Private interpretation

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.^[1] 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. ^[2] How many times are we warned that we can be deceived^[3] and being self deceived is one of the most common. Of our own self we can do nothing.^[4]
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^[5], our personal prejudices^[6], 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 prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 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."

The phrase "private interpretation"^[7] is from two words idios translated private^[8] and epilusis translated interpretation^[9].

The term idios does have to do with private^[8] 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^[10] of God.

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

We should also include the word prophecy too. The term prophecy, prophesying in the Greek is prophēteía (from 4396 prophḗtēs)^[11] 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 theologian or priests 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^[9] is from the word epiluo^[9] 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^[12] is exclusive to the Bible. While we may call the Bible "scripture"^[13] 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^[14] 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?^[15]

If you need help:

Or want to help others:

Footnotes

↑ 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?"
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑
3806 πάθος pathos [path’-os] from the alternate of 3958; n n; TDNT-5:926,798; [{See TDNT 606 }] AV-inordinate affection 1, affection 1, lust 1; 3
1) whatever befalls one, whether it be sad or joyous
1a) spec. a calamity, mishap, evil, affliction

2) a feeling which the mind suffers
2a) an affliction of the mind, emotion, passion

2b) passionate deed

2c) used by the Greeks in either a good or bad sense

2d) in the NT in a bad sense, depraved passion, vile passions

For Synonyms see entry 5845 & 5906
- See logos
↑ 1485 ἔθος ethos [eth’-os] from 1486 etho; n n; TDNT-2:372,202; [{See TDNT 212 }] AV-custom 7, manner 4, be wont 1; 12
1) custom

2) usage prescribed by law, institute, prescription, rite
See Logos, pathos, and ethos
↑ Interpretation of Scriptures
2 Peter 1:20 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation<1955>. 21 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."

2 Timothy 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

Acts 1:16 "Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus."

John 14:26 "But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

John 15:26 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"

John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

John 16:7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1
2398 ~ἴδιος~ idios \@id’-ee-os\@ of uncertain affinity; ; adj AV-his own 48, their own 13, privately 8, apart 7, your own 6, his 5, own 5, not tr 1, misc 20; 113
1) pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self
- see 521 apaideutos, 62 agrammatos, and 2399 idiotes from 2398 idios, [1]
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 1955 ἐπίλυσις epilusis [ep-il’-oo-sis] from 1956 to expound; n f; TDNT-4:337,543; [{See TDNT 456 }] AV-interpretation 1; 1
1) a loosening, unloosing

2) metaph. interpretation Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "interpretation" defined multiple times with different content
↑
3056 ~λόγος~ logos \@log’-os\@ from 3004; n m AV-word 218, saying 50, account 8, speech 8, Word (Christ) 7, thing 5, not tr 2, misc 32; 330
1) of speech
1a) a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea

2) its use as respect to the MIND alone

3) In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.
- 4487 ρημα rhema can mean word or saying.
↑ 4396 ~προφήτης~ prophetes \@prof-ay’-tace\@ from a compound of 4253 and 5346; n m AV-prophet 149; 149
1) in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things

2) one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation
2a) the OT prophets, having foretold the kingdom, deeds and death, of Jesus the Messiah.

2b) of John the Baptist, the herald of Jesus the Messiah

2c) of the illustrious prophet, the Jews expected before the advent of the Messiah

2d) the Messiah

2e) of men filled with the Spirit of God, who by God’s authority and command in words of weight pleads the cause of God and urges salvation of men

2f) of prophets that appeared in the apostolic age among Christians
2f1) they are associated with the apostles

2f2) they discerned and did what is best for the Christian cause, foretelling certain future events. (#Acts 11:27)

2f3) in the religious assemblies of the Christians, they were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak, having power to instruct, comfort, encourage, rebuke, convict, and stimulate, their hearers

3) a poet (because poets were believed to sing under divine inspiration)
3a) of Epimenides (#Tit 1:12)
↑ 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:"
↑ 1124 γραφή graphe [graf-ay’] of uncertain affinity; n f; TDNT-1:749,128; [{See TDNT 164 }] AV-scripture 51; 51
1) a writing, thing written

2) the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents

3) a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture
↑ 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.
↑ 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 worshipper 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.

