View source for Private interpretation


[[File:minduniverseeyeevil.jpg|300px|right|thumb|When we read anything including what we see as ''scripture'' we bring with us all sorts of emotions and knowledge and preconceived notions about the meaning of words, history, and context that allows us to interpret what we are reading based upon our private and personal previously obtained understanding and learned knowledge. But "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation". We are told in [[1 Thessalonians 5]]:21  "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." The Bible warns of false teachers and deceivers and a [[strong delusion]] so the idea of self-examination has always been important and should be.<Ref>2 Corinthians 13:5  "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"</Ref> Anyone who thinks they only use the Bible are fooling themselves. The process of being conformed to the world begins long before you even begin to read scripture. <Ref>Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.</Ref> How many times are we warned that we can be deceived<Ref>Matthew 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
: Matthew 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
: Mark 13:6  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and shall deceive many.
: Luke 1:1  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
: Luke 21:8  And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.</Ref> and being self deceived is one of the most common. Of our own self we can do nothing.<Ref>John 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.</Ref><Br>[[Jesus]] the [[Christ]] offered a completely different view of the [[world]] and it resonated with many in their spirit who were willing to [[repent]] and [[seek]] the [[Kingdom of God]] and His [[righteousness]]. ]]

== Private interpretation ==

Because Scripture, as the [[Word of God]] and is the product of revelation by the [[Holy Spirit]], at least by its own claim, it can only be interpreted by that same [[Holy Spirit]] of God and is not subject to what has been called [[private interpretation]] any more than the [[Natural Law]] can be altered by the opinions, legislation, or clever words of men.

When we read anything including what we see as ''scripture'' today we bring with us our pavlovian responses learned by the stimulation of emotions<Ref name="pathos">{{3806}}</Ref>, our personal prejudices<Ref name="ethos">{{1485}}</Ref>, all our learned and accepted knowledge, and of course our assumptions concerning the meaning of words which may or may not conform to the meaning intended by the original authors at the time they wrote those ancient text. 

The finite nature of words and language may only allow us to interpret what we are reading based upon our private and personal, present, or previously obtained ''understanding'' and ''believed'' personal and acquired knowledge from a myriad of sources outside of the text itself which we are reading. In fact by our nature our personal opinion is product of the [[tree of knowledge]]. 

Our preconceived notions about the meaning of words, history in general, the text itself, and the context of the whole scripture, and surrounding doctrines take their toll upon our private interpretation and understanding. There can be no single source interpretation of the original message without a [[Holy Spirit]] from a ''God Hypothesis'' providing a singularity of [[truth]]. 

The meaning of words are not the same today as they were back in the 1600s. They have actually changed from the 1900s to the present day. Knowing or not knowing those changes can quickly lead to a misinterpretation. 

: [[Genesis 40]]:8  "And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and ['''there is'''] no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, [''Do''] not interpretations [''belong''] to God? tell me [''them''], I pray you."



Then there was the original languages at the time the text was written and the efforts of translators as well as their own prejudices and bias. 

None of this takes away from the Bible or the inspiration of the authors. It does bring into question your personal intellectual ability to interpret their precise meaning. Even if you were highly educated in all the nuances, metaphors, and idioms of language can you or anyone be trusted to interpret the meaning of the authors as if you have a right to use the scripture to impose your personal deduction, assumptions, and interpretation about the meaning of the text?

== No prophecy of the scripture ==

: [[2 Peter 1]]:20  "Knowing this first, that '''no [[Prophets|prophecy]] of the scripture is of any [[private interpretation]]'''.  21 For the [[Prophets|prophecy]] came not in old time by [[Doctrines of men|the will of man]]: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the [[Holy Ghost]]."

The phrase "[[private interpretation]]"<Ref name="scriptint">{{scriptint}}</Ref>  is from two words ''[[Idiotes|idios]]'' translated ''private''<Ref name="private ">{{2398}}</Ref> and ''epilusis'' translated ''interpretation''.<Ref name="interpretation">{{1955}}</Ref>

The term ''idios'' does have to do with ''private''<Ref name="private ">{{2398}}</Ref> in the sense of being your own personal interpretation, or personal ''[[ideology]]''. If you are dependent upon your own intellect alone to interpret scripture then you are not dependent upon the inspiration of the [[Holy Spirit]], [[logos]]<Ref name="logos">{{3056}}</Ref> of God.  

This distinction goes back to the [[Tree of life]] and the [[Tree of knowledge]] where we decide for ourselves what is [[good and evil|good or what was evil]].

We should also include the word [[prophets|prophecy]] too. The term ''prophecy, prophesying'' in the Greek is prophēteía (from [[4396]] prophḗtēs)<Ref name="prophecy">{{4396}}</Ref> and is said to mean "the gift of communicating and enforcing revealed truth." 

This certainly is not suggesting that that scripture can only be interpreted by a [[theology|theologian]] or [[priest]]s because ministers of Christ are not to [[exercise authority]] one over the other. Again it is the [[Holy Spirit]] that is our [[comforter]] and only inspired source of a true ''interpretation''. Anything else would be the [[Doctrines of men]].

The term ''epilusis''<Ref name="interpretation">{{1955}}</Ref>  is from the word ''epiluo''<Ref name="interpretation">{{1956}}</Ref>   that can have the meaning as a metaphor ''to expound, determine or interpret'' something but literally means to ''loosen'' or ''untie'' something.

Also we should note that the phrase "All scripture" found in [[2 Timothy 3]]:16<Ref> 2 Timothy 3:16  "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"</Ref> is exclusive to the [[Bible]]. While we may call the [[Bible]] "scripture"<Ref name="scripture">{{1124}} </Ref> the Greek text of [[Timothy]] simply uses the term ''graphe'' meaning any ''thing written''.
 
So, the [[Bible]] by itself should not be considered an authority unto itself because anyone can read it and apply their private interpretation to it, as at least 39,999,999 "[[denominations]]" do every day.  To correctly interpret the [[Bible]] or ''all scripture'' everyone, every individual, must be inspired by the [[Holy Spirit]] to truly understand its meaning.

== Fables and facts ==

What [[Fables]] might Peter be talking about when he says in  [[2 Peter 1]]:16<Ref>2 Peter 1:16 ¶  For we have not followed cunningly devised [[fables]], when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.</Ref> we be devising them through our [[private interpretation]]?

And what facts may over come these manufactured fables of our own imagination?

Again is not the  [[Tree of knowledge]] which should be our source, but the [[Tree of life]], which would include the [[Holy Spirit]]. But how do we know we are listening to the Holy Spirit and not some spirit born of our imagination or someone else's?

We may humbly ask are we [[doers of the word]]?<Ref>James 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
: Matthew 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
: Luke 6:47  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
: John 5:20  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
: John 9:31  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a [[worship]]per of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
: John 16:2  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
: 1 Corinthians 7:37  Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
: 1 John 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
: 3 John 1:10  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth [them] out of the church.</Ref>





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