Man's Interpretation

[waitasec]

A coin in your hand is the same, as when it is in mine.
What you do with it makes the difference.

It's not just scripture. ALL of what we perceive is dealt this way.
No two people see any one thing in the same way.

But that's why God created us in linear form.
Each to his own perspective.

Reality is the same for all.
But if every report of life was identical ....
we won't have much to talk about...would we?

yet in another thread you said

you're still asking if it's too much to ask...
that God answer to YOU....on YOUR terms.

Yes, it's too much to ask.

He is God.
You are not.

He doesn't owe to you anything.

how odd.

 

[javajo]

If biblical scripture means what it means, why is man divided on its interpretation?

If the bible is divinely inspired and god meant exactly what he meant, then why is it that man has to interpret what god meant?

I believe its because the Bible is the truth but man is flawed.

let God be true, but every man a liar (from Romans 3)

 

[waitasec]

I believe its because the Bible is the truth but man is flawed.

let God be true, but every man a liar (from Romans 3)

then what interpretation do we trust?



our own...?

 

[javajo]

then what interpretation do we trust?



our own...?

I think if one follows the rules of interpretation one will do well. Or just follow my interpretation .

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think if one follows the rules of interpretation one will do well.

What are those, exactly?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I think there has to be some basis that one must agree on when it comes to interpretation, I don't believe that there are multiple ways to glean it, at least as the author intended it.

Interestingly, I recall Rabbi Segal giving a class on one of the Psalms - which one I do not recall. Referencing a couple of verses that lent themselves to diverse interpretation the rabbi suggested that, since it was very apparent that the Psalmist was a skilled wordsmith, we should assume that he or she was perfectly aware of the textual ambiguity and, in fact, intended it. I suspect that this is far more true of poetic text than it is of other sections of the Tanakh. But the point remains: we should not too quickly underestimate the skill of the author - particularly in [later] text that show indications of having originated as written rather than oral works.

 

[javajo]

What are those, exactly?

Apologetics research resources on religious cults and sects - The Eight Rules of Bible Interpretation

 

[Shermana]

Apologetics research resources on religious cults and sects - The Eight Rules of Bible Interpretation

An excellent example of this is the doctrine of the Trinity. No single passage teaches it, but it is consistent with the teaching of the whole of Scripture (e.g. the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are referred to individually as God; yet the Scriptures elsewhere teach there is only one God).

Except that when translated correctly and interpolations are accounted for, Jesus is never called God. Neither is the Spirit.

let God be true, but every man a liar (from Romans 3)

If every man is a liar, how do you trust the text itself? Whose version is God's word?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Apologetics research resources on religious cults and sects - The Eight Rules of Bible Interpretation

Some of those seem a bit vague and sketchy depending on how they're applied, but the one that I think is flat-out unreasonable is this one:

7) The rule of UNITY: The parts of Scripture being interpreted must be construed with reference to the significance of the whole. An interpretation must be consistent with the rest of Scripture. An excellent example of this is the doctrine of the Trinity. No single passage teaches it, but it is consistent with the teaching of the whole of Scripture (e.g. the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are referred to individually as God; yet the Scriptures elsewhere teach there is only one God).

While the Bible may be bound into one volume today, it's a collection of many works written by many authors over many centuries. IMO, there's no reason to assume that one section of it must be consistent with the others.

 

[Pegg]

So... aside from those difficult symbolic passages you mention, when two Christians disagree on interpretation of the Bible, at least one of them is necessarily engaging in intellectual dishonesty?

they could both be wrong

 

[e.r.m.]

If biblical scripture means what it means, why is man divided on its interpretation?

-People are gullible to denominational advertisements.

-People have forgotten to seek the authors' original intent, as the Beareans did in Acts 17:11, and instead insert their personal meaning.

-It's very difficult for people to sift out the influences of history from scriptures. (e.g. in the scriptures, Mary Magdelene is never accused of sexual sin - that's a historical lie added in the 5th century).

-Laziness

-Relationships and personal experiences often carry more weight to people than Jesus's words.

-A bunch of psychological processes described in the book, "Made to Stick".

-And many more reasons.

If the bible is divinely inspired and god meant exactly what he meant, then why is it that man has to interpret what god meant?

-Other than context, interpretation is the wrong way to go, 2 Peter 1:20. The approach of seeking the author's original intent yields more accurate answers.

I loved Asimov until I read your quote. Don't love him as much now.

 

[Me Myself]

they could both be wrong

He is asking why.

Basically he is asking if you are saying "does anyone who doesn`t agree with what you believe is the correct interpretation of the bible, secretly knows you are right, but pretends s/he doesn`t because your interpretation of the bible is like"DUH!?"? "

 

[Pegg]

He is asking why.

Basically he is asking if you are saying "does anyone who doesn`t agree with what you believe is the correct interpretation of the bible, secretly knows you are right, but pretends s/he doesn`t because your interpretation of the bible is like"DUH!?"? "

can you put that in english

 

[InfidelRiot]

can you put that in english

He is basically stating that you seem to be over complicating your interpretations as though they are automatically understood by the layman.

 

[Me Myself]

can you put that in english

What part you didn`t understand?

does anyone who doesn`t agree with what you believe is the correct interpretation of the bible secretly does agree with you, but pretends s/he doesn`?

According to you that is?

 

[Pegg]

What part you didn`t understand?

does anyone who doesn`t agree with what you believe is the correct interpretation of the bible secretly does agree with you, but pretends s/he doesn`?

According to you that is?

???? what?

 

[Pegg]

He is basically stating that you seem to be over complicating your interpretations as though they are automatically understood by the layman.

i dont think i made any interpretations???

 

[Me Myself]

???? what?

Seriously??? the bible is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more complicated than that for billions of reasons.

If you can`t even get that then arguing that the bible is obvious as long as you want to understand it is ridiculous o.o

 

[Thief]

yet in another thread you said


how odd.

I would say to that....quoting out of context...is trolling
and in the same breath you make retort and fail to be say how such things are odd.

How...so much like you.

 

[jasonwill2]

If biblical scripture means what it means, why is man divided on its interpretation?

If the bible is divinely inspired and god meant exactly what he meant, then why is it that man has to interpret what god meant?

Strawman say that only The Bible being divinely inspired is reliable as if it was written as anything else but by God via verbally and literally speaking as a voice to men, their corrupt minds would corrupt the proccess.

However:

Humans are flawed, therefore even if the words on paper are 100% right, no human can correctly interpret them, EVER.

Using strawman arguments against itself is fun.