Relying on only private interpretation goes against the Bible?

[The_Inquisitor]

So I stumbled on 2 Peter 1:20 where it says “no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private interpretation”. Wow. Don’t you get annoyed by ill-informed people that are always making up stuff, like “Your home is your church. Its in the Bible”, or “Y’all ain’t needin’ a church, its in the Bible” and yet they really don’t even bother to do an intelligent study of Scripture.

Well imagine a gem like this? Makes you wonder just how they get away it…

 

[CHRISTINE77]

So I stumbled on 2 Peter 1:20 where it says “no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private interpretation”. Wow. Don’t you get annoyed by ill-informed people that are always making up stuff, like “Your home is your church. Its in the Bible”, or “Y’all ain’t needin’ a church, its in the Bible” and yet they really don’t even bother to do an intelligent study of Scripture.

Well imagine a gem like this? Makes you wonder just how they get away it…

They are idiots.

However, I do think people should read their Bibles. But if one has trouble interpreting it, use the Catholic Catechism!

 

[bauerice]

If you look at the history of the OT, you would know the writings were for the community. They were read during the gaitherings. We have an American mindset of we can do it on our own.
Do I think we should read the Bible on our own? Of course, I love the Bible! I rely on the Church for the meaning. I read it myself for the interpetation.
If the scriptures alone was enough, we wouldn’t have 1,000’s of denominations.

 

[FidesSpesCarita]

They are idiots.

Pardon me??? Even in jest that goes a bit far.

However, I do think people should read their Bibles. But if one has trouble interpreting it, use the Catholic Catechism!

True, but the number of verses definitively explained is only between 5 and 15 depending on whose list you look at. So private interpretation is very much alive, as long as it is through the lens of Sacred Tradition and with regard to the Doctors of the Church.

Just my $.02

FSC

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Note that Saint Peter said further:

. . .So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.

2 Peter 3:15-16

 

[Crumpy]

When we read scripture, as we ought, we will naturally have a lot of questions and even some wrong ideas about it. It happens to me all the time. I really enjoy looking for answers to my questions and finding commentaries that help explain the meaning of scripture.

It’s easy to find people who wander off into erroneous interpretations of scripture. I was at a bible study where I was the only one there, with the parish Bible expert. She had been trained to look for “nuggets” in scripture, like she was panning for gold.

In particular, she was convinced about her own theory about why Jesus told people who He had healed not to go around telling everyone.

The scholarly interpretation is that Jesus didn’t want people to misunderstand His ministry. She was convicted of her own idea, that it was that Jesus was trying to avoid persecutions from the Romans.

She had two time periods mixed up in her mind. The mere fact of my stating the alternate explanation was enough to drive her livid about her own interpretation being correct.

This was a case where it really took some help to understand Jesus’ motivation, as the immediate context of the scripture did not provide the answer.

 

[jmcdzzz]

So I stumbled on 2 Peter 1:20 where it says “no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private interpretation”. Wow. Don’t you get annoyed by ill-informed people that are always making up stuff, like “Your home is your church. Its in the Bible”, or “Y’all ain’t needin’ a church, its in the Bible” and yet they really don’t even bother to do an intelligent study of Scripture.

Well imagine a gem like this? Makes you wonder just how they get away it…

As a former Protestant, I understand why. At least since the popularity of the New International Version. Look at how the NIV “translates” (read paraphrases) verse 20 as, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.” They change the tense of the entire sentence.

Other Protestant translations get it right, so I don’t understand historically how they get around it. But these days, the common ordinary Joe just assumes it’s translated correctly, even though it is way off.

 

[Pitcharan]

If you look at the history of the OT, you would know the writings were for the community. They were read during the gaitherings. We have an American mindset of we can do it on our own.
Do I think we should read the Bible on our own? Of course, I love the Bible! I rely on the Church for the meaning. I read it myself for the interpetation.
If the scriptures alone was enough, we wouldn’t have 1,000’s of denominations.

The common guideline which has greatly benefited me is the Bible teaching: “God is not far from anyone who seeks Him sincerely”. Whenever we ponder over the meaning or interpretation with a genuine quest for truth, we can be 100% certain that The Holy Spirit will instruct and explain with crystal clarity. Recall what the Psalmist wrote “They shall all be taught by God”

I say this with confidence based on my own expereience and share below some inspired interpretations / explanations on topics considered complex / difficult:

1. IMMACULATE NATURE OF MOTHER MARY
   God is infinitely just and fair and allows each one of us to choose freely between Good and Evil. This process of making the right choice is equally influenced by two opposites, viz., the flesh and the spirit. The ones who get it right the first time will get it right always. Though everyone is born with the stain of original sin, it can affect a person only after he or she makes the first choice wrongly, after being prompted by the flesh. Mother Mary got it right the first time and hence every time.
2. THE PARABLE OF THE DISHONEST STEWARD , LUKE 16
   While narrating the story of the corrupt manager, this is how our Lord opens His teaching:
   • He appreciates the shrewdness of the dishonest manger (a child of the world) in freely using ill-gotten money to win friends.
   • He takes a mild dig at honest people (children of light) who are seldom known to be liberal at spending their hard-earned money on friends.

