Personal Interpretation of Scripture

[dawnjoy3]

I have many protestant friends, and family members, whose denominations allow for personal intrepretation of scripture. I know there is a passage in 2nd Peter that prohibits personal interpretation of scripture, are there any other passages in the NT that elaborate on the pitfalls of such interpretation? I see so much twisting of context when I study the beliefs of other denominations.

 

[Liberalsaved]

So this is an attempt to ask a question, or to state a fact?

 

[davethecatholic]

dawnjoy3:

I have many protestant friends, and family members, whose denominations allow for personal intrepretation of scripture. I know there is a passage in 2nd Peter that prohibits personal interpretation of scripture, are there any other passages in the NT that elaborate on the pitfalls of such interpretation? I see so much twisting of context when I study the beliefs of other denominations.

I believe that 2 Peter 1:20 is the most relevant quote regarding personal interpretation. However, if you take it one step further, who then is able to provide such interpretation? Scripture directs us to follow and observe Tradition and Scripture vs. The Bible alone. With that in mind, I would point your friends & family to the following:

1 Corinthians 11:2
2 Thessalonians 2:15
2 Thessalonians 3:6

This is also worth a read:

scripturecatholic.com/scripture_alone.html#tradition-II

 

[imroc]

Liberalsaved:

So this is an attempt to ask a question, or to state a fact?

Just sounds like this person is asking for more scripture to back up their stance against personal interpretation. Also, it seems that this is their first post. Your wording may not have meant to come out this way, but they do come across a little un-inviting

 

[Liberalsaved]

imroc:

Just sounds like this person is asking for more scripture to back up their stance against personal interpretation. Also, it seems that this is their first post. Your wording may not have meant to come out this way, but they do come across a little un-inviting

I was just generally curious. My answers to these things are never going to be definite, precisely because of all the things in the Bible (not eating shellfish, anyone?) that are questionable in terms of relevance to modern existence. But I really didn’t understand what was being said, or more accurately, the way it was framed.

 

[DeFide]

dawnjoy3:

I have many protestant friends, and family members, whose denominations allow for personal intrepretation of scripture. I know there is a passage in 2nd Peter that prohibits personal interpretation of scripture, are there any other passages in the NT that elaborate on the pitfalls of such interpretation? I see so much twisting of context when I study the beliefs of other denominations.

Here are two additional resources you may want to check out. One fairly short:

geocities.com/thecatholicconvert/staplessolascriptura.html

And one more in-depth:

geocities.com/thecatholicconvert/solascriptura21.html

 

[Rebecca_New]

dawnjoy3:

I have many protestant friends, and family members, whose denominations allow for personal intrepretation of scripture. I know there is a passage in 2nd Peter that prohibits personal interpretation of scripture, are there any other passages in the NT that elaborate on the pitfalls of such interpretation? I see so much twisting of context when I study the beliefs of other denominations.

Our Msgr at daily Mass told us to read the Bible and then contemplate on what it means to us…this sounds like he is ok with that.
Also, welcome to the CA forums!!!When you have posted 250 times you will become a Senior Member - like me-and you can put the smiley face in the wrong place like I just did. I really love this site, the subjects are very serious to very funny-but always informative and enlightening.

 

[volzcpa]

dawnjoy3:

I have many protestant friends, and family members, whose denominations allow for personal intrepretation of scripture. I know there is a passage in 2nd Peter that prohibits personal interpretation of scripture, are there any other passages in the NT that elaborate on the pitfalls of such interpretation? I see so much twisting of context when I study the beliefs of other denominations.

Here are a couple more scripture passages.

2 Peter 3:15-16
Acts 8: 30-31

 

[Tonks40]

Rebecca New:

Our Msgr at daily Mass told us to read the Bible and then contemplate on what it means to us…this sounds like he is ok with that.

There’s a difference between reflection/contemplation on scripture and interpretation. To get the true interpretation of scripture, we look to the Magisterium. That doesn’t not mean that spiritual reflection is forbidden.