Interpreting the Bible

[Dream]

When studying the Bible, what tools or resources do you use to interpret what you are reading? If you come across a passage that doesn't make sense, what do you do? (besides praying)

Please don't view this as an attack, I'm just curious to know to process you take.

God bless.

[daverain]

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Personally:
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(besides praying and looking for 'signs')


I simply read and look for the SIMPLEST possibility (THIS is usually the answer).


If an interpretation SEEMS to be 'not of God', it usually is (not of God).


I try to 'see' if there's another possibility.


(EXAMPLE: When someone (like a J.W.) reads me Jesus saying: "Why do you call me good?" , and INSISTS this is Him saying He's not good (or not God), this seems like a FALSE interepretation (IT IS).

I look for OTHER possibilities: Perhaps a certain man ALWAYS addressed people as: "Good Teacher", and the real answer is not Jesus SAYING something, but rather ASKING a question: "Why do -YOU- call me good?"


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[Nikoel]

I had a lot of trouble interpreting for a long time... so I went out and bought the simplest version I could find ( *Blush* ) The extreme teen bible! It breaks down most of the more complicated verses and also speaks in clear and simple english (important for me!)

If I still don't get it.... I ask! I ask here, I ask my pastor, I ask my mom, I ask anyone who might know, and get several different thoughts to help me establish my own...then go back and re-read! That usually helps to clear things up.

[New_Wineskin]

When studying the Bible, what tools or resources do you use to interpret what you are reading? If you come across a passage that doesn't make sense, what do you do? (besides praying)

Please don't view this as an attack, I'm just curious to know to process you take.

God bless.

Anything that the Spirit does not make clear , I don't care too much about . If I am curious , I will look into a Greek dictionary if in the newer writings . Or , I will look at what other translations have to say about it . Even then , without the Spirit's input , I put it on the shelf .

[Iron Lion]

buy a study bible. hands down best way.

some will even Interpret every verse in the bible.

they do cost a fair bit more but are totaly worth it.

i notice your catholic so im not sure what your church has available for the catholic bible. (i notice my protestant study bible interprets that Jesus had brothers which is against the catholic teaching)

Have you got a catehchism of the catholic church??

I use one even though im not catholic because it does have 1000+ years of Christian thought in it and explains all beliefs of faith. EG: trinity, creation ect.

(even if alot of christians dont agree on the catholic churchs teachings you can ignore what you need to)

Hope it helps you.

[muffler dragon]

When studying the Bible, what tools or resources do you use to interpret what you are reading? If you come across a passage that doesn't make sense, what do you do? (besides praying)

Please don't view this as an attack, I'm just curious to know to process you take.

God bless.
I evaluate the context. I try to gain an understanding of the times, the author's intent, the audience, the background information: cultural, religious, and so forth.

As a matter of fact, I have done this for Scripture that I thought I understood and now my understanding has changed.

m.d.

[Iron Lion]

good point

[Stinker]

For individual words- Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.....that is keyed to Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.

For Bible verses- StudyLight.org (also has many commentaries from those of different faiths )

For doctrine differences- Bible Forum Online Debates


When one open's the Bible they have to apply basic hermeneutics. This means to first look at the immediate text in question, then the context, then all the remote text.

[Dream]

i notice your catholic so im not sure what your church has available for the catholic bible. (i notice my protestant study bible interprets that Jesus had brothers which is against the catholic teaching)

There are quite a few Bible guides for Catholic versions. And yes, they will most likely have different interpretations than the ones that you use. :)

Have you got a catehchism of the catholic church??

I use one even though im not catholic because it does have 1000+ years of Christian thought in it and explains all beliefs of faith. EG: trinity, creation ect.

Of course. It's a very good book to have, but it doesn't really guide you on individual Bible passages, but rather on the whole picture.


Thanks all for the responses. I was just curious the most popular method of interpreting the Bible among non-denominational folks. :wave:

[woman.at.the.well]

I use a Strong's Dictionary of bible words and read different versions (e.g. NIV, Amplified, etc) to get a clearer picture of some passages I may not be real clear on.