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Not of Private Interpretation
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2 Peter 1:20-21 "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." KJB I find it interesting to note that when it comes to the Bible, and when you are speaking to someone about those Scriptures, the statement which I hear the most is: "That is your own opinion." But unfortunately, those who say that, generally are those who say they are Christian. The Greek word here is the one "idios" which in literal sense means "by one self" or rather by yourself. You see, if we try to read the Bible and we interpret it by what we understand without God's help then we are doing the interpreting by ourselves. It is interesting to note that Paul tells us about this in his first epistle to the church at Corinth for he said: "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:12-14) KJB. I want you to notice something that Paul said here, and I will attempt to paraphrase it so that I can tell you what Paul was saying. Notice first off, Paul said "Now we have received...the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." He said, it was through the Holy Spirit that he was able to speak about what God gave to them, the truth. Then He said in the next verse this: "...we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." He said, "We speak, not through the wisdom of man, but rather through the guiding of the Holy Spirit and we compare the things of God (spiritual) with other things of God (spiritual).” In other words, Paul said that Holy Spirit will guide us unto all truth which is found in the word of God, comparing Scriptures with Scriptures. And then Paul continues to define what he is saying: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." In other words, without the Holy Spirit guiding them, the natural man (unsaved) cannot understand the things of God because it is the Holy Spirit within the saved who will let us understand the things of God. In other words, Scriptures are of no private interpretation: you cannot understand them alone, but with the Holy Spirit we can understand them. I want you to understand something. The natural man (unsaved) when they read or hear the Word of God, they are doing it alone, without the help of the Holy Spirit. In other words their "...heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing..." and will not be able to "understand" what they are reading nor will they understand the things they are hearing, unless the Holy Spirit draw them. Their minds and their hearts are bound by their inability to understand and they will fall back on their own opinions, stubbornly denying the One who draws them to salvation. First off, the Word of God, our Bible does not need to be interpreted in the least, because when we are saved He will give us the interpretation at the time we need to have it interpreted for us. As I have said many times in past devotionals, before I received Christ as my Lord and Savior, I read the Bible several times and each and every time I had great difficulty understanding what it was about. However, when I received Christ, the pages of my Bible were opened to me and I finally could read it and understand what I was reading. Now, I want you to understand something, I did not get a complete understanding of the Bible at the time of my salvation, 14 April, 1988 at 3:30 PM. Throughout the years since, the Lord has opened my understanding at the time I needed it. Why? To help others come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. In every other New Testament reference to "interpretation", and not in our text for today, we see that the word means to "explain" or "to give exposition for". Now, the simple truth is, that in the other verses it is a simple matter of translation and does not need to be interpreted nor does it need to be corrected, which many attempt to do. Our Bible does however, need to be properly translated and it was done during the reign of King James around the first part of the 17th century. Now, some try to tell you that even the King James has gone through numerous corrections or revisions, but those corrections were only for spelling or the proper use of words and not to change what the translators did when they translated the Greek and even Hebrew into English. It is true that the English language does not completely translate directly from the Greek or the Hebrew but if we start thinking that God is not able to make sure that His word is pure in no matter what language that it is translated into then we are falling into one of Satan's greatest traps, "Yea hath God said?". God has the power to keep His word pure and true and if we as His creation start thinking that He is not able to, then we soon fall by the side because of our doubts. And when that happens, Satan wins. Our God is able to say what He means, and is able to keep what He says pure and above reproach, no matter what Satan tries to say or do to it. In past times He used the prophets of the Old Testament to faithfully write down His word, with the help of the Holy Spirit guiding them. He is able to keep His word pure and without mistakes even in the New Testament era. "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." (Psalms 119:89) KJB. Also, when it comes to preserving the Word of God, we need to read this: "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." (Psalm 12:6-7) KJB. In other words, God said it, and He shall keep it, no matter what man might try to do to it. So, when we think that what we have is not the pure word of God, then doubts arise and we are told over and over again the doubt about God's word is sin, pure and simple. We are told, as God's children that our Father wants to communicate to us through His word, that is why it is so important to study it and to simply read it. His authoritative Word to all men and women should never be doubted nor should it be ignored because it is through the Word where we learn of the One who saves our souls and is saving us from the wiles of the Devil by the constant hiding of it in our hearts. Now, to all students of the Bible [and we all should be] He says: "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path." (Proverbs 2:3-9) KJB. Remember, to say today that we do not have the pure word of God, then we fall for Satan's trap and the results of that trap is DOUBT. Also, we cannot interpret His word without Him being in our hearts, in other words, the Word of God is of no private interpretation, we need the Holy Spirit to know it rightly. It takes not one, ourselves, but God needs to be there also to understand what He has for us. By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co. Used with permission Assured Salvation and God's forgiveness are all that matters. |
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11/1/2009 12:31 am |
Thats a great and timely teaching. All too often people who read the Bible don't believe what they read, but the read what they believe. Isaiah 66:2b; But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
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11/1/2009 4:18 am |
This is to say thanks for the posts you make. Somehow I've learned how to listen to the sound of the sun going down. ~ R. Crowell
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