus he is not being misled, and the warning of this passage could not possibly apply to him. It is therefore necessary to establish the authority of the Catholic Church, which is really the root of all Catholic apologetics, and that (in itself) will prove that private interpretation of Scripture (apart from the authority of the Catholic Church) is not part of God’s plan.

 

[panevino]

Thanks David.