Personal Interpretation Of Scripture

[Erose]

I remember when I was younger, and doing the Baptist thing, there was a lot of talk of Personal Interpretation of Scripture. But I don't hear that phrase anymore, so I'm wondering, what happened with that teaching? Is it still around? Is it still popular? Or is the reason why I don't hear that phrase any longer is because I'm no longer in the loop?

 

[Mama Kidogo]

I remember when I was younger, and doing the Baptist thing, there was a lot of talk of Personal Interpretation of Scripture. But I don't hear that phrase anymore, so I'm wondering, what happened with that teaching? Is it still around? Is it still popular? Or is the reason why I don't hear that phrase any longer is because I'm no longer in the loop?

I notice I haven't heard it lately also. Maybe the pot got tired of calling the kettle black?

 

[yogosans14]

Im watching Pastor John Hagee right now, Ill let you now if he talks about personal interpretation of Scripture

 

[NorrinRadd]

I've never heard that expression except when used by RC and OC believers criticizing Protestants. I'm surprised to hear it associated with Baptists. I always had the impression they valued freedom of conscience.

 

[Erose]

I've never heard that expression except when used by RC and OC believers criticizing Protestants. I'm surprised to hear it associated with Baptists. I always had the impression they valued freedom of conscience.

Never heard it from RC or EOs before. The only place I have ever heard it is in Protestant churches, particularly Baptist. But then again, I haven't heard that phrase in quite some time now.

 

[Gottservant]

You haven't heard it because the Holy Spirit is not limited by interpretations of scripture

 

[Standing Up]

I remember when I was younger, and doing the Baptist thing, there was a lot of talk of Personal Interpretation of Scripture. But I don't hear that phrase anymore, so I'm wondering, what happened with that teaching? Is it still around? Is it still popular? Or is the reason why I don't hear that phrase any longer is because I'm no longer in the loop?

Could you provide some context for what you supposedly learned about Baptists? Maybe a few quotes?

 

[squint]

Could you provide some context for what you supposedly learned about Baptists? Maybe a few quotes?

I've heard it said that no 2 snowflakes are alike.

I wonder why anyone expects believers to be uniformly identical and have uniformly identical reflections when we are all uniquely and subjectively made, just as depicted all around us in everything.

Why then would faith not be personal?

Seems that it must be.

Only a power mongering dictator would claim it otherwise.

s

 

[Tzaousios]

I remember when I was younger, and doing the Baptist thing, there was a lot of talk of Personal Interpretation of Scripture. But I don't hear that phrase anymore, so I'm wondering, what happened with that teaching? Is it still around? Is it still popular? Or is the reason why I don't hear that phrase any longer is because I'm no longer in the loop?

From my observations it has become quite common to deny or artfully refrain from admitting interpretation. The mentality seems to be that if one admits to holding an interpretation or engaging in interpretative practices than it nullifies the tactic if being able to declare that one "only repeats what the Bible plainly says" or that an opponent "disagrees not with me but with God/Jesus/the Bible."

 

[concretecamper]

I remember when I was younger, and doing the Baptist thing, there was a lot of talk of Personal Interpretation of Scripture. But I don't hear that phrase anymore, so I'm wondering, what happened with that teaching? Is it still around? Is it still popular? Or is the reason why I don't hear that phrase any longer is because I'm no longer in the loop?

I think most people conform to what their pastor's view are (or they would change to another place of worship).

 

[bling]

I remember when I was younger, and doing the Baptist thing, there was a lot of talk of Personal Interpretation of Scripture. But I don't hear that phrase anymore, so I'm wondering, what happened with that teaching? Is it still around? Is it still popular? Or is the reason why I don't hear that phrase any longer is because I'm no longer in the loop?

It has to do with organic growth of the body, which is not happening in the West. People in the West are all out of the loop.

