Scripture Interpretation must be Truth-Focused

Philippians (NKJV) 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This verse, taken out of context, may be misinterpreted as being able to do anything because Christ has empowered them. However, a simple reading of the Philippians 4:10-12 would reveal that the “all things” that Paul is referring to is being content in whatever circumstances that he is in, both in abundance and in need.

Why Scripture Interpretation must be truth-focused

For most believers, the Bible—the Word of God—is the ultimate authority in their lives. Therefore, how one interprets the Bible directly influences their understanding of God’s will and instructions. An inaccurate or incorrect understanding, could lead one to act in ways contrary to God’s intentions. Sound biblical hermeneutics ensures that Scripture is interpreted faithfully and accurately.

Is there a true way to interpret?

Exegesis is the interpretation of the Bible by a critical objective analysis of the text to determine the original context and meaning. This is often contrasted with eisegesis, which is the interpretation of the Bible based on a subjective analysis of the text. Clearly, exegesis is the true way to interpret—the meaning of the text is determined by its author, not the reader.

Although we cannot directly access the author’s thoughts, established principles of interpretation allow us to more likely discern the author’s intended meaning. Therefore, the correct way to interpret Scripture is the one that follows these principles.

When individuals or groups disagree on the meaning of a passage, the best way to resolve the discussion is by justifying their interpretation through these principles (and not through faith). However, in some cases, even after thorough discussion, the available evidence may not provide a conclusive interpretation. In this situation, this would mean that neither party has the right, on biblical grounds, to reject the other’s interpretation.

These principles include considering the type of text, the writer’s intentions, context and the language of the text.

For a more detailed discussion, see the wiki entry on Biblical Hermeneutics and Exegesis.

Where does faith come in?

Interpretation allows one to understand the meaning of a biblical text, but understanding alone does not equate to belief. Faith, then, is what enables a person to accept and trust what is being communicated by the author. While exegesis helps uncover the meaning of Scripture, faith is what compels a person to believe and apply Scripture in their life.

Not everything in Scripture is true

The Bible is a collection of 66 books, written by different authors over a period of around 1500 years. Each writer wrote from a different perspective, to a different audience. While we know from 2 Timothy 3:16 that all scripture is God-breathed, it does not mean that everything in Scripture is true. Scripture includes content expressed by people, including praise, worship and teachings—unless explicitly stated as coming from God.

Since human beings are fallible, the words and perspectives expressed by them may not always be true. For example, in the book of Job, Job and his friends made statements that God later corrected. However, such corrections are not always provided throughout Scripture.

Therefore, even with a correct interpretation of Scripture’s meaning, one must still carefully evaluate whether the content is actually true.