Some Things.. Hard To Be Understood..

[Webb]

The church IS the bride of Christ now (Eph.5 and Rev. 22). Christ has only one bride.

 

[Eventide]

The church IS the bride of Christ now (Eph.5 and Rev. 22). Christ has only one bride.

That's incorrect..

Are you a preterist and believe that Rev 19 has already taken place..? imo that is nonsensical. Christ is still building His church right now.. and when it is completed He will present it to Himself as a glorious church without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.

As SCC sings.. We are not home Yet..

AND.. Rev 19 tells us that the marriage of the Lamb takes place in Heaven.. and that aligns perfectly with the account in Gen 24.. Rebekah was taken into Isaac's Mothers' tent.. and she became his wife.

 

[Former Christian]

Webb

“I understand you saying that the Bible is of a "supernatural source" (which I believe) and thus it is explained to you by a "supernatural source". If so, how is this done?â€

The same way we believed in the first place. From God through Jesus Christ through the Spirit of God to our human spirit to the human mind and into our experience. Interpretation of the Bible changes the meaning of the Bible. Interpretation of what we receive through the process I described changes the meaning of that received. Either way, the result of the interpretation is out of our own mind. It’s not “Biblicalâ€, nor is it the teaching of Jesus Christ through the Spirit.

FC

 

[childeye]

Webb

“I understand you saying that the Bible is of a "supernatural source" (which I believe) and thus it is explained to you by a "supernatural source". If so, how is this done?â€

The same way we believed in the first place. From God through Jesus Christ through the Spirit of God to our human spirit to the human mind and into our experience. Interpretation of the Bible changes the meaning of the Bible. Interpretation of what we receive through the process I described changes the meaning of that received. Either way, the result of the interpretation is out of our own mind. It’s not “Biblicalâ€, nor is it the teaching of Jesus Christ through the Spirit.

FC

Great point FC, however sometimes it's hard to tell when we're interpreting or God is revealing. To have any predispositions that are not godly is no way to build on Truth.

 

[Former Christian]

Childeye

I'm happy to agree.

FC

 

[Webb]

Eventide

Perhaps we have a misiunderstanding of words. I stated "the church is the bride of Christ" which is true.

The church on earth is not the wife but the bride of Christ. She is the betrothed of Christ and the obligation is to keep herself pure, as taught in II Cor.11:2. The presentation of the church to Christ takes place when He returnes to take her to her heavenly home. Espousal to marry makes the church the bride, Christ is the bridegroom, the bride is one day to become the wife. Keeping herself pure, she now waits the wonderful day when the bridegroom returns for her, Matt.9:15. Edersheim in his book "Jesus the Messiah" vol.I begining with pg. 354 has good material on the ancient custom.

In addition to the passages of my last post we might add the case of Joseph and Mary in Matt.1:18-25 and most especially Jesus' parable in Matt.22:1-14.

 

[Webb]

FC

Do you ever get caught up in the same snare of "interpretation" you believe others do? I mean, presently?

 

[Former Christian]

Webb

“Do you ever get caught up in the same snare of "interpretation" you believe others do? I mean, presently?â€

It happens. But now I know when it happens, where I didn’t before, when I was just as much a practitioner of Biblical interpretation as everyone else.

Before one is in Christ, one sins. There is no knowledge of the nature of sin. There is only the knowledge of the rules of one’s culture. But after one is in Christ, there is the knowing of the nature of sin through a knowing of the Law. And one begins to understand the danger of sin. And we know when it happens. And ones tries to not sin as much as possible. But sometimes we sin anyway. But as we are conformed to the image of Christ, it happens less and less. And understanding the danger of sin, the effects of its practice, is a great deterrent.

Knowing the nature of interpretation is like knowing the nature of sin. And the practice of interpretation happens less and less the more one listens to the teaching of Christ. As Christ listened to his Father, so also we listen to his Son. And understanding the danger of interpretation, the effects of its practice, is a great deterrent.

FC

 

[Eventide]

Eventide

Perhaps we have a misiunderstanding of words. I stated "the church is the bride of Christ" which is true.

I thought you were saying that the marriage had already taken place.

 

[smaller]

Webb

“Do you ever get caught up in the same snare of "interpretation" you believe others do? I mean, presently?â€

It happens. But now I know when it happens, where I didn’t before, when I was just as much a practitioner of Biblical interpretation as everyone else.

