Mark's Blog

About Interpretation

I just finished reading DLS’ writing (Aug 24 post) about understanding the Bible and was fascinated with what he pointed out…I think he makes some crucial points that are very tempting for humans to forget. I was recently thinking about the “KJV-only” debate and interested to realize that since the last time I’ve given much serious thought to the argument, I have developed strong feelings about the utterly humanistic focus the entire argument betrays. Man REALLY wants to have everything rock-solid-tangible so he can trust himself, instead of the HS to interpret HIS Word to us.

Following are some of the para’s that I really liked (credits to DLS—Thnx!!):

“Translation problems

What can we say about translation problems?

If only we could dispense with translation and rely on the Greek itself! However, we cannot all do that. Even the modern Greek person has to rely somewhat on translation. How do we get around the fact that men translate differently? Are we at the mercy of men here, or does God help us? If He helps us, is it by influencing certain groups of men to translate correctly, or is He working in the lives of all translators? or is this more extensive — Could it be that if the translation is wrong in a certain place that He protects those who rely on Him to lead them?

I believe the last is the most important.

If it is true that He promised to lead His sons through His spirit, then the translators are either being led by His Spirit or they are not. If they are being led by His Spirit, they will essentially translate correctly as long as they have the correct text. In the same way, the user of that translation can relax in the Spirit. If the translation seems to have problems, then that brother will be aware that the Spirit isn’t leading him with that particular passage. He can put it aside until he learns why. Perhaps it is a problem with his own world view. Perhaps he is living in sin and letting the flesh lead at that point. Perhaps the interpretation that he has learned is not correct, or perhaps the translation is not what it should be.

In any event, there will be less freedom of the Spirit in that passage until the underlying problem is solved.

In my own life this has been shown to be true over and over again. I now read several translations as well as delve back into the Greek the best that I can.”

And the Conclusion:

“Conclusion

Jesus was not kidding when He said that His sheep hear His voice. Nor was He engaged in hyperbole when He asserted that the Spirit would lead us to all Truth — not only Jesus Himself, who is the Truth, but the truth about Jesus. I have to live by faith in what Christ said. I know that many will say that the New Testament is what Jesus meant by “all truth”, but doesn’t that involve a contradiction? Unless I’m God, how do I understand the Scripture without the Holy Spirit? If the Scripture is all we need, then we need no relationship with God. God is OUT THERE and we can’t even exist because a God “out there” cannot be Love, Life and Light. Rather, God cherishes any relationship He has with us.”