About the author

Brother Gregory
White Rock

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[1] 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?"

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

[4] 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.

[pathos-5] 3806 πάθος pathos [path’-os] from the alternate of 3958; n n; TDNT-5:926,798; [{See TDNT 606 }] AV-inordinate affection 1, affection 1, lust 1; 3
1) whatever befalls one, whether it be sad or joyous
1a) spec. a calamity, mishap, evil, affliction

2) a feeling which the mind suffers
2a) an affliction of the mind, emotion, passion

2b) passionate deed

2c) used by the Greeks in either a good or bad sense

2d) in the NT in a bad sense, depraved passion, vile passions

For Synonyms see entry 5845 & 5906

See logos

[6] See logos

[ethos-6] 1485 ἔθος ethos [eth’-os] from 1486 etho; n n; TDNT-2:372,202; [{See TDNT 212 }] AV-custom 7, manner 4, be wont 1; 12
1) custom

2) usage prescribed by law, institute, prescription, rite
See Logos, pathos, and ethos

[scriptint-7] Interpretation of Scriptures
2 Peter 1:20 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation<1955>. 21 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."

2 Timothy 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

Acts 1:16 "Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus."

John 14:26 "But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

John 15:26 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"

John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

John 16:7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

[private-8] 8.0 ^8.1 2398 ~ἴδιος~ idios \@id’-ee-os\@ of uncertain affinity; ; adj AV-his own 48, their own 13, privately 8, apart 7, your own 6, his 5, own 5, not tr 1, misc 20; 113
1) pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self

see 521 apaideutos, 62 agrammatos, and 2399 idiotes from 2398 idios, [1]

[10] see 521 apaideutos, 62 agrammatos, and 2399 idiotes from 2398 idios, [1]

[interpretation-9] 9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 1955 ἐπίλυσις epilusis [ep-il’-oo-sis] from 1956 to expound; n f; TDNT-4:337,543; [{See TDNT 456 }] AV-interpretation 1; 1
1) a loosening, unloosing

2) metaph. interpretation Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "interpretation" defined multiple times with different content

[logos-10] 3056 ~λόγος~ logos \@log’-os\@ from 3004; n m AV-word 218, saying 50, account 8, speech 8, Word (Christ) 7, thing 5, not tr 2, misc 32; 330
1) of speech
1a) a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea

2) its use as respect to the MIND alone

3) In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.

4487 ρημα rhema can mean word or saying.

[13] 4487 ρημα rhema can mean word or saying.

[prophecy-11] 4396 ~προφήτης~ prophetes \@prof-ay’-tace\@ from a compound of 4253 and 5346; n m AV-prophet 149; 149
1) in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things

2) one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation
2a) the OT prophets, having foretold the kingdom, deeds and death, of Jesus the Messiah.

2b) of John the Baptist, the herald of Jesus the Messiah

2c) of the illustrious prophet, the Jews expected before the advent of the Messiah

2d) the Messiah

2e) of men filled with the Spirit of God, who by God’s authority and command in words of weight pleads the cause of God and urges salvation of men

2f) of prophets that appeared in the apostolic age among Christians
2f1) they are associated with the apostles

2f2) they discerned and did what is best for the Christian cause, foretelling certain future events. (#Acts 11:27)

2f3) in the religious assemblies of the Christians, they were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak, having power to instruct, comfort, encourage, rebuke, convict, and stimulate, their hearers

3) a poet (because poets were believed to sing under divine inspiration)
3a) of Epimenides (#Tit 1:12)

[12] 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:"

[scripture-13] 1124 γραφή graphe [graf-ay’] of uncertain affinity; n f; TDNT-1:749,128; [{See TDNT 164 }] AV-scripture 51; 51
1) a writing, thing written

2) the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents

3) a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture

[14] 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.

[15] 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 worshipper 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.

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Private interpretation

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