Does the bible interprete itself?

[Spirithound]

Wow, 20 posts, and so far we all agree with each other. We should bring in some “expert witnesses,” so to speak, to tell us what it means for the Bible to interpret itself.

 

[Tracy10]

This is a never ending argument so why bother trying to win?
Sometimes bowing out is the best route to take if you wish to foster peace.

The next time the topic comes up, if it gets too heated, just change the subject to something both of you will enjoy. Have a great day. If people are capable of loving and appreciating one another, the issue of the bible isn’t that relevant because they already understand most of it’s teachings anyway.

I myself see the bible as a book with specific personal messages intended personally for each of us. Unfortunately most religions teach that it can’t be interpreted properly without specific instructors assigned by church leaders – only from their own organization of course.

Because the bible can be interpreted in so many different ways, religions have divided themselves to the point where they have become so competitive they actually enjoy destroying one another. Numerous religious groups love nothing more than promoting the idea that others outside of their circle are somehow ignorant, stupid, uneducated, confused, or lesser beings void of spirituality.

The whole thing is about little more than trying seize bragging rights that one religion has more access to God than another. Does that sound like the type of humble and understanding behavior Jesus would’ve taught?

In my eyes, such beliefs are basically little more than extremely destructive fanaticism. Over the centuries, these types of beliefs have resulted in millions of brutal and very ugly murders by so-called “religious people.” This type of behaviour will continue until humanity finally evolves to the point where they realize how foolish all of this is.

I believe everyone was born with a most unique and special gift called “instinct” that lets us know, by sending our brains a unique type of euphoria, that we have done something we truthfully are aware will promote a better, less selfish, less physical, and more spiritual world.

 

[peregrinus_sg]

This is a never ending argument so why bother trying to win?

Because it is about truth, and only truth can bring about genuine communion with God and with one another?

 

[Frinjaaa]

I have a friend who insist that it does, and that we can’t trust anyone to teach us what it means. People are falliable (sp?), so we can’t follow them because we won’t know if they are leading us in the right direction.
Any ideas on how to handle this?

I understand what your friend is saying. They are just not wanting to be misled.
I find discussing the Bible with fellow believers to be very eye-opening, but often times I will double check EVERYTHING that is said in the Bible itself. If you use nothing but the Bible to interpret the Bible, you are going to find yourself in something called circular reasoning.
An example of this would be someone saying, “I’m a good cook.”
someone askes, "why are you a good cook?
“because I cook a lot.”
“why do you cook a lot?”
“because I’m good at it.”
“why are you good at it?”
“because I do it a lot.”
…

circular reasoning. It gets no where if you don’t bring in a different perspective, but it’s still correct.
If you want circular reasoning type of knowledge, use the Bible alone to inerpret itself.
If you want depth, take advantage of the knowledge of fellow believers.

 

[Ignatius]

I have a friend who insist that it does,

Well, let’s see what the bible says.

2 Peter 3:16 There are some things in them which the ignorant and unstable twist their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.

So, the bible warns us about interpretation of Scripture.

And what does Sacred Scripture say about itself? The most it claims for itself is that it is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training”

Well, then, what does Sacred Scripture say about The Church?
In 1 Tim 3:15 it says that The Church is the Pillar and Foundation of Truth.

That is one heck of a lot more than “profitable for teaching, etc.”

Scripture itself is very clear on the subject.

 

[Christy_Beth]

Thanks for all the scripture references. I hope and pray that she gets the “hint.”

 

[Christy_Beth]

I’ve sent her an email with all the different verses shared with me here. And I reminded her of our agreement to disagree. Something we had gotten away from lately. Again, thanks!!