Biblical Interpretation

Interpretation is the art and discipline of making meaning clear. In the Christian life it especially concerns how we read, understand, and live out God’s Word, along with the Spirit-given understanding of spiritual messages such as tongues and dreams.

Interpreting Scripture

Much of the Bible is clear about how we are to live, yet some passages seem indistinct, confusing or ambiguous. God calls us to “correctly handle” the Word of truth (2 Tim 2:15). The purpose of biblical interpretation, technically termed hermeneutics, is to make the meaning and message of the biblical writings clear and understandable where there is uncertainty.

Each part of the Bible must be interpreted in its wider context, not just within a single verse, bearing in mind the time, place and human situation to which it belongs. Interpretation seeks to discover the author’s intended meaning in the cultural and historical settings where the passage was spoken or written. Commands and promises are to be understood according to who received them and whether they were for a specific occasion or general use.

In non-essential matters it is healthy to consider other viewpoints

God intends to communicate with us through Scripture. We should take the obvious or literal meaning of the text at face value and act on it, unless it is clearly an allegorical passage or a figure of speech that reinforces the point, as we do in any normal expression of language. An example is David asking God to protect him as the apple of His eye (Ps 17:8).

As we read and study the Bible, we must intentionally look for the application we can make to our lives. The Bible is God’s Word to us and He means it to be believed and acted on. It is worthless understanding what God wants us to do unless we actually do it: “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (Jas 1:22). In fact, if we don’t do the good we know we should, this is sin (Gen 4:7; Jas 4:17). Scripture is given for training in righteousness, so even when a passage was intended for another specific person or group we can learn from its general principles (2 Tim 3:16-17). This is “to prepare God’s people for works of service,” aligning our whole lifestyle with His ways as it is outworked in daily life (Eph 4:12).

God’s Word to us is to be believed – literally, completely – and acted on

It is right to receive instruction from mature, capable Bible teachers; however, it is only head knowledge until we apply it. There is a need to clearly understand doctrine, but doctrine is not given merely for discussion and debate. Don’t be like those who spent their time doing nothing but listening to and talking about the latest [religious] ideas, for they were in effect “ever learning but never able to acknowledge the truth” (Act 17:21; 2 Tim 3:7). Rather than unprofitably discussing divisive views or confusing issues, it is much wiser to be actively living out what the Bible states – loving God with our whole being and other people as ourselves (Mic 6:8; Mk 12:30-31). The bottom line is: when you know what to do, do it!

There are vastly differing views on many spiritual issues, each having a measure of truth, but not fully in agreement with the Lord’s perspective. We are to respect people with differing opinions and show them love and fellowship in Christ as we live out our beliefs, provided we can do this in good conscience. We must be careful not to judge or condemn those who reach a different understanding, because faithful people can prayerfully study the same Scriptures and arrive at different conclusions in good conscience. In many spiritual matters there is a godly tension between differing yet biblical facets of truth regarding the same topic, with these contrasting viewpoints providing a richer and fuller appreciation.

Don’t alter God’s Word to fit your ungodly behaviour

When convicted by the Holy Spirit and we come to a fuller understanding from the Bible, its authority is to supersede all concepts, preconceived ideas or views we hold, while also recognising there is a place to humbly give and receive help from other believers to understand the fuller counsel of God (Act 18:24-30). Don’t alter God’s guidebook to suit your desires, beliefs and lifestyle – our lives are to come into alignment with it. Without clear, unchanging governing principles, chaos, compromise, confusion and sin reign as everyone does what seems best in their own eyes (Jdg 17:6, 21:25).

To endeavour not to come with preconceived ideas is to lay down the lenses we have inherited—our assumptions, prejudices, frameworks, and even our well-meaning certainties. It is an invitation to approach truth not as a territory to be conquered by the intellect, but as a reality to be received.

The open heart speaks of willingness: a posture of humility, vulnerability, and desire. It is not naive; it is courageous, because it risks being changed. The open mind speaks of readiness: a willingness to think, question, unlearn, and wonder. Together, heart and mind form the whole person offered in trust rather than clenched in control.

And the Holy Spirit guide into all truth (Jn 16:13) is the assurance that we are not left to wander alone. The Spirit does not merely inform; He transforms. He does not force understanding upon us, but leads—gently, patiently, often unexpectedly—into depths we could not have manufactured from our own preconceptions.

So the journey becomes less about arriving at a conclusion we already preferred, and more about being led by One who knows the full shape of truth and is willing to unfold it to those who come ready to receive.

Faithful people can prayerfully and sincerely study the same texts and traditions yet reach different views. Differing emphases on particular passages or doctrines, the historical and cultural context in which texts were written and received, individual conscience, and the limits of human understanding all contribute to these differences. Because we are all fallible, we should not stand in judgment over a brother or sister who differs from us in good conscience. Instead, humility, respect, and love must shape our response, building unity rather than division. Such disagreements do not necessarily indicate a lack of faith; they often reflect the depth of Scripture and the humility required to seek God together.

Peter reminds us that scriptural prophecies did not originate with humanity but came by the direction of the Holy Spirit and will therefore come to pass (2 Pet 1:20). Ask God to reveal the true meaning of the Scriptures to your spirit (Ps 119:18). Some have interpreted Bible passages incorrectly, been deceived and led away from the truth, forming new cults that teach heresy. God does not wish us to suffer such confusion (1 Cor 14:33). When the plain sense (of a Scripture) makes good sense, seek no other sense, lest you end up with non-sense!

Interpreting Tongues

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the interpretation of tongues spoken in a group gathering (1 Cor 12:7-11,28-30). Without a message in tongues being interpreted within the group setting it is unfruitful or of no value, hence “If there is no interpreter, the one speaking in tongues should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God” (1 Cor 14:5-28).

Interpreting Dreams

Interpretation also includes the translation of ideas from one language or medium to another. For example, Joseph and Daniel were both given the ability (by God) to interpret the meaning of dreams. They humbly acknowledged “the interpretation of dreams belongs to God,” and He revealed the secrets portrayed in them (Gen 40:8; Dan 2:28). Interpreting dreams today should be undertaken with the same caution and humility.

Reflection and Application:

Approach the Bible prayerfully, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal its intended meaning (Ps 119:18).
Read each passage in its context, taking the plain, literal sense unless it is clearly figurative (Ps 17:8; 2 Tim 2:15).
Put into practice what you understand, for hearing without doing deceives us (Jas 1:22).
Hold your views humbly, loving others even when you disagree (Mic 6:8; Mk 12:30-31).