September 1, 1992
Is the Bible hard to interpret? Or does it simply say what it means? Or does it mean whatever the interpreter wants it to mean? Valid questions.
A few weeks ago, I was with nine others who had been given the name of a person in the Bible and some verses to read. We were told to interpret that person’s main character traits and decide what could be learned from him or her. Our group soon discovered we had very different views on the main characteristics of a woman from the New Testament named Martha.
Most of our information came from two passages, Luke 10:38-42 and John 11. Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus. One day Jesus came to visit them. Apparently both sisters “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word” but this day “Martha was distracted with much serving” so she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
At that, Jesus answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
The other passage tells how these sisters reacted to the death of their brother and to Jesus’ apparently deliberate delay in coming to their aid. Martha came out to meet Him with, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus talked to her about the resurrection but she thought He meant something in the distant future, not the miracle He was about to perform. Neither passages reveal Jesus’ or Martha’s tone of voice.
A few in the group thought Martha was a whiner who complained even to the Son of God about her lot in life and that she had little confidence in Him. Others thought she was a conscientious person who seemed to believe in Jesus because she brought her problems to Him. The rest of the group wavered, because up to this point, they had never considered the questions.
What I noticed is that those people in the group who are compassionate, even lenient, towards the misdeeds of other Christians, their children, and sometimes even their own sins, were sympathetic to Martha. They saw her as a hard-working woman who took her responsibilities seriously.
In contrast, those in the group who tend to be quick to judge and hold high standards of performance for their families and themselves came down much harder on Martha. To them, she was self-centered and demanding, a person so caught up in temporary matters that she had her priorities wrong.
The real issue in interpretation is not what we think but what did the author intend to reveal? In this case, Luke gave the Lord’s evaluation of Martha. Personally, I would like it better if He had said, “Martha, you are to be congratulated for selflessly giving up Bible study to make lunch...” but that is not what He said. Jesus gently rebuked her — yet note it was not for making lunch, but for being troubled and anxious about all the work that had to be done. Her sister, Mary, had apparently discovered the secret of remaining calm — choosing to sit at the feet of Jesus, at least for a time. Lunch was important but not worth getting an ulcer over.
Interpreting Scripture is seldom simple. The meaning of some passages will always be debatable because there is not enough information to offer certainty regarding the author intentions. However we can and should be aware of our own prejudices and presuppositions. Considering that, my understanding of Martha has been affected by whether or not I personally value “service” over “sitting at Jesus feet.” Sometimes Jesus’ rebuke has applied to me.
Therefore, a vital consideration when interpreting Scripture is that it may not always agree with and confirm our own particular perspective... instead, it will likely challenge us to change.
Showing posts with label Interpreting the Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interpreting the Bible. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Friday, May 15, 2015
Will the world end? .............. Parables 274
July 3, 1991
Doomsday prophets aside, not too many people like to think about the end of the world. Most either fearfully project it beyond the foreseeable future or think it will never happen. A few souls are concerned. My neighbor is one of them. To her, the future seems insecure and without hope.
I just finished a study on some currently held views pertaining to Bible prophecies about “the last days.” Opinions abound, involving whether events described in Scripture are symbolic or actual and, if they are actual, what will be their sequence? Since there are no exact dates given for these events, we didn’t discuss “when” but did consider all the opinions.
Despite what the Bible says to the contrary, even some theologians maintain the world will never end. That is, they think the church will have an increasing influence for good, every person living will become a Christian, then Christ will return and all will enter an eternal state. Others are certain the world conditions will deteriorate but Christ will eventually return, separate the good from the bad, put the bad in hell, and everyone will live happily ever after.
Others think the church will be taken out of an increasingly evil world and wickedness will fully prevail for seven years. Then Christ will return from heaven, implement a theocracy and reign for a thousand years with His people. (These time spans have biblical support.) After that, all whose names are written in the book of life will join the Lord in eternity and the dead will be resurrected, judged and separated from God forever.
One thing my study revealed: anyone can find one or two Bible verses to support their personal opinion. No wonder there are so many opinions. It is like blind men describing an elephant: one thought it was like a tree -- he felt a leg; another was sure it was like a rope -- he had hold of the tail; another said no, it was like a large leaf -- he felt an ear; and so on.
Also, my study revealed that ALL of Scripture must be compared and considered to develop a reasonable view of any teaching, including what God says will happen in the future. We can’t just lift any verse off a page and think we have the last word on the issue. For instance, not every verse in the Bible is quoting God; some are a record of the words of sinful people!