Before one is in Christ, one sins. There is no knowledge of the nature of sin. There is only the knowledge of the rules of one’s culture. But after one is in Christ, there is the knowing of the nature of sin through a knowing of the Law. And one begins to understand the danger of sin. And we know when it happens. And ones tries to not sin as much as possible. But sometimes we sin anyway. But as we are conformed to the image of Christ, it happens less and less. And understanding the danger of sin, the effects of its practice, is a great deterrent.

Knowing the nature of interpretation is like knowing the nature of sin. And the practice of interpretation happens less and less the more one listens to the teaching of Christ. As Christ listened to his Father, so also we listen to his Son. And understanding the danger of interpretation, the effects of its practice, is a great deterrent.

FC

A very nice piece there FC!

s

 

[Free]

As an opposer of the practice of Biblical interpretation, it’s the Bible interpreter that comes across as the one who thinks he’s special, in his own ability to interpret the Bible. How much better than everyone else can one get?

It's quite the opposite. People such as yourself, who say all we need to do is read it and believe it, set themselves up against much scholarship and study that has been passed down through 2000 years of Christian history. It smacks of spiritual superiority where your connection and relationship to God is much better than everyone else, therefore your understanding is right and everyone else is wrong. It also presumes that no one else is sincerely praying and believing in the guidance of the Holy Spirit while trying to come to an understanding of what Scripture says.

By definition the word interpret just refers to an action of the mind alone.

Does it? You assume it does but I do not think that is the case, particularly when it comes to interpreting the Bible.

I oppose the action when it comes to the Bible. The Bible to me isn’t like all the books that only have their source in men. The interpretation of the Bible is a practical denial of the supernatural. Of the Bible as a book that has a supernatural source. As a way to understand the Bible. It’s a denial of the authority, even of the presence, of the only person authorized as the head and Lord of the Body of Christ to interpret the Bible, Jesus Christ. In their practice of Biblical interpretation, Bible interpreters become Lords in their own right.

Not at all. You are presuming too much here. We interpret Scripture to come to an understanding of it, hopefully a correct one. There is absolutely no basis for your statements that "The interpretation of the Bible is a practical denial of the supernatural" and " It’s a denial of the authority, even of the presence, of the only person authorized as the head and Lord of the Body of Christ to interpret the Bible, Jesus Christ." No basis whatsoever.

Just seems like common sense to me that if the Bible is really a book with a supernatural source, it would take a supernatural source to interpret it, or it would be written in such a way that anyone could read it and understand it. Either way, to interpret the Bible would be unwarranted. An interpretation would be tantamount to adding to the Bible, or replacing the real thoughts of the Bible with the thoughts of the interpreter.

Again, not only are you are presuming far too much, but this is approaching Gnosticism, as in fact your whole post does. I’m not saying you are or aren’t, just that your method for understanding the Bible, together with what appears to be a negative view of the use of the mind, is definitely close to Gnosticism.

We must be very careful here to lay out some facts, lest we deny the use of the mind and become Gnostic or something else, or deny the inspiration of the God and make the Bible and it’s message meaningless. God did not use automatic writing through the writers of the Bible. He used their knowledge, their experiences, their talents and abilities, and their minds. To what extent they were aware of this we cannot know. Nor can we know to what extent that God wrote this but man wrote that.

1 Cor 7:10-12, 10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. (ESV)

It is a mystery. Just as the with the Incarnation we cannot say how it is that Jesus spoke as both man and God, we cannot know how the writers wrote as both mere men, that is with their minds, and as men inspired by the Holy Spirit so that their words are rightly considered authoritative as being the very words of God.

It would seem as though at least some writers, such as Paul, were aware that in some way they were speaking for God, but again, this does not negate the use of their minds in writing. In the same way, we are never instructed to not use our minds in understanding. Quite the opposite actually.

Matt 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." (ESV)

Matt 22:37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (ESV)

Acts 17:2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, (ESV)

Acts 17:10-11, 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (ESV)

Acts 26:24-25, 24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind." 25 But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. (ESV)

Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Rom 14:5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. (ESV)

1 Cor 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (ESV)

There is much more Scripture that can be given but this is enough to show that the Bible gives us a high view of the mind and its use in understanding things of God. There is even room for disagreement on some things (e.g. Rom 14:5).

What we never see in Scripture is to stop using the mind in understanding the things of Scripture.

That may seem like arrogant foolishness to you, but it makes perfect sense to me. Especially having once been a practitioner of the practice of Biblical interpretation. I had to be taught what apparently you believe as a matter of fact. It certainly wasn’t my thinking when I converted to Christ. If I started out believing that whatever I was reading in the Bible was just a personal interpretation, I would have never been converted. As it was, I questioned the practice from when I first learned it. Didn’t seem very representative of the supernatural to me. Now I know it hasn’t one thing to do with the supernatural. Only with man’s desire to know on his own.