 

[Harry3142]

I believe that concreteplanner is correct. The churches which in the past claimed to be sanctuaries where people could interpret Scripture for themselves have now added the words, "so long as their interpretation agrees with that of the leaders of that particular church." Those whose interpretation of Scripture differs from that of its leaders soon come to the realization that they must either keep silent about it, or leave that church altogether.

 

[Erose]

Could you provide some context for what you supposedly learned about Baptists? Maybe a few quotes?

When I was being proselytized and became a Baptist for a short period, it was a huge buzz phrase. Granted we are talking about in the 80s and early 90s.

The point of the position is that each individual through the Holy Spirit, can and should interpret Scripture outside the context of a church. Now granted he personal interpretation should conform with your pastor because the Holy Spirit shouldn't be teaching opposing positions to different folks.

Perhaps the terminology has changed, or it was a fad perhaps, I don't know.

 

[~Anastasia~]

When I was being proselytized and became a Baptist for a short period, it was a huge buzz phrase. Granted we are talking about in the 80s and early 90s.

The point of the position is that each individual through the Holy Spirit, can and should interpret Scripture outside the context of a church. Now granted he personal interpretation should conform with your pastor because the Holy Spirit shouldn't be teaching opposing positions to different folks.

Perhaps the terminology has changed, or it was a fad perhaps, I don't know.

I was going to ask what exactly the teaching was, and when it was taught.

From my childhood (before that time) going into Baptist Churches, I never heard such a phrase.

When I attended Baptist Churches again as an adult (late 90s) - I never heard that.

As a matter of fact, I read the Bible and tried to ask the Pastor questions and - it did not go well. He was very adamant that their interpretation was the only one and should not be questioned. The children asked me to teach on a particular subject, and when I approached the Pastor for permission, I was denied permission (they simply wanted to study Scripture).

There really was very little room (in that particular church) for interpretation outside of their official position. Disagreement was not tolerated.

I had dealings with another Baptist pastor after that, and encountered a pretty hard-line approach there as well.

Ironic ... I've never thought of it, but during that period in those churches at least, there was no allowance for questions, disagreements, or private interpretation of Scripture.

But there are many kinds of Baptists, and these were just two, and for only a brief period of time.

I was surprised to hear of the teaching though. I've never really known Baptists to promote a lot of private interpretation. But I've also not known them to have the reputation of demanding such unquestioning acceptance - although that was actually my experience with them.

Perhaps what I experienced was a reaction to the teaching you describe. I really have no idea for sure though.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Personal Interpretation Of Scripture

I remember when I was younger, and doing the Baptist thing, there was a lot of talk of Personal Interpretation of Scripture. But I don't hear that phrase anymore, so I'm wondering, what happened with that teaching? Is it still around? Is it still popular?
Or is the reason why I don't hear that phrase any longer is because I'm no longer in the loop?

Perhaps because the initial of those words "SS" is now associated with Social Security
FWIW, I am Solo Scriptura

http://www.christianforums.com/t7547378/
Solo Scriptura and Sola Scriptura...is there a difference?

Originally Posted by Ortho_Cat

Well yes, I want to discuss the difference between sola and solo, and whether there is any fundamental difference at all between the two.
I would also like to discuss the right to individual interpretation, and how this relates to both as well.

What can I say, i've just been in an SS kind of mood lately...
​

.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I am not so sure that solo/a scriptura necessarily involves personal interpretation.

I'm still wondering exactly what is meant by that term (personal interpretation) in this particular context. I suspect if you remove it from context and just ask folks, there will be a number of different nuances. Though the plain meaning "personal interpretation" is what it is.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I am not so sure that solo/a scriptura necessarily involves personal interpretation.

I'm still wondering exactly what is meant by that term (personal interpretation) in this particular context. I suspect if you remove it from context and just ask folks, there will be a number of different nuances. Though the plain meaning "personal interpretation" is what it is.

I suppose we have to analyze 2 Peter 1 more closely?

http://www.christianforums.com/t1994195-10/

God Says Scripture Is Not Of Any Private Interpretation!!