Each verse must be studied in its context, considering who said it and why it was said. The Bible is actually its own best interpreter. If passages are carefully compared with similar passages on the same topic or with other passages written by the same author, the meaning often becomes clearer.
That sounds like work -- and it is. However, every occupation and pastime, including hunting and fishing, has its “Bible.” Engineers, doctors, lawyers, and all professionals study thick, complicated textbooks -- massive volumes of information written by experts in their various fields. Homemakers have thick childcare manuals and recipe books. Farmers have detailed manuals for machinery, livestock care, and building maintenance. Even an almanac can be fairly complex. Anyone wanting to be an expert on any topic has to study their subject.
Whether it is the end of the world or how to have eternal life, there is no other way to find out what God says about anything than to study His Word. Too many people simply pull information out of their heads or settle for an opinion made by someone who did only half their homework.
In case this topic of the end times is frightening, Jeremiah 29:11 offers hope: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” saith the LORD, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
God promises a glorious future for those who trust in Him.
Doomsday prophets aside, not too many people like to think about the end of the world. Most either fearfully project it beyond the foreseeable future or think it will never happen. A few souls are concerned. My neighbor is one of them. To her, the future seems insecure and without hope.
I just finished a study on some currently held views pertaining to Bible prophecies about “the last days.” Opinions abound, involving whether events described in Scripture are symbolic or actual and, if they are actual, what will be their sequence? Since there are no exact dates given for these events, we didn’t discuss “when” but did consider all the opinions.
Despite what the Bible says to the contrary, even some theologians maintain the world will never end. That is, they think the church will have an increasing influence for good, every person living will become a Christian, then Christ will return and all will enter an eternal state. Others are certain the world conditions will deteriorate but Christ will eventually return, separate the good from the bad, put the bad in hell, and everyone will live happily ever after.
Others think the church will be taken out of an increasingly evil world and wickedness will fully prevail for seven years. Then Christ will return from heaven, implement a theocracy and reign for a thousand years with His people. (These time spans have biblical support.) After that, all whose names are written in the book of life will join the Lord in eternity and the dead will be resurrected, judged and separated from God forever.
One thing my study revealed: anyone can find one or two Bible verses to support their personal opinion. No wonder there are so many opinions. It is like blind men describing an elephant: one thought it was like a tree -- he felt a leg; another was sure it was like a rope -- he had hold of the tail; another said no, it was like a large leaf -- he felt an ear; and so on.
Also, my study revealed that ALL of Scripture must be compared and considered to develop a reasonable view of any teaching, including what God says will happen in the future. We can’t just lift any verse off a page and think we have the last word on the issue. For instance, not every verse in the Bible is quoting God; some are a record of the words of sinful people!
Each verse must be studied in its context, considering who said it and why it was said. The Bible is actually its own best interpreter. If passages are carefully compared with similar passages on the same topic or with other passages written by the same author, the meaning often becomes clearer.
That sounds like work -- and it is. However, every occupation and pastime, including hunting and fishing, has its “Bible.” Engineers, doctors, lawyers, and all professionals study thick, complicated textbooks -- massive volumes of information written by experts in their various fields. Homemakers have thick childcare manuals and recipe books. Farmers have detailed manuals for machinery, livestock care, and building maintenance. Even an almanac can be fairly complex. Anyone wanting to be an expert on any topic has to study their subject.
Whether it is the end of the world or how to have eternal life, there is no other way to find out what God says about anything than to study His Word. Too many people simply pull information out of their heads or settle for an opinion made by someone who did only half their homework.
In case this topic of the end times is frightening, Jeremiah 29:11 offers hope: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” saith the LORD, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
God promises a glorious future for those who trust in Him.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Interpretation 101 ....................... Parables 065
Bumper stickers and Bible verses have something in common: To correctly understand them, you sometimes need to know the mind-set of the person who wrote them, the meaning of the words used, who they are written to, and whatever other background that will clarify their meaning.
For instance, there is the sticker that says something about the person “left with the most toys - wins” Left where? What toys? Wins what? Did a greedy child write this, or a materialistic-minded adult, or someone who was very disillusioned with life?
Bible interpretation is something like that too. One example is a verse in Proverbs that says, “Evil men do not understand justice, but they that seek the Lord understand all things.” If the last part of this verse was lifted off the page, burned in wood, and put on the wall for a plaque, I would be perplexed. I seek the Lord daily, yet there are some things about life that do not make sense. Does that make the Bible wrong when it says that those who seek the Lord can understand all things?