I believe I have clearly shown the error of such statements. You are, without basis whatsoever, driving a wedge between using “the supernatural” and using God given rational abilities in understanding the things of God, for which there is much biblical support.

You have set up a false dichotomy: either it’s man’s mind or it’s of God. The clear answer in Scripture is that it is both. Our understanding of Scripture, our interpretation of it, is to be based on a humble mind using its rational faculties while relying on, and trusting in, the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It’s never one or the other.

The practice of Biblical interpretation requires an authoritative Bible interpreter in order to avoid anarchy in interpretations.

What is your support for such an assumption? The Bible clearly shows that all believers are to study the Bible. “An” authoritative Bible interpreter is just as likely to be wrong as many. And just what is it that makes one “an authoritative Bible interpreter”?

I recognize the legitimacy of Bible interpretation and of a an authoritative Bible interpreter. But not for anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The practice of Biblical interpretation by the “anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ” is the source of the esoteric doctrines of each Christian denomination. A part of the denominational thinking of Christianity. And in my opinion, the Catholic Church is the quintessential practitioner of Biblical interpretation. Any self-proclaimed practitioner of the art could learn a lot from them. But the art is a part of what makes Christianity a man-made religion.

If I thought the Bible was just another collection of religious writings of men, I would then agree with you. That the Bible can only be compiled, translated, and understood through the practice of interpretation. But by select authoritative interpreters. Just like the Catholic Church has claimed against the Protestants for centuries. Of Course, I would also be an Atheist.

Fortunately, in my opinion, you have yet to give a cogent reason to believe in the validity of Biblical interpretation, by anyone other than Jesus Christ. You’ve only made the statement that everyone who reads the Bible also interprets the Bible. It’s a blanket statement that means nothing. It not only would have to apply to all people, it would have to apply to the whole Bible, ergo my question to you as to whether I was converted under false pretenses. You said some parts of the Bible can be understood by a child. An evasive answer at best.

I have every reason to believe in the supernatural nature of understanding the Bible. It has been my experience from the beginning. If you want to believe that I interpret the bible, then to you it’s part of my interpretive understanding of the Bible. You’re going to have to be very persuasive in your arguments in favor of the practice of Biblical interpretation in order to convince me that it’s a legitimate practice for anyone other than Jesus Christ.

Perhaps, but you have provided no persuasive argument that only Jesus can interpret the Bible whereas I have provided much Scripture. And indeed you will not be able to do so as that idea is nowhere to be found in Scripture and even denies God having given teachers to the church.

It is important to note that in all that you have said, you are implicitly denying that man is made in God’s image, at least that everything about man is made in God’s image. God is a rational being who has communicated and revealed himself to us through rational discourse, correct? It follows then that being made in God’s image we are also rational beings, capable of understanding his communication with us.

I can agree that anyone who reads the Bible with their mind alone apart from any connection to the supernatural will automatically interpret the Bible, as if it’s a non-supernatural book, as if it’s a collection of writings by men, according to their own past experiences. It’s a common practice in religion courses in educational institutions all over the world. They haven’t the open mindedness required to understand the Bible in any other way. So they understand the Bible as if it were equal to the writings of all the other religions of the world. But don’t you think that we, the ones who consider ourselves to be in Christ, don’t you think we’re supposed to be more than that?

Regardless of whether one reads the Bible with their mind alone or they believe they are being lead by the Holy Spirit, they will always automatically interpret the Bible. That is completely unavoidable. It’s what their interpretation is that will change. And, no, this does nothing to the authority or inspiration of Scripture.

And yet, despite having mentioned it several times, you have not dealt with my argument that everyone who has come in to these forums and said something along the lines of “all we have to do is read the Bible and believe it,” or “just let Jesus or the Holy Spirit tell you,” have all differed in their beliefs from each other at certain points and from what is considered orthodox Christian belief. In other words, such beliefs about how to understand the Bible clearly don’t work and can lead one into serious error.

 

[glorydaz]

Free

Great post. I've enjoyed this entire thread, but your reply to FC above deserved a big AMEN.

 

[smaller]

And yet, despite having mentioned it several times, you have not dealt with my argument that everyone who has come in to these forums and said something along the lines of “all we have to do is read the Bible and believe it,†or “just let Jesus or the Holy Spirit tell you,†have all differed in their beliefs from each other at certain points and from what is considered orthodox Christian belief. In other words, such beliefs about how to understand the Bible clearly don’t work and can lead one into serious error.