His observations take us by surprise and we start wondering: “What is this we are hearing? Is it really our Lord who is talking this way?”

He then gently takes us to the main point and after He has completed what He really intended to teach, we slowly begin to realise that:
• Our Lord was beautifully wooing those who are condemned by society – the corrupt and the dishonest whose main weakness is money.
• He teaches something that they never ever knew – that heavenly treasures are theirs and they will receive that which is their own only if they proved trustworthy and honest with what belongs to others.
• He concludes the message by enlightening them to break free from their slavery to money, when He most effectively exposes the fallacy of trying to love both God and money by drawing a parallel with ‘a servant who serves two masters’.
• In the process He acknowledges that even dishonest and corrupt people love God but tells them firmly that only undivided Love is acceptable.

This remarkable and unique parable is yet another solid testimony of our Lord’s continual awareness of the main purpose of His mission – to seek and save sinners.

Pitcharan

 

[brb3]

by ill-informed people that are always making up stuff, like “Your home is your church. Its in the Bible”, or “Y’all ain’t needin’ a church, its in the Bible” and yet they really don’t even bother to do an intelligent study of Scripture.

And Matthew 18:20 “For where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” … also supports your premise.

Nevertheless, we do have thousands of non-Catholic religious sects … all gathered in name of Christ, and all reading scripture errantly to greater/lesser degree ! So, it takes more than one or two verses taken out of context to support ones theology.

Paul taught it right to Timothy … 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word Truth.”

This is why having the correct ‘spiritual bloodlines / teachers’ is important. One must be joined to the original Catholic Church of the Apostles … to be assured of having the inerrant truths being presented to them.

Should we reach/seek for ‘private interpretation’ ? I still say yes ! For example, if one is raised a Mormon, an Evangelical, or a Calvanist … they must question their teachers/teachings in light of what the original Catholic Church teaches. I other words … they need to put their understandings up against the Catholic teachings and ask the Holy Spirit to help them chose rightly. If this is consistently done, and if one seeks the truth ‘with their whole heart’ … the H.S. will reveal the truth to them by both ‘private & communual’ REVELATIONS.

It’s not just throwing darts at scriptures, opening the Bible and putting your finger down on the page at random. It takes prayer, fasting, and hours of study and meditation … and the ability/willingness to accept the truths the H.S. will reveal to one. One has to become a critical thinker … and willing to give up the errant ideas they have been taught by others, who meant well, but were misguided in their understandings & preachings.

Private interpretation is dangerous. Its much better to allow the H.S. to reveal the Truth to one … thru study, prayer, meditation, and comparison of current beliefs against the Catholic Church’s teachings & Catechism. It also helps to ask Mary and our many Christian Saints to help us understand scripture rightly. For example, if reading Paul’s epistles … seek his help. If John, seek his aid [to the degree that Christ allows a saint to aid us]. Catholics rightly understand that Mary and all the saints can only help us to the degree that it is Christ’s will to bring us Grace thru them. We always pray first and foremost to the Trinity, and only secondarily ask our saints to help us as Christ might desire to allow them to serve us with our understandings of scripture, etc.

 

[Pitcharan]

And Matthew 18:20 “For where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” … also supports your premise.

Nevertheless, we do have thousands of non-Catholic religious sects … all gathered in name of Christ, and all reading scripture errantly to greater/lesser degree ! So, it takes more than one or two verses taken out of context to support ones theology.

Paul taught it right to Timothy … 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word Truth.”

This is why having the correct ‘spiritual bloodlines / teachers’ is important. One must be joined to the original Catholic Church of the Apostles … to be assured of having the inerrant truths being presented to them.

Should we reach/seek for ‘private interpretation’ ? I still say yes ! For example, if one is raised a Mormon, an Evangelical, or a Calvanist … they must question their teachers/teachings in light of what the original Catholic Church teaches. I other words … they need to put their understandings up against the Catholic teachings and ask the Holy Spirit to help them chose rightly. If this is consistently done, and if one seeks the truth ‘with their whole heart’ … the H.S. will reveal the truth to them by both ‘private & communual’ REVELATIONS.

It’s not just throwing darts at scriptures, opening the Bible and putting your finger down on the page at random. It takes prayer, fasting, and hours of study and meditation … and the ability/willingness to accept the truths the H.S. will reveal to one. One has to become a critical thinker … and willing to give up the errant ideas they have been taught by others, who meant well, but were misguided in their understandings & preachings.

Private interpretation is dangerous. Its much better to allow the H.S. to reveal the Truth to one … thru study, prayer, meditation, and comparison of current beliefs against the Catholic Church’s teachings & Catechism. It also helps to ask Mary and our many Christian Saints to help us understand scripture rightly. For example, if reading Paul’s epistles … seek his help. If John, seek his aid [to the degree that Christ allows a saint to aid us]. Catholics rightly understand that Mary and all the saints can only help us to the degree that it is Christ’s will to bring us Grace thru them. We always pray first and foremost to the Trinity, and only secondarily ask our saints to help us as Christ might desire to allow them to serve us with our understandings of scripture, etc.

