Interpretation of scripture question

[Sword_Brethren]

I know private interpretation of scripture is erroneous. The Holy Ghost guides the Church through the Pope and the Bishops to interpret scripture. Would on count the Pope and the Bishops as individuals or as the Church? What does the Church teach on whether the Holy Ghost guides individuals or not, to interpret scripture?

 

[TimothyH]

I know private interpretation of scripture is erroneous. The Holy Ghost guides the Church through the Pope and the Bishops to interpret scripture. Would on count the Pope and the Bishops as individuals or as the Church? What does the Church teach on whether the Holy Ghost guides individuals or not, to interpret scripture?

Private interpretation of scripture is not forbidden. Many will say otherwise but every time we open the Bible and read, we interpret the meaning of the words on the page. If we could not interpret what we read then why read it at all?

What we must always do is interpret scripture within the living Traditions of the Church, and and within the framework of the Church’s teaching, and we must never interpret scripture in a way which is contrary to the way the Church interprets scripture.

Millions of Catholics all over the world read scripture every day and apply what they read to their own lives without any intervention from anyone. Monks have been reading scripture two hours a day for 1400 years in the privacy of their own rooms without anyone looking over their shoulder.

The fact is that we have to interpret anything we read, and the Bible is no different. Bit our own understanding must be checked against Church teaching, and can never contradict, as the Church is the final authority.

-Tim-

 

[in_servitude]

The problem occurs when a person tries to apply their private revelation outside themselves. Given that we have multiple people looking at Sacred Scripture and coming to different conclusions shows that the Holy Spirit is **not prohibiting **incorrect interpretations.

 

[JRKH]

I know private interpretation of scripture is erroneous. The Holy Ghost guides the Church through the Pope and the Bishops to interpret scripture. Would on count the Pope and the Bishops as individuals or as the Church? What does the Church teach on whether the Holy Ghost guides individuals or not, to interpret scripture?

Timothy has given an excellent answer above.

I would add that interpretation is a balancing act between the individual and the Church (Body of Christ).
Some (Many) protestants like to point to the “Bereans” as wise because they “searched scripture”, but it must be remembered that they did not do it in isolation. Yes - as TimothyH says above, each person individually “interprets” what they read, but at the same time, they read and discuss within a community.
This is shown no better or more clear than in the council of Jerusalem where “individual interpretations” were weighed and a determination made by the Church leadership on which interpretation was correct.

So - to try to answer your question, the Holy Spirit DOES guide individuals to interpret Scripture. However, in order to make sure that it actually IS the Holy Spirit doing the guiding, the individual needs to check his interpretation against known spirit guided understandings and these are contained in Church teachings etc.

This is what I mean by a balance - or more precisely - Checks and balance…

Hope that helps.

Peace
James

 

[MarcoPolo]

Copy-pasting from a similar thread:

The Spirit is, assuredly, also given to individual Christians, so that their hearts can “burn within them” (Lk. 24:32) as they pray and prayerfully study the Scripture within the context of their own personal lives. This is why the Second Vatican Council insisted that access to Scripture be facilitated in every possible way (<Dei Verbum,> 22; 25). This kind of reading, it should be noted, is never completely private, for the believer always reads and interprets Scripture within the faith of the church and then brings back to the community the fruit of that reading for the enrichment of the common faith.

(Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, Pontifical Biblical Commission, 1994)



The difference between individual and Magisterial interpretations, is that the Magisterium, when speaking from its official capacity, has the guarantee of the Spirit to interpret without error. The individual certainly may derive a correct interpretation, but should not presume he/she has an infallible guarantee as a charism.

 

[JRKH]

Copy-pasting from a similar thread:

The Spirit is, assuredly, also given to individual Christians, so that their hearts can “burn within them” (Lk. 24:32) as they pray and prayerfully study the Scripture within the context of their own personal lives. This is why the Second Vatican Council insisted that access to Scripture be facilitated in every possible way (<Dei Verbum,> 22; 25). This kind of reading, it should be noted, is never completely private, for the believer always reads and interprets Scripture within the faith of the church and then brings back to the community the fruit of that reading for the enrichment of the common faith.

(Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, Pontifical Biblical Commission, 1994)



The difference between individual and Magisterial interpretations, is that the Magisterium, when speaking from its official capacity, has the guarantee of the Spirit to interpret without error. The individual certainly may derive a correct interpretation, but should not presume he/she has an infallible guarantee as a charism.

It always amuses me how often those opposed to the Church fail to see the “ecclesiastical interplay” that is involved, even in so called “magisterial decisions” etc.

I doubt that any person could point to a papal pronouncement or magisterial teaching that was not preceded by months if not years and even centuries of discussion among the laity and clergy at all levels.

Of course the determination of what is to be universally taught (by magisterial authority) is not determined by “majority vote” but rather by what is Truth. As it says in Acts…by what, “seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…”

Personal understanding, brought forth within the community, discussed, debated, prayed over etc…eventually becomes consensus among the “elders of the Church” (The Bishops, the Curia etc.) in communion with the Holy Father. THEN, it becomes something codified and universally taught.

Peace
James

 

[MarcoPolo]

Of course the determination of what is to be universally taught (by magisterial authority) is not determined by “majority vote” but rather by what is Truth. As it says in Acts…by what, “seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…”

I always think of the Arian heresy on this one, how according to Jerome, the whole world had gone Arian. But the truth still prevailed.

 

[Verbum]

HI Sword,

Always keep your Catechism close by when reading scripture. They’re supposed to agree.

Verbum

 

[TimothyH]

This is a wonderful thread. Thank you Marco and JRHK for the wonderful comments.

Marco, your reference to our hearts burning resonates with me. Thank you for that reference.

Of course the determination of what is to be universally taught (by magisterial authority) is not determined by “majority vote” but rather by what is Truth. As it says in Acts…by what, “seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…”

Personal understanding, brought forth within the community, discussed, debated, prayed over etc…eventually becomes consensus among the “elders of the Church” (The Bishops, the Curia etc.) in communion with the Holy Father. THEN, it becomes something codified and universally taught.

I often get frustrated at blanket statements that “Private interpretation of scripture is abosolutely forbidden.” This is a wonderful summation of how truth becomes known through the working of the Holy Spirit in Christ’s body.

As one who has a deep devotion to sacred scripture and who venerates the written word of God, I have to thank both of you from the bottom of my heart.

The souls of unknown numbers of benedictine monks are smiling at you both.

-Tim-

 

[Crumpy]

The whole reason we’re talking about interpreting scripture is that there’s so much of it and we don’t have a single comprehensive once-for-all-time interpretation of it.

One of the more general statements about interpretation is that each generation of people must get their arms around the Bible and interpret for their own time, as the case may be.
I don’t think anybody, Catholics, Protestants, or Jews would disagree with that.

that’s why there are guidelines for interpretation. One general guidelines would be that you shouldn’t come to the opposite conclusion of scripture itself or the Church’s teaching of it.

But, the Church lays down another criterion (in Verbum Dei) that the exegete should search everything the Church has said on a matter. Whew, that’s a tall order. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.

Let’s get practical. Look at the last verses in John’s gospel – something to the effect that if everything Jesus did was written down, it would fill all the books in the world.

Hmmmmm.

Is this hyperbole? Is this a literal fact? I’ve heard priests like Fr. Mitch Pacwa on EWTN discuss this verse to support the idea of Church (Sacred) Tradition, that everything that Jesus did and said was not recorded in the Gospels.

Hmmmmm.

this verse also involves the question, what did the verses mean THEN and what do they mean NOW? My so-far personal interpretation of these verses is that they are literal and true. If what Jesus did in each and every person’s life was written in a book, for better or worse, for salvation or condemnation, etc. would fill all the books of the world.

I wonder what my book would look like? How does it end? How do my companions’ books look like, if I could see them? Should I associate with this person or marry that person? It’s an interesting subject.

 

[graciew]

I like to think as well that WE are the Church.That it is not an office hidden somewhere away form us.We can´t limit the Holy Spirit,it works,speaks and reads through us too.I appreciate the possibility our good God has given us as active members,limited as we are.
On the other hand,it is amazing to hear how priests,and the hierarchy of the Church can bring to us in one page sometimes,tons of knowledge and understanding.
So much history and faith coming down coherently since Jesus.Really love that.Can´t be other than the Holy Spirit…