Private Interpretation

[Erik3]

It is my understanding that Orthodox Christians don't believe in private interpretation?

my question is, when reading the Bible at home or wherever how is private interpretation avoided? Is a commentary always read along with scripture or do you talk with your priest? I mean is there a certain procedure to be followed?

Thanks, God Bless

 

[sin_vladimirov]

Misposted.

 

[Rilian]

I think the main focus is always to read scripture through the lens of the church. Certainly many people, myself included, read scripture directly and assess what it means for us. We all find personal inspiration in its pages. I think it's critical to also always view scripture as a coherent whole, and not to isolate certain parts and set them up in conflict with other parts.

Bishop Kallistos Ware wrote a great article about how to read the Bible here .

 

[Dust and Ashes]

Since I have begun reading it with an Orthodox mindset or "through the lens of the Church" as Rilian so aptly put it, the Scriptures have really opened up for me and all the apparent contradictions from my private interpretation days have vanished. It really makes sense, though to read it that way since the books of the NT were written by members of the Church to other members of the Church.

Imagine taking a collection of letters written by the top brass of ABC Inc. to the heads of field offices and subsidiaries all over the world, compiling them and saying, "Here is an exhaustive guide to running a business!" It would be a curious business to see, indeed, that was founded and run on the prinicples found in the "guide" by someone totally unfamiliar with ABC Inc. Someone who worked for ABC might look at one of the new businesses, read some of the internal memos and think, "What are they thinking?"

Sorry for the silly analogy, it's early, I haven't had my coffee yet and I have to get to work.

Forgive me,