p. 3 | Biblical Interpretations by L. L. C.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 24, 1916

Biblical Interpretations

By L. L. C.

In our use of the Bible it is of supreme importance that our interpretations be correct. There are three main methods of Biblical interpretation, which we may call the interpretation by the church, the interpretation by commentary, and the interpretation by comparison of scripture with scripture. The first of these methods is that of the Roman Catholic Church, which claims the sole right to interpret the Scripture. This is often stated in their doctrinal books. The Council of Trent in its fourth session, April 8, 1546, authoritatively states the position of the church:—

“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—to whom it belongs to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the Holy Scriptures [italics ours],—hath held and doth hold.”—Under “Decree Concerning the Edition and Use of the Sacred Books,” in “Dogmatic Canons and Decrees” (Imprimatur of John Cardinal Farley), New York, the Devin-Adair Company, 1912, p. 11.

No true Protestant believes that the church has any such authority in matters of Biblical interpretation.

It should also be clear to the student of the Bible that we cannot depend upon commentaries for the meaning of any text. To begin with, the authors of these commentaries often do not agree among themselves as to the meaning of the text. Also this method is as objectionable as the first method mentioned, as it involves an appeal to authority outside of the Scriptures. It may be well worth our while to find out what eminent Bible students have thought the meaning of the text to be, but we ourselves shall then need to decide whether their interpretation is in accord with the rest of the Scripture.

The only safe method of determining the meaning of a text is that which has been suggested in the ninth article of the Westminster Confession:—

“The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any scripture, . . . it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.”—Philip Schaff, “The Creeds of the Evangelical Protestant Churches,” Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1877, p. 605.

This is the position of every true Protestant.

In these days when many, even those who profess to be ministers of the gospel, are explaining away some of the clearest prophecies of the Bible and denying that the Scriptures give us any clear view of the times in which we live, we should diligently study, comparing scripture with scripture, that we may know the real meaning.

It is of course true that some texts

may have more than one meaning. This is seen in the case of many of the prophecies of the Old Testament to which the apostles referred as having been fulfilled in their time, as, for example, the prophecy of Joel. It is plain, however, from the study of the text, that this prophecy will have a more complete fulfilment in our day. There are other statements in the prophecies of the Old Testament, having a fulfilment in Old Testament times, but which are quoted by the apostles as having a fulfilment in New Testament times; for example, the statement in Hosea, “I . . . called my Son out of Egypt.” Matthew tells us that this was fulfilled in the coming out of Egypt of Christ, as well as in the exodus of the Israelites. By comparison of scripture with scripture it also seems to be probable that this same scripture may have a third meaning, as Egypt seems to be a type of sin, out of which the Christian is called.

Let us, then, in every case first consider the immediate context of the passage, giving it its most obvious meaning wherever possible. If other interpretation is given to the passage, let us be certain that it is in accord with the meaning of the same words in other portions of the Scripture; and above all, let us seek the guidance of God's divine Spirit that we may follow the truth and not the opinions of men. L. L. C.