Nearly all of the information we receive
comes to us through the filter of man's interpretation. For example, the news is reported to us by
men who interpret the facts before they report them. Some details are given and others are omitted
according to the reporter's judgment of what is necessary, important, or
expedient to his purpose. Another
example is the records of history. Some
stories are carefully documented and recorded for posterity while others are
neglected and forgotten according to historians' choices. Of the stories that are recorded, different
historians give different interpretations.
In the area of science, evolutionists interpret the various evidences in
terms of Charles Darwin's theory, whereas creationists interpret the same
evidences in terms of the Bible's accounts.
All of this is important for us to know as we digest the information we
receive. We need to realize that the
information is affected by man's interpretation and that our own biases play a
part as well.
Concerning the Bible, the apostle Peter declared
that it is not a matter of man's interpretation. He wrote, "But know this first of all, that
no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no
prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy
Spirit spoke from God" (2Pet. 1:20-21). This
may seem to be a curious notion, but we need to consider how to properly
interpret this passage. Does it mean
that there cannot be different interpretations of the Scriptures, or does it
have some other meaning?
The context of this passage is speaking
of the origin of the Scriptures rather than man's understanding of them. The meaning is plain: the Scriptures did not
come from man, but they came from God.
This message is also found in 2Timothy 3:16-17, which says, "All
Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work."
The Holy Spirit is responsible for the content of the Scriptures rather
than man. This is the proper
interpretation of 2Peter 1:20-21.
Nevertheless, there is a lesson to learn
about our understanding of God's word in 2Peter 1:20-21. Because the Scriptures have come from God,
they have an absolute, true meaning. The
true meaning of God's word does not depend upon the man who reads them, for he
may interpret them wrongly. Truly, there
is a right way to interpret the Scriptures, and there are many wrong ways to do
so. In this same epistle, Peter said
that there were untaught and unstable men who twisted and distorted the
Scriptures (2Pet. 3:16). By this, it is
evident that a man's understanding of the Scriptures is a matter of his
interpretation, so he must be careful to make the correct interpretation.
Consider an example that shows both
wrong and right interpretations of Scripture.
In Matthew 22:23-33, the Sadducees came to Jesus quoting Scripture and
possessing the wrong interpretation.
They thought there could be no resurrection because God had required a
man to marry his brother's widow, and this would mean that two brothers would
be married to the same woman in the resurrection according to their
interpretation. Jesus answered them and
said, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God"
(v. 29). He then gave them the proper
interpretation of Scripture, proving that there is a resurrection and that
there will be no marriage in the resurrection.
It should always be our ambition to make
the right interpretation of God's word.
In order to do so, we must follow the prescription of 2Timothy 2:15,
which says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who
does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." Correctly interpreting God's word requires
careful study. The science of
interpretation is called "hermeneutics," which is a systematic, logical, and
Scriptural approach to properly understanding and using God's word. In addition to personal study, it is also
necessary to receive the instructions of others who are wise in the word of God
(Acts 18:25-26; 2Tim. 3:14-15; Heb. 13:7).
Furthermore, our own experience and exercise of the principles of God's
word will train us to properly discern good and evil (Rom. 12:1-2; Heb.
5:12-14).
Therefore, let us understand that the
Bible is not the product of man's efforts, but the correct understanding of the
Bible does depend upon our interpretation.
We must be careful not to be as untaught and unstable handlers of the
Bible who distort and twist the Scriptures (2Pet. 3:16), but instead we must
become unashamed workmen who by diligence accurately handle the word of truth
(2Tim. 2:15). In this way, we can be
certain that we are not foolish, but that we "understand what the will of the
Lord is" (Eph. 5:17).
