Question 41 – Why do people interpret the Bible in so many different ways?

One of the fundamental objections to the Bible pertains to its "flexibility" and the potential for adaptation to individual interpretations. This indeed is a serious objection and one for which I do not have an unequivocal answer. It is a matter that often troubles me. If an unequivocal answer existed, there wouldn't be numerous genuine followers of the Lord Jesus (that is, true Christians) scattered across so many diverse Christian churches (denominations). On the other hand, this objection is not entirely justified. If certain principles of biblical interpretation are applied, many so-called "interpretations" become mere distortions of the text, ripped from their context, or show disrespect for culture, history, specific events, etc.

I believe that the problem of different interpretations lies not so much in the book itself but in the approach to it.

For instance, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches do not regard the Bible as the sole authority in matters of faith. They have a variety of teachings, regulations, and insights they encapsulate under the term "church tradition." Some liberal Protestants do not view the Bible as a literal (meaning universally binding) divine revelation, leading them to interpret any text as it suits them. Lastly, there are Protestants, or their evangelical branches, who place great emphasis only on the Bible (as the sole main authority in matters of faith). Not to mention the various sects that claim to have discovered something new and fundamental that no one has seen in the Bible for centuries.

See? For instance, Protestants and Catholics cannot agree on certain controversial matters of faith stemming from tradition simply because they cannot be found in the Bible, or they actually contradict biblical texts. Often, the question is not so much about interpretation as it is about whether the Bible is an authority in and of itself or if other sources need to be added. In other instances, a liberal might not see eye to eye with Catholics or evangelicals because they reinterpret miracles clearly and undeniably described by the Bible—simply because they believe "miracles don't happen," so they seek other explanations.

Then there are researchers who are atheists and who find the approach of "Christian" liberals quite similar to their own. You might have seen some "scientific" documentaries where scientists attempt to explain, for example, the miracles of Jesus, offering a multitude of interpretations and explanations. How futile that all these explanations convey everything possible except what the text itself intends to convey. If, for example, the Gospels describe Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, then He simply raised him. This is the correct interpretation. When skeptics and liberals later propose hypotheses about a hypnotized crowd, conspiracies, or that Lazarus was never dead, these may be alternative readings but are utterly disconnected from the fundamental message of the text. The text clearly states—Lazarus died, and Jesus raised him. If we accept the Bible as divine revelation and authority, in many instances, we will encounter no problems with interpretation. Thus, this objection against the Bible significantly weakens, as a great number of alternative interpretations stem from disbelief in what the Bible truly says.

But what if we accept the Bible as divine revelation and the basis for the only norm in matters of faith? Do different interpretations still exist within this approach to the Bible? Yes, they do, and often lead to divisions evident from the existence of various (sometimes very distinctive) Christian churches. The reasons why these different interpretations exist will be discussed in the question "Why are there so many churches?" Here, suffice it to say that Christians are not saintly in terms of perfection and still grapple with pride and, at times, misunderstanding. At other times, emphasis is placed on non-essential doctrines or practical priorities are favored that, by themselves, aren't very important. I do not intend to suggest that the Bible is incomprehensible! As previously mentioned, it is like a pool—shallow enough on one side for a child to stand in, yet deep enough on the other side for a well-educated scholar to swim in. The basic message and truth are apparent, undeniable, and agreed upon by all true Christian churches.

Literally or figuratively?

In addition, the following question must be considered—should the Bible be interpreted literally or figuratively? When Christians hear the question, "Do you believe the Bible literally?," it often sounds more like, "Have you stopped beating your wife?" Yes, the Bible contains many genres, including metaphors, poetry, or symbolic language, which are typically easy to identify or explained elsewhere in the Bible, not to mention that even symbolic language communicates literal truth. Thus, I believe we should interpret the Bible literally. God chose to convey something to us and delivered it in the manner He intended. It is, of course, necessary to respect other principles of interpretation while taking it literally, such as considering the cultural and historical context of the time, the context of the particular message, the overall message of the Bible, or the grammatical composition of sentences.

Nevertheless, let's read the text primarily as the author has delivered it to us. So when we encounter Jesus' statements like, "I am the door" or "I am the light," let's not develop new theology and start worshiping doors or light bulbs; rather, let us let the parable speak and grasp that through Jesus, we may enter into Gods kingdom as one enters through a door, and recognize Jesus as the light in our lives that shines into the darkness of our fears, doubts, and questions. Elsewhere when we are advised to gouge out an eye that causes us to sin rather than to fall into temptation, this emphasis illustrates the necessity to cut ties with our sinful behavior. The source of sin isn't in the eye or limbs, but within our "heart."

Summation

The issue of interpreting the Bible in different ways is largely due to its non-acceptance as the authoritative divine Word. If Christians earnestly took the Bible at face value, then various teachings and interpretations might vanish immediately.God, however, grants free will even in our approach to His revelation. If we consider the Bible seriously, its foundational message is fairly evident. In other cases, we need the assistance of the Holy Spirit, prayer, and diligent study of what the Bible wants to convey to us.