The difficulty with your expression above Free is that orthodoxy has come to unity in consensus. That may be true, but only in what I would term 'very very broad categories.'

Within each of those broad categories however orthodoxy itself remains largely split and segmented to more degrees than I care to recount. How many various 'authoritarian' views exist in the space? Vast numbers of same.

It is precisely that division that drives people away from these divisions. If none of them can coagulate on even the simplest of matters they speak for themselves. Eventually those divisions get down to ridiculousness. The axiom 'how many angels can dance on the head of a pin' comes to mind.

In the end it is up to each reader to reflect their own conclusions. Many many will come to similar but not exactly identical conclusions. And again these are broadly scoped and will and do quickly deteriorate in the myriad of comparative details.

The Book itself has a built in end game superiority. Try to take one position, and the text itself creates an almost opposite view. Law/works vs. Grace comes to mind here.

We are admonished by the text itself to individually seek.

Romans 14:5
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Obviously those various individual 'persuasions' have moved in vastly different directions even within orthodoxy. The two main and original branches of 'orthodoxy' are still fighting (for centuries now) over 3 or 4 words of the fililoque.

To many others such pursuits remain a total and complete waste of time.

s

 

[Gazelle]

I think something "hard to understand" can be how God, in his omniscience (knowing everything past, present and future) can elect those He wishes, enforce free will and endow humans with it, and also "change course" because of faithful believers praying... and how none of that is contradictory. :yes

 

[glorydaz]

I think something "hard to understand" can be how God, in his omniscience (knowing everything past, present and future) can elect those He wishes, enforce free will and endow humans with it, and also "change course" because of faithful believers praying... and how none of that is contradictory. :yes

LOL You're so right. No wonder we have such a hunger to understand such a Great God.

 

[Webb]

I think the thread had to do with the writings of the apostle Paul!

 

[Eventide]

Shifting gears again...

Election really cannot be missed in the scriptures… although it may be a thing ‘hard to be understood’… and certainly a topic which a babe in Christ might have difficulty with.

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me. He IS the only WAY, the only TRUTH, and the only LIFE.. there is no choice there.. none whatsoever.

AND so HE, being the only one who is the way, the truth, and the life.. tells you exactly how you can save your life.. and it’s by LOSING IT.. for HIM and the GOSPEL..

If that’s not God electing Christ.. and Christ alone.. then what is.. ?

Who sits on the throne of our life.. is it me and Christ, or is it Christ ?

Can a man serve two masters ?

There is no greater life than that of the Lord Jesus Christ.. and that is God’s precious gift to you.. and although it is a free gift (there is nothing anyone can do to earn it), there is a tremendous cost involved in reaping it.. YOUR LIFE..

And let’s face it.. not many of us are good at laying down our life so that He can live through us and give us the ultimate and perfect life of His Son.. although that is what He desires for all men. . to see His beloved Son grow up in you and I... AND He doesn’t force that upon anyone… a man can grieve His Spirit within their earthen vessel.. or worse, quench it... that’s not forceful at all.. you and I can put out that flame.. but He will not... a smoldering flax He will not quench.

Sometimes I think that the LORD has made us this way so that we can experience in a limited way what He went through for us.. the ONE who knew no sin, did no sin, and had no sin in Him… made to be sin for us… bearing our sins in His own body on that tree.. and that’s what a Christian life experiences.. the perfect and glorious Spirit of Christ within them which can only do good, along with the condemned old man of the flesh in whom there is nothing good. We can see both sides of the fence so to speak..

It’s the ultimate exchange.. and yet many walk away from it because of the cost.. and that’s where the rubber of belief meets the proverbial road... for if we truly believe that He alone is good, and that I will save my life by losing it for Him... and that there is an inheritance beyond measure in Him, even eternal life... then we’ll follow Him wherever He leads us.

AND of course the obvious question comes up concerning people in the scriptures being ‘called the elect’… although it is less often considered as to WHY there are persons who are referred to as the elect in scripture.. and that too might be a thing hard to be understood… and I believe the answer is simple..

WHOSOEVER is IN CHRIST IS the elect of God, not because they are, but rather because HE IS… think about it.. the church IS the BODY OF CHRIST.. it’s HIS BODY, not yours, not mine.. it’s HIS.. HIS flesh and bone..

AND finally imo, not only is the church of God in Christ.. and therefore the elect… but ISRAEL will also ultimately be IN CHRIST as a NATION… that DAY shall come as travail upon a woman with child.. and the elect of Israel (those in Christ) will also be gathered together into one… even in HIM...

Another interesting topic... Things which shall be hereafter...