There have been several threads started recently regarding Scriptural interpretations. What does the Bible say about this matter? Does God allow for such "other interpretations?"

2 Peter 1:19-21
"We also have a more sure word of prophecy...knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

So clearly Scripture tells us that there is no private interpretation of the Bible. All this talk of "well you have your own interpreatation" and "you worship the Bible" is simply not biblical. Reading the Bible and taking God for His word IS biblical, and clearly, it's what God tells us to do.

The Bible did not come about by man's words. The Bible is inspired by God. Furthermore, it is not open to interpretation or reinterpretation. It says what it says. God says what He says, whether we like it or not.

I fully agree with you that it is not open to private interpretation. To me, that means that we must not look at the Bible in the way that we like best, or in the way that we feel we have to. We have a responisibility to try to find the intended meaning of the author.

And yes, that does mean that it's open to interpretation. You cannot look at a 2000+ year old book an know exactly what the authors meant. We have to remember that the authors lived vastly different lives from each other, thought differently from each other, and lived and thought differently from us. This means that different parts of the Bible must be read differently.

So, while we must not look for selfish interpretations, we must always been on quest to find the most correct ones. We may never find out exactly what some passages mean or we may disagree on it, and it is important to understand that.

I could be wrong about how I interpret Genesis and other books. You might be wrong too, SackLunch. We all could be.

The thing is, "no private interpretations" does not mean "no interpretations period." When you read the works of any author, listen to any song, look at any work of art, you interpret it. You look at the clues left by the author, songwriter, or artist to discern what it means. If the author is still alive today, sometimes we can just ask them what they meant. But none of the authors of the Bible are alive. We cannot get inside their heads. The best we can do is look the clues left behind by their cultures to find how it would apply to them and to us today. That's why we come up with different ideas. We're not all detectives and we might not know exactly how to read the clues.

That is the best we can do, and that is an honest way to interpret. Look for what you believe the passage was originally supposed to mean, not what you want it to mean or what everyone tells you its supposed to mean. That, I believe, is what Paul was commanding us to do.

I feel that you wrote this post with the idea that your way of reading the Bible is the right way. If that is not true, please correct me. You must understand that the TEs are not privately interpreting the Bible. That's just where the clues lead us. We're prepared to admit we might make mistakes about reading it (at least, I am) as we learn more about the ancient peoples. I hope you are also prepared to learn the same.

 

[concretecamper]

I am not so sure that solo/a scriptura necessarily involves personal interpretation.

I'm still wondering exactly what is meant by that term (personal interpretation) in this particular context. I suspect if you remove it from context and just ask folks, there will be a number of different nuances. Though the plain meaning "personal interpretation" is what it is.

That is what proponents want you to believe. But without the Magisterium, SS quickly disintegrates to personal interpretation.

 

[squint]

I believe that concreteplanner is correct. The churches which in the past claimed to be sanctuaries where people could interpret Scripture for themselves have now added the words, "so long as their interpretation agrees with that of the leaders of that particular church." Those whose interpretation of Scripture differs from that of its leaders soon come to the realization that they must either keep silent about it, or leave that church altogether.

That's why many churches are so weak. Because members conceal their true sights and in effect, such then LIE to stay seated in the pew.

Call it concealment. Most sects also have rules that if you 'eat their bread' you are also eating all their teachings as true. No disputes allowed.

 

[BobRyan]

I remember when I was younger, and doing the Baptist thing, there was a lot of talk of Personal Interpretation of Scripture. But I don't hear that phrase anymore, so I'm wondering, what happened with that teaching? Is it still around? Is it still popular? Or is the reason why I don't hear that phrase any longer is because I'm no longer in the loop?

Priesthood of all believers - the Holy Spirit reveals truth to us individually - under the New Covenant - as Hebrews 8 states and as 1John 2 reminds us

Acts 17:11 "They studied the scriptures daily to SEE IF those things spoken to them ( by the APOSTLE Paul) -- were so"

in Christ,

Bob