Since God never makes mistakes, the answer must be in the interpretation. I need to know more; such as who did He inspire to write this, who was it written to, and why? What was the intent? What does the rest of the Bible say about this?
First of all, Solomon, a king of Israel, wrote Proverbs 28:5, the above verse. Reading it in context shows that the scope of “understanding all” is perhaps narrowed by the first part of the verse. Since it says that the evil person does not understand justice, it seems more fitting with the rest of the Bible to assume that those who seek the Lord understand “all things about justice.” Nowhere does it say that we will know everything about everything, at least not in this life.
Further reading finds that Solomon was a young man when God appeared to him in a dream with, “Ask what I shall give you.” (I Kings 3)
Solomon humbly admitted that he was but a child, and did not have a great deal of understanding, so he made this request, “Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” He wanted to understand justice.
God promised in response, “Because you have asked this thing, and not asked long life for yourself, or riches, or the life of your enemies, but have asked for understanding to discern judgement (or justice); I have done according to your words:, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like you before you, neither shall any arise like you after you. And I have also given you which you did not ask, both riches and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like you all your life. And if you walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and commandments... then I will lengthen thy days.”
Knowing the writer, his background, and God’s promise to him, helps to make sense of that verse he wrote. A person to whom God had granted such unique understanding of justice could write such a statement. Solomon knew what he was talking about.
Other portions of his writing add meaning, such as Proverbs 3:5,6 where he warns not to rely on our own reasoning but to trust the Lord with all our heart, and follow His ways. Solomon learned from experience that even God’s wisdom has no personal value if it is received but not obeyed. Hence evil people will not have a true understanding of justice because they are not obedient to it.
Bible study is not particularly easy. Because we do rely on our own understanding, we can sometimes get off target. Also, grabbing a verse here and there to put together a theology is spiritually dangerous.
Solomon sets a good example. A humble dependance upon the Lord, and a full acknowledgment of our needy condition are both important attitudes with which to approach the Word of God.
For instance, there is the sticker that says something about the person “left with the most toys - wins” Left where? What toys? Wins what? Did a greedy child write this, or a materialistic-minded adult, or someone who was very disillusioned with life?
Bible interpretation is something like that too. One example is a verse in Proverbs that says, “Evil men do not understand justice, but they that seek the Lord understand all things.” If the last part of this verse was lifted off the page, burned in wood, and put on the wall for a plaque, I would be perplexed. I seek the Lord daily, yet there are some things about life that do not make sense. Does that make the Bible wrong when it says that those who seek the Lord can understand all things?
Since God never makes mistakes, the answer must be in the interpretation. I need to know more; such as who did He inspire to write this, who was it written to, and why? What was the intent? What does the rest of the Bible say about this?
First of all, Solomon, a king of Israel, wrote Proverbs 28:5, the above verse. Reading it in context shows that the scope of “understanding all” is perhaps narrowed by the first part of the verse. Since it says that the evil person does not understand justice, it seems more fitting with the rest of the Bible to assume that those who seek the Lord understand “all things about justice.” Nowhere does it say that we will know everything about everything, at least not in this life.
Further reading finds that Solomon was a young man when God appeared to him in a dream with, “Ask what I shall give you.” (I Kings 3)
Solomon humbly admitted that he was but a child, and did not have a great deal of understanding, so he made this request, “Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” He wanted to understand justice.
God promised in response, “Because you have asked this thing, and not asked long life for yourself, or riches, or the life of your enemies, but have asked for understanding to discern judgement (or justice); I have done according to your words:, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like you before you, neither shall any arise like you after you. And I have also given you which you did not ask, both riches and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like you all your life. And if you walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and commandments... then I will lengthen thy days.”
Knowing the writer, his background, and God’s promise to him, helps to make sense of that verse he wrote. A person to whom God had granted such unique understanding of justice could write such a statement. Solomon knew what he was talking about.
Other portions of his writing add meaning, such as Proverbs 3:5,6 where he warns not to rely on our own reasoning but to trust the Lord with all our heart, and follow His ways. Solomon learned from experience that even God’s wisdom has no personal value if it is received but not obeyed. Hence evil people will not have a true understanding of justice because they are not obedient to it.
Bible study is not particularly easy. Because we do rely on our own understanding, we can sometimes get off target. Also, grabbing a verse here and there to put together a theology is spiritually dangerous.
Solomon sets a good example. A humble dependance upon the Lord, and a full acknowledgment of our needy condition are both important attitudes with which to approach the Word of God.
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