Interpreting the Bible: Who Can Do It And Why the Variations
All Christians are called to read, interpret, understand, and apply the Bible. But you look around today and there are just so many different interpretations. How can people who read the same thing come to different conclusions about what it means?
I mean there are so many different variations on what one specific passage means. How are we to know which one is right? For that matter, who has the final say on what a passage means?
Let’s seek to answer those questions by looking at what causes so many different interpretations, and how different Christians view who has the final say on what a passage means.
Why So Many Different Interpretations?
Did you know there are 45,000 Christian denominations in the world today? That’s according to a study published in 2019 by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. But why so many different denominations? Is there really that many different interpretations of the Bible?
In general, the different interpretations of the Bible are due to a number of factors, including: various approaches, various states of belief, a lack of training, selfishness and pride, and theological differences. These factors influence one’s interpretation of Scripture.
So let’s dive into some of these factors and discover how they impact how Scripture is interpreted.
Different Approaches to Interpretation
First, there are so many different interpretations because there are different ways people can interpret the Bible. Historically, there have been four main ways Christians have interpreted the Bible. They are,
- Literal: Seeks the plain reading of the text in its historical and cultural context.
- Allegorical: Seeks a deeper meaning behind the literal reading of the text, often using symbolism to connect Old Testament stories to the life of Jesus and the Church.
- Moral: Seeks a deeper meaning behind the literal interpretation, that can be applied ethically or morally to Christian life today.
- Anagogical (Spiritual): Seeks a deeper meaning, that connects to the ultimate spiritual realities of eternal life and end times.
If you want to know more about the various approaches to interpreting the Bible, then check out this article. Not only does it discuss the different approaches to interpreting Scripture, it also mentions some common rules to follow when you want to interpret a passage.
State Of Belief
State of belief is a second factor that contributes to varying interpretations of Scripture. Not everyone who studies the Bible is a Christian. Nor is every person who claims to be a Christian a Christian.
The Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit. As such, there is a divinely intended meaning to God’s word. So, a proper interpretation of the Bible requires a relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Bible states,
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:14
Unbelievers cannot properly interpret and apply Scripture apart from a personal and unique relationship with God through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Christian life is a journey of a relationship with God.
Likewise, studying the Bible is a journey. There is spiritual growth and development within Bible study. Not everyone is in the same place in their Bible study habit and spiritual growth. The Bible says it this way,
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
Where we are at in our journey and walk with God will affect how we read and interpret Scripture. There things in the Bible everyone can understand easily. But there are other things that are for more mature Christians that we only discover as we continually walk with God in prayer and Bible study.
This brings us to the third factor that affects the number of interpretations.
Lack of Training
Third, a lack of training can lead to various interpretations of the Bible. The Bible encourages and demonstrates that there is a right way to read and interpret Scripture. Paul writes to Timothy encouraging him to be someone who rightly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
Similarly, Peter warns Christians to take time to properly understand Scripture (2 Peter 3:16). Failure to do so leads to distorting Scripture to our own destruction.
This lack of training can lead to false teaching. The Bible consistently warns against false teachers. Now some false teachers are deliberately teaching incorrect things. But others are doing so out of ignorance.
That is why everyone must learn to interpret Scripture. So they can examine Scripture to see if what they are being taught is true. There is no shortcut to proper interpretation of the Bible. It takes skill and practice. But the good thing is it can be learned.
If you want to learn how to interpret the Bible Biblically, then check out this article. It walks you through Bible based principles to correctly interpreting Scripture.
Selfishness and Pride
Fourth, selfishness and pride can hinder correct interpretation of Scripture. As a result, it can, and often does, lead to disagreements on what a passage means and refusal to hear what others have to say.
The Bible is God’s Word. Period. We say that a lot, but often fail to treat it as such. So, let’s say it again. The Bible is God’s Word. That’s a big deal. That means how we approach the Bible matters. We are to approach the Bible the same way we approach God.
We are to approach the Bible in humility, seeking God and His wisdom and be willing to surrender to its truth. To do anything else pure and vile selfishness and pride. This often leads to interpretations of the Bible based on ones preferences of God’s truth.
Theological Differenences and Emphasis
Lastly, theological differences and emphasis, affects how one interprets Scripture. Throughout Christian history, there have been significant theological disputes, disagreements, and arguments. These disputes have lead to schisms and the formation of many different denominations.
While some of these differences may be small others are quite bigger. We have already seen that there are 45,000 Christian denominations in the world, many of which have distinct theological perspectives that influence how they interpret passages in the Bible.
For example, differences in beliefs about the nature of God, the role of sacraments, the understanding of salvation all can lead to varying interpretations of specific verses.
Who Can Interpret the Bible?
Part of the discussion around why there are so many different interpretations of Scripture always comes back to, “Who can interpret the Bible?” This seeks to get to the root of why there are so many different interpretations in the first place.
In general, the authority to interpret the Bible is held in one of two places: the Church or individual believers. Both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches hold that the Church is responsible for correct interpretation. While Protestants emphasize the importance of the “priesthood of all believers.”
Let’s go into more detail about who can interpret the Bible, and see the arguments for each view.
| Branch | Who Can Interpret? |
|---|---|
| Catholicism | Magestarium and Clerical Authorities, i.e. Church |
| Protestantism | Varied by denomination, emphasizes “Priesthood of all believers” |
| Orthodox | Synods, Councils, and Patriarchs, i.e. Church and Tradition |
Only the Church Can Interpret the Bible
The Catholic Church argues that it is the Church that holds the authority to interpret Scripture. The Council of Trent states,
…no one, relying on his own skill, shall,–in matters of faith, and of morals pertaining to the edification of Christian doctrine, –wresting the sacred Scripture to his own senses, presume to interpret the said sacred Scripture contrary to that sense which holy mother Church,–whose it is to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the holy Scriptures…
Council of Trent, Session 4
In other words, individuals should not rely on themselves to interpret the Bible, and any interpretation that differs from the established interpretation of the Church is wrong. In short, the Church has the final say on what interpretation is correct.
For more about the Catholic view that only the Church can interpret the Bible, check out Who Can Interpret the Bible? from The Catholic Blog
Individuals Can Interpret the Bible
Protestants will argue that individuals can interpret the Bible. This is supported by the protestant beliefs in the “priesthood of all believers” and the clarity of Scripture. The Westminster Confession states,
“The authority of the holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the Author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.”
Westminster Confession
In other words, individuals can interpret the Scripture in so far and as long as they do so dependent upon the Holy Spirit.
Likewise, we see in the Bible an encouragement to all Christians to rightly handle the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). And we see Paul commend Christians for examining the Scriptures on their own (Acts 17:11).
Key Takeaways
- The diversity of interpretations of the Bible, with 45,000 Christian denominations worldwide, is influenced by factors such as different approaches to interpretation, varying states of belief, lack of training, selfishness, pride, and theological differences.
- Various interpretive approaches include the literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical (spiritual), each seeking different depths of meaning within the text.
- The state of belief plays a crucial role, emphasizing the need for a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit for a proper understanding of Scripture.
- A lack of training can lead to false interpretations, highlighting the importance of learning to interpret the Bible correctly.
- Selfishness and pride hinder correct interpretation, emphasizing the need for humility and a willingness to surrender to the truth of God’s Word.
- Theological differences, stemming from historical disputes, contribute to the formation of different denominations and influence how specific verses are interpreted.
- The question of who can interpret the Bible involves a debate between the authority of the Church (Catholic and Orthodox perspectives) and the emphasis on the “priesthood of all believers” in Protestantism.
