Interpreting The
Word Of God
2 Timothy 3:16-17
It is not necessary to know the ancient
languages to accurately interpret the Bible. God has given us his Word in our
own language.Personally,I do not place much value upon
any of the modern translations of the scrip- tures. None of them is more
accurate, or more readable, than the King James version.
Only two things are neces- sary for an accurate interpretation of Holy
Scripture: faith and honesty. We must believe what God says, sub- jecting our
reason,opinions and emotions to the revela- tion of
God. And we must interpret the Word of God with honesty. An honest
interpretation of God's Word is a contextual interpretation. Three things are
involved in an honest, contextual interpretation of the scriptures.
1. Everything revealed in the scriptures
must be interpreted by the context in which it is given. It is dishonest to
take a man's words out of context, much more so to take God's words out of
context. Every word, phrase, verse and chapter of the Bible must be inter-
preted in the light of its context. I mean it must be interpreted in the light
of its immediate context and in the light of the whole Book of Divine
Revelation. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any
private interpretation" (II Pet.
2. We must build our doctrine upon the
plain statements of Holy Scripture and upon the whole Volume of Inspiration. We
must not form our doctrine by logic or tradition and then seek to find
"proof texts" for the doctrine we have built. And we must not build
our doctrine upon isolated portions of scripture. We build our doctrine upon
the whole testimony of God.
3. If we would know the truth of God
concerning any subject, we must go to that place in the scriptures where that
specific subject is explained by an inspired writer. If you want to know what
the Bible says about baptism, you must not go to Acts
Don Fortner