It is true that there is wide spectrum of opinions when it comes to
interpreting the
Bible. Different opinions are not unique to biblical
studies – scholars disagree about how to interpret
Plato or
Hume – but
the disagreement is often far more pronounced amongst
biblical scholars.
One reason for this is that people have a lot invested in the results
of biblical scholarship.
If the Bible is the
Word of God, and contains
ethical and spiritual instruction, then understanding the message is
very important. So no wonder people sometimes disagree. If there are
certain things I need to do or believe to be saved then that is a big
deal and I will want to make sure I have understood those things
correctly.
There is always a danger that we try and interpret the Bible to suit
our own beliefs rather than letting it speak for itself. For example, if
I believe that Christians need to keep the
Sabbath I will put a lot of
emphasis on those passages which talk about the importance of the
Sabbath, and maybe play down those passages which say that the Law no
longer applies.
The other danger is that we bring our own
presuppositions to
interpreting the Bible. For example, if I believe that miracles our
impossible (perhaps because I am a materialist or because I think that
God does not intervene directly in the world) then I am unlikely to
interpret the miracle-stories in the Bible literally. I might choose to
interpret them
allegorically or regard them as simply false. But that is
not what the Bible is saying, that is simply my interpretation of the
Bible. Scholars often disagree about the interpretation of the Bible
because their presuppositions disagree.
A good
bible scholar should reveal his presuppositions and be
consistent. He or she cannot simply pick and choose, saying that bit is
literal and that bit is allegorical. First he or she should decide how
to tell the difference between what is allegorical and literal, and then
apply that principle to interpreting the bible.
In summary, bible scholars disagree because they have a vested
interest in certain interpretations being true and because they approach
the bible with different presuppositions. This is the position that we
all find ourselves in. The best we can do is be honest with ourselves
and ask why do I believe such-and-such, and is that actually what the
Bible is saying?
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Rob J Hyndman