 

[glorydaz]

WHOSOEVER is IN CHRIST IS the elect of God, not because they are, but rather because HE IS… think about it.. the church IS the BODY OF CHRIST.. it’s HIS BODY, not yours, not mine.. it’s HIS.. HIS flesh and bone..

Amen. "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Col. 3:3)

 

[Eventide]

Amen. "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Col. 3:3)

Amen glorydaz, not many can honestly admit this.

 

[Former Christian]

Free

“It is a mystery. Just as the with the Incarnation we cannot say how it is that Jesus spoke as both man and God, we cannot know how the writers wrote as both mere men, that is with their minds, and as men inspired by the Holy Spirit so that their words are rightly considered authoritative as being the very words of God.â€


2 Timothy 3:
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV)

2 Peter 3:
19 ¶ And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
(ESV)

Hebrews 1:
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (ESV)

They didn’t think it so mysterious.


Matthew 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." (ESV)

The Greek word used is phroneo, which means to think. It is a using of the mind, but not in the sense of interpretation. Jesus accused Peter of thinking about things the same way a natural man would think about them, rather than thinking about things the way God would think about them. Peter spoke out of concern, but it was in opposition to what Jesus knew he must do. Jesus’ strong statement was to a strong willed man. According to Peter’s letters, the point got through.

This same Greek word is used in,

Romans 8:
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
(ESV)

And in,

Colossians 3:
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
(ESV)

These verses, rather than telling us to use our mind to interpret the Bible, point our minds in the direction of the source of the Bible.


Matt 22:37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul andwith all your mind. (ESV)

We are to love God with our whole mind, not half on one thing and the half on another. It’s referring to single mindedness, not interpretation.


Acts 17:2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, (ESV)

Doesn’t say he interpreted the Bible for them. Paul wasn’t trying to prove a point of view. He was trying to show them what is true. He was showing from the Scriptures one thing as was his habit. Jesus Christ as seen in the Old Testament.


Acts 17:10-11, 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
(ESV)

They were looking into the Old Testament to see if Paul’s New Testament teaching was true. Nothing about interpreting the Bible here.


Acts 26:24-25, 24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind." 25 But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. (ESV)

Unless you think I’m accusing you of being insane, this is irrelevant to interpretation. Paul doesn’t refer to his interpretations. He refers to true and rational words. And rational here doesn’t refer to Paul’s interpretation. It is rational vs. out of your mind.


Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(ESV)

The teaching of Christ is for that very purpose. The practice of interpretation doesn’t renew the mind. It leaves it right where it is since the interpretation is out of the mind to begin with.


Romans 14:5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
(ESV)

This has nothing to do with being convinced by an interpretation. It has to do with unity. We are both convinced about what we believe about interpretation. But it shouldn’t affect our unity as brothers in Christ.


1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
(ESV)

Now this has everything to do with interpretation. Further on Paul talks about how they were following their interpretations of what individuals were teaching. Some even dividing over their interpretations of what Jesus said and were following him by way of division also. Paul pointed out that Jesus and the Apostles were all saying the same thing and so should we. They were following interpretations of the teachings of individuals who were actually united in their thinking.

Christianity today has taken interpretive division to its ultimate conclusion. Not just a division within a local church, but the divisions of separate and distinct denominations. And not just today. It has been openly a part of Christianity since the fourth century. Christianity expresses neither Jesus Christ nor Paul. It doesn’t express the God who created the religion of the Jews in the Old Testament era, wherein the center of unity was in a particular city, Jerusalem; and in a particular Law ritually expressed by the Tabernacle ritual. Christianity expresses only itself, as perpetuated by human interpreters.


1 Cor 7:10-12, 10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. (ESV)

Paul knew the difference between the teaching he received from Jesus Christ and what he thought with his mind. Paul wasn’t promoting a personal interpretation.

This is the context of Paul’s encouragement,

25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Paul wasn’t interpreting the Old Testament. He was merely giving them the benefit of his personal experience and it was binding on no one. He felt it to be the best course of action for the moment considering the present situation. Which at the time was no doubt some form of persecution (the present distress).



“There is much more Scripture that can be given but this is enough to show that the Bible gives us a high view of the mind and its use in understanding things of God. There is even room for disagreement on some things (e.g. Rom 14:5).
What we never see in Scripture is to stop using the mind in understanding the things of Scripture.â€

Proverbs 3:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
(ESV)

I don’t believe in the interpretation of these verses that claims we are to lean on our own interpretations, even as mitigated by 2000 years of Christian interpretations. Nor that so long as we acknowledge God, we can then think that our interpretations will make straight our paths.

FC