i tend to rank passages based on what the teachings say the core matters are . since Jesus gave the scripture a geometry . i find i miss out on a lot if i don't apply this to the reading . i've said a lot about the love emphasis, here are some other's that help balance out my view .
i.e. anything that doesn't come from faith is sin (romans 14)
it's a because statement, so it applies beyond its general context in that anything including bible interpretations that don't come from faith/trust are sin.
another example .. the peace that surpasses understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus . the context of this passage instructs to not be anxious about the sins of others or even your own sins when reading the bible, not to be anxious or worrying at all, but pray instead of worrying and let God guide you. the passage further instructs to think of good, noble, lovely, trustworthy etc. things and the God of peace will be with you .. and in case of this application . in your bible study
Also the fruit of the spirit .. is this coming out of your application of how to apply the words? and also how you convey the words? since the bible is to be regarded as inspired .. i think this question to be very poignant . if it is inspired of God, then the fruit of God should it not be evident? for by their fruit .. you shall know them.
Much like how Jesus said to not clean the outside of the cup .. but the inside of the cup first .. trusting this will clean the outside also .. motive discernment and application is very much a part of reading the passages and applying them
when someone says literal interpretation .. that usually tends to pan out as .. unmerciful and rude which the bible instructs us not to respond as . so in speaking the truth in love .. love is patient .. love is kind
being patient in finding the kind answer that turns away wrath generally is a good pursuit since the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace . i.e. the peacemakers are the children of God .
also literal interpretations tend to sound like a reading of any other book, but as i hope to have been able illustrate, reading the bible is deeper than simply looking up the definition and figuring out the meaning from its general context, it is useful to know this .. but important to understand that Jesus when claiming to be the Messiah of Isaiah 9 did not come with the warrior aspects of that passage, but as peace toward men . there are a number of other examples where Jesus did not quote according to modern "contextual" rules surrounding "not being accused of prooftexting" he definitely would have been accused of prooftexting if he came today, as checking the general context of some of the scriptural quotes .. actually conveys the exact opposite meaning . i.e. Jesus says that the scripture says that "ye are Gods" in qualifying how he a man could be God, but the psalm conveys an opposite message.
so there is more than it appears . i imagine conservatives will just question mark how Jesus interpreted the bible that way .. and move on . but the character oriented interpretation is accessible . just look at the character of the way you read the bible and apply what you judge everything else with to that .. and it takes on a life of its own over time .
i.e. anything that doesn't come from faith is sin (romans 14)
it's a because statement, so it applies beyond its general context in that anything including bible interpretations that don't come from faith/trust are sin.
another example .. the peace that surpasses understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus . the context of this passage instructs to not be anxious about the sins of others or even your own sins when reading the bible, not to be anxious or worrying at all, but pray instead of worrying and let God guide you. the passage further instructs to think of good, noble, lovely, trustworthy etc. things and the God of peace will be with you .. and in case of this application . in your bible study
Also the fruit of the spirit .. is this coming out of your application of how to apply the words? and also how you convey the words? since the bible is to be regarded as inspired .. i think this question to be very poignant . if it is inspired of God, then the fruit of God should it not be evident? for by their fruit .. you shall know them.
Much like how Jesus said to not clean the outside of the cup .. but the inside of the cup first .. trusting this will clean the outside also .. motive discernment and application is very much a part of reading the passages and applying them
when someone says literal interpretation .. that usually tends to pan out as .. unmerciful and rude which the bible instructs us not to respond as . so in speaking the truth in love .. love is patient .. love is kind
being patient in finding the kind answer that turns away wrath generally is a good pursuit since the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace . i.e. the peacemakers are the children of God .
also literal interpretations tend to sound like a reading of any other book, but as i hope to have been able illustrate, reading the bible is deeper than simply looking up the definition and figuring out the meaning from its general context, it is useful to know this .. but important to understand that Jesus when claiming to be the Messiah of Isaiah 9 did not come with the warrior aspects of that passage, but as peace toward men . there are a number of other examples where Jesus did not quote according to modern "contextual" rules surrounding "not being accused of prooftexting" he definitely would have been accused of prooftexting if he came today, as checking the general context of some of the scriptural quotes .. actually conveys the exact opposite meaning . i.e. Jesus says that the scripture says that "ye are Gods" in qualifying how he a man could be God, but the psalm conveys an opposite message.
so there is more than it appears . i imagine conservatives will just question mark how Jesus interpreted the bible that way .. and move on . but the character oriented interpretation is accessible . just look at the character of the way you read the bible and apply what you judge everything else with to that .. and it takes on a life of its own over time .
