Interpretation of the Bible

[CutlerB]

Dear all,

I am looking for the following questions.

1. Which Scripture verses show the need for an authoritative interpreter, or even directly state it?
2. How does one counter the theory that “Scripture interprets itself”? I’d like to quote one example of this idea.

[The Bible] sheds light on itself …] The secret is this: If the surrounding verses do not make the meaning of a particular statement clear, compare that statement with others in the Bible that discuss the same subject. In this way, we let the Bible, not personal opinion, guide our thinking. …] When we examine the Bible by subject, its basic teachings become clear.

Take care and God bless you all.

 

[pablope]

Dear all,

I am looking for the following questions.

1. Which Scripture verses show the need for an authoritative interpreter, or even directly state it?
2. How does one counter the theory that “Scripture interprets itself”? I’d like to quote one example of this idea.

Take care and God bless you all.

This one comes to mind:

1 Timothy 3:15

15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

The Truth is proclaimed by the Church…not by a book, which indeed, can be subject to different interpretations.

This may help you also:

And all this is because, in Scripture, as today, the Tradition, both written and unwritten, comes to us through the Body of Him Who is Truth: the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church Paul calls “the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” and the “pillar and foundation of the truth” (Eph 1:22; 1 Tm 3:15).

mark-shea.com/tradition.html

 

[Godfollower]

Dear all,

I am looking for the following questions.

1. Which Scripture verses show the need for an authoritative interpreter, or even directly state it?
​

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Try this:

And this voice we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount. And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation. For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:18-21.

2. How does one counter the theory that “Scripture interprets itself”? I’d like to quote one example of this idea.

[The Bible] sheds light on itself …] The secret is this: If the surrounding verses do not make the meaning of a particular statement clear, compare that statement with others in the Bible that discuss the same subject. In this way, we let the Bible, not personal opinion, guide our thinking. …] When we examine the Bible by subject, its basic teachings become clear.

That last one is kind of funny; all it really says is “Be sure to read things in context!” That’s certainly good advice. But then consider this:

1. 
   *]The Bible says not to rely solely on the written Word of God (2 Thessalonians 2:14 – “Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle”).
   *]The Bible says not to rely on private interpretation of Scripture (2 Peter 1:18-21, shown above).
   *]The Bible says to rely on the teachings of the Church (see 1 Timothy 4, where Paul tells Timothy, as bishop, to “command and teach” the faithful in God’s way).
   
   And yet some misguided people run around claiming that you have to rely on the Bible alone, even though the Bible itself says otherwise. How does that make any sense at all?

 

[MarcoPolo]

[The Bible] sheds light on itself …] The secret is this: If the surrounding verses do not make the meaning of a particular statement clear, compare that statement with others in the Bible that discuss the same subject. In this way, we let the Bible, not personal opinion, guide our thinking. …] When we examine the Bible by subject, its basic teachings become clear.

The obvious first question is –– where in the Bible did you read that we should follow the above doctrine?

But second, and perhaps equally obvious, Many non-Catholic Christians in good faith come to different conclusions when applying the above principle.

The incident in Acts 15 is an example of disagreement among Christians and the decision is made by the council hierarchy, guided by the Spirit (15:28), by interpreting a passage in Amos that obviously wasn’t clear or there wouldn’t have been debate, plus it included Peter’s initial speech and personal revelation if you read the preceding chapters, like 10 forward.

 

[themonk86]

1. How does one counter the theory that “Scripture interprets itself”?

Marco Polo was hitting the nail on the head when he pointed out how many non Catholic Christians don’t even agree on certain interpretations of the Bible. If Scripture really interpreted itself like the source you quoted from then we would all agree on one interpretation. Also if Scripture interprets itself, why do we have commentaries? I would suggest getting a copy of the CD set “The Bible Alone” by Scott Hahn from St. Joseph Communications, he does an excellent job of showing the problems with Sola Scriptura and how to respond to those who hold to it.

Hope this helps and God Bless!

 

[Crumpy]

The most controversial verse in the Bible is Is 7:13 (?) behold a “young woman” or “virgin” shall conceive and bear a son.

The Jewish masoretic text says “young woman” (this is the Hebrew equivalent for this, which is plainly different from “virgin” in Hebrew).

The New Testament gospels say “virgin” which comes from the Septuagint (Greek).

Both ancient versions of scripture have their own associated “quicksand” associated with them.

The position of the Catholic Church is that it follows Sacred Tradition which means to a great extent, how it interprets the Bible. So, “virgin” it is.

I picked up copy of the Jewish Study Bible last year and looked at its commentary on this verse. They firmly stated that the word meant “young woman,” but having established that with some finality, they are at a loss to express how this constitutes a “sign” (if you read that verse in context).

so, the Jews insist it says “young woman” but haven’t been able to decipher the “sign” for twenty centuries.

But, the CC interprets it “virgin” based on the Septuagint and the gospels, and it makes perfect sense.

I don’t know. does this relate to your question?

 

[Mystophilus]

]1. Which Scripture verses show the need for an authoritative interpreter, or even directly state it?

There is a passage which directly addresses the need for not-incompetent interpretation, if not an interpreter:
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, **which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest , as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

1. How does one counter the theory that “Scripture interprets itself”? I’d like to quote one example of this idea.

The most obvious refutation of this is that the Church has been arguing about interpretations of Scripture for the last two thousand years. If it interprets itself, it clearly does so in a way which we are not seeing.

Of course, there is nothing to prevent your audience, whosoever they may be, from claiming that their interpretation is the correct one, and that it is everyone else who is wrong, since logic is rarely proof against the desire for self-justification.

 

[po18guy]

As mentioned by Godfollower, Peter condemns private interpretation - yet there are those who privately interpret even this to mean that the books of the prophets are off limits, but all the others have the green light on!

There are examples in both the OT and the NT that show that God appoints those with the authority to interpret scriputure:

Nehemiah 8:4-8
New International Version (NIV) - NOT a Catholic bible, BTW
"Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform(A) built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam. Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The Levites(D)—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed(E) the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

The Levites were the Priestly class in Israel.

Acts 8:26-35
New International Version (NIV)

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Philip preached Jesus using the Old Testament, yet God sent Philip - he did not send himself. Scripture gives two accounts of those who send themelves, and the result was not good in either case:

Acts 8:9-24
New International Version (NIV)

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery(K) in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

And others, who were not sent by God, but rather, sent themselves:

Acts 19:13-16
New International Version (NIV)

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

The Lord Himself chooses those whom He will send, and gave them authority to choose after them. Scripture reveals that those who choose themselves often come to a bad end.

 

[fhansen]

  Dear all,

I am looking for the following questions.

1. Which Scripture verses show the need for an authoritative interpreter, or even directly state it?
​

Read 1 Tim 3:15-16. The Church is the “pillar and foundation of truth” . Also Acts 8:26-40. The eunuch required the assistance of a disciple, those who were commissioned by the Church to teach, in order to come to a proper and accurate understanding of the faith from scripture.

1. How does one counter the theory that “Scripture interprets itself”? I’d like to quote one example of this idea.

People may use a variety of methodologies with which to exegete scripture - and they come up with all kinds of different interpretations.
Luther believed baptism was essential for regeneration/salvation while many Reformers and later Christians thought otherwise. And this is a doctrine concerning our eternal destiny!​