Private interpretation is not dangerous as long as we follow the process laid down by the Catholic Church of having it vetted for doctrinal errors (NIHIL OBSTAT) and then getting permission for publishing (IMPRIMATUR).

 

[brb3]

Private interpretation is not dangerous as long as we follow the process laid down by the Catholic Church of having it vetted for doctrinal errors

Does interpretation equal revelation ? Some would say so. I say no.

Revelation comes from outside our knowledge base. Like for Paul … where his interpretation of scripture was flawed. God had to reveal the correct understandings to Paul. It is God that gives the Imprimatur [to the Church]…

 

[Biedrik]

As a former Protestant, I understand why. At least since the popularity of the New International Version. Look at how the NIV “translates” (read paraphrases) verse 20 as, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.” They change the tense of the entire sentence.

Other Protestant translations get it right, so I don’t understand historically how they get around it. But these days, the common ordinary Joe just assumes it’s translated correctly, even though it is way off.

A Calvinist that I know justified it by pointing out that the next verse says “for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the Holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God.” He then said that what this means, is that the Holy Spirit inspires us all (by us all he of course meant “the elect”) to see the proper interpretation, so it is not really you who interprets, but the Holy Spirit.

I however, don’t buy it. If we are to assume that Calvinists are predestined by God to be saved, and that the Holy Spirit gives them the correct interpretation, then why do they not even agree amongst themselves? And why do they not know the true answer to all the difficult questions that arise from Scripture? The Holy Spirit seems to be extremely stingy in handing out the right interpretation to the predestined Calvinists, and at time it seems to contradict itself by giving different interpretations to different Calvinists. If this Calvinist interpretation of the 2 Peter 1:20 is true, then the Holy Spirit is is being as fragmented and arbitrary as human judgment.

 

[Pitcharan]

Does interpretation equal revelation ? Some would say so. I say no.

Revelation comes from outside our knowledge base. Like for Paul … where his interpretation of scripture was flawed. God had to reveal the correct understandings to Paul. It is God that gives the Imprimatur [to the Church]…

When you interpret with the help of the HS, it can be called revelation or inspiration. The Catholic Church is led by the HS and hence IMPRIMATUR issued by the Church is from God.

 

[PaddyMcGurk]

Note that Saint Peter said further: 2 Peter 3:15-16

Very true. One needs to be careful with scripture. I have a couple of things I do that seem to help.

1. Read the side notes. They can help a lot. Also, read the referenced passages from other books.
2. If I’m confused with a passage, I pray for guidance. It seems to work pretty regularly.
3. Talk about it with others. A family member, a friend, a priest… shouldn’t matter.

Just a though. Seems to work for me most of the time.

 

[Pitcharan]

Very true. One needs to be careful with scripture. I have a couple of things I do that seem to help.

1. Read the side notes. They can help a lot. Also, read the referenced passages from other books.
2. If I’m confused with a passage, I pray for guidance. It seems to work pretty regularly.
3. Talk about it with others. A family member, a friend, a priest… shouldn’t matter.

Just a though. Seems to work for me most of the time.

Your’e 100% right Paddy. No.2 is the best way. Recall what the psalmist says: They shall all be taught by God.

Pitcharan

 

[PaddyMcGurk]

Your’e 100% right Paddy. No.2 is the best way. Recall what the psalmist says: They shall all be taught by God.

Pitcharan

Thanks. I agree, but I try to ask only ask God for help if I need it. I figure He’s pretty busy. Hahaha!

All kidding aside, they were in no particular order. Honestly, most of the time I use a combination.

 

[Wildkit]

A Calvinist that I know justified it by pointing out that the next verse says “for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the Holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God.” He then said that what this means, is that the Holy Spirit inspires us all (by us all he of course meant “the elect”) to see the proper interpretation, so it is not really you who interprets, but the Holy Spirit.

I however, don’t buy it. If we are to assume that Calvinists are predestined by God to be saved, and that the Holy Spirit gives them the correct interpretation, then why do they not even agree amongst themselves? And why do they not know the true answer to all the difficult questions that arise from Scripture? The Holy Spirit seems to be extremely stingy in handing out the right interpretation to the predestined Calvinists, and at time it seems to contradict itself by giving different interpretations to different Calvinists. If this Calvinist interpretation of the 2 Peter 1:20 is true, then the Holy Spirit is is being as fragmented and arbitrary as human judgment.

The human psyche always requires a response or excuse. Whether a follower of John Calvin or one of the others, they would have a response here,….and everywhere! Yet, as I too feel has been properly identified, didn’t Luther have a problem with 2 Peter?

I love the discussions when I question why do miracles, pick your example other than private miracles, why do they always seem to happen with relation to this one Church?

Of course, there is no response, but the example of the scripture as identified reinforces this other premise.

 

[The_Inquisitor]

Wow. I didn’t realize that I’d start up such a lively discussion

So if you read this same verse in this one Protestant version (the “International” version I believe), they arbitrarily add some term like “prophet’s own interpretation”, even those the original translation does not even contain that phrase. Figures