All Interpretations Are Not Created Equal

In dealing with issues of interpretation there are two basic ways in which to do it. One is to read our preconceived notions in the text that we are studying; this inappropriate practice is known as isogesis or eisegesis. The appropriate method is to make sure that we let the text speak to us, allow it to state what it is stating; this is known as exegesis.

Hermeneutics is a system by which we properly interpret documents, any documents. Some things to take into consideration are historical context, grammatical context and cultural context. There is a difference between, on the one hand, something that the Bible teaches clearly and throughout and, on the other hand, something that we already believe and are merely seeking a verse here and there that we can attempt to force into saying what we want to hear. Not all interpretations are created equal.

What about literalism or symbolism? We should take the Bible literally, but this means taking it as it is intended. For example, if there is a historical reference, we take it as a historical reference. If something is symbolic, we take it as symbolic. If it is a metaphor, a figure of speech, etc., etc. we take it as it comes (see our article How do You Read the Bible?).

These are some of the things we consider in attempting to render a proper interpretation of the Bible (and any other document for that matter). Some others are that we do not base any major doctrine on an isolated verse. In other words we must consider what the main message of the Bible is and what the whole text of it has to say, rather than building a massive edifice upon a single verse. Also, we do no such thing based upon an unclear verse. Word by word, line by line, chapter by chapter, book by book we must compare in order to come to a full understanding of the message. In this way we avoid taking a text out of context in order to make a pretext for a proof text.

And so what is orthodoxy? If there is any such thing as Orthodoxy then it should be able to be found regardless of chronology, culture, etc. The main points are sometimes called the "main things and plain things." For instance, that there is one God is main, plain and obvious. But drinking alcohol is more of a cultural issue. Biblically speaking, drinking is not a problem but getting drunk is, and so a Christian in America has to be careful because in our society drinking is, more so than not, about getting wasted, while in Europe or Scotland, Christians may go to the pub right after services to have a social drink or a nice glass of wine.

There are things in the Bible that are descriptive and others that are prescriptive. For example, loving our neighbors is prescribed for us to do. Polygamy is described i.e., the Bible tells us that some men did it but it never tells us to do it nor claims that God approved (besides every time the Bible describes a polygamist marriage it includes the various problems that plague such a family).

But haven't the various interpretations of the Bible caused strife within Christianity? As we point out in our article Review of a Mormon Video-Part II: The Restoration Joseph Smith stated, "The teachers understood the same scriptures so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible." Yet, was appealing to absolute relativism (see Relativism is a Faith Based Belief Which is Paradoxically Both Relativistic and Absolutist) since what he stated is like saying that if one person says that the sky is blue and another person says that it is brown we could never really know the sky's color. In one sense it is good that there are various denominations because some people like to sing and wave their hands at services, some like to be quiet and solemn, some like to have deep Bible studies, some like a lot of ritual and some do not. Christians are not robots or clones, we are dynamic. But where do we draw the line? So much could be said but once you get far enough away from the main and plain things, so far that you are no longer recognizable, you have become what we could term a "cult" or "pseudo-Christian cult," i.e., seemingly Christian but quite different.

Again, how do we determine orthodoxy? We employ careful, contextual, interpretative methods, we are careful about translation and allow that text to speak to us and do what the Bible tells us to do-question what we are being taught while understanding that there are people who know more than we do about certain subjects; we stand on the shoulders of giants.

Honestly, when we read the teachings of the "cults" it is not at all hard to see that they are influenced by outside factors such as not liking something that the Bible says or seeing that society does not like it and therefore, reinterpreting it. The politics of the politically correct movement are a good example of this. For example, I was listening to a woman on the radio who said that she grew up in the 60's and got involved in some very liberal causes and had an abortion. She explained that all along she was a Christian but she jumped from denomination to denomination finding more and more liberal ones that would accommodate her whims. The Bible was the same and it taught the same things but political activism was used as a tool to make "Churches" into whatever people wanted. They sought to shape the Bible into the image of humankind instead of shaping humankind into the image of God.

On this subject the Bible is quite clear, "the time will come when people will not put up with healthy doctrine but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their own needs. They will refuse to listen to the truth and will turn to myths" (2nd Timothy 4:3).