Sam thought his teacher was a bit over the top with her interpretations of poetry. She could launch into a detailed explanation of why there are “five sibilant sounds in this phrase.” This would cause Sam to think, Don’t be ridiculous! The poet just used words with the letter S! Try writing a poem without that sound.
So Sam decided to conduct a test. When the teacher asked the students to choose a poem to critique, Sam wrote his own poem. Then he put a pen name to it to disguise his authorship and provided a critique. He got an A minus. The teacher marked him down slightly because “you missed some of the author’s intent.” This well-meaning teacher obviously read something into the poem that the author didn’t intend.
This story reminds me of the care we should take to respect the intentions and trustworthiness of Scripture. “We were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” wrote Peter the apostle (2 Peter 1:16). Then he said, “No prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative” (2 Peter 1:20-21), reminding us to take Scripture’s testimony about Jesus seriously.
Peter’s colleague Paul added, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
As you read the Bible, first let it say what it says and no more, prayerfully asking God to reveal its truth to you. Then listen for the Holy Spirit’s leading in applying it to your life moment by moment.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 6:41-71
More:
What does Hebrews 1:1-4 tell us about the way God has spoken to us in the past and how He speaks to us now?
Next:
Do you ever find yourself tempted to put meanings into Scripture that aren’t there? How can you take steps to hear the content of Scripture on its own terms?
Gary Shultz on July 19, 2017 at 4:08 am
Hi Tim: If I could, I would like to clear up one detail. I looked at the author list yesterday, to re-look at a bio and discovered your name was no longer on the ODJ list of authors. Man, it was like I lost a friend, Ol’ STBP left the building. Well, glad to see you’re here, but could you tell us if you are vacating ODJ?…..Okay, on to today’s questions. It is not only with some ease, but as you say tempting to embellish a lesson or conversation with what Sam and his teacher did. I like Sam already (sorry Regina) sometimes we need to take God’s word at face value. That does not mean there is not fathomless richness and application, and probably as you, I am a big believer that scripture balances scripture. I’m glad we have many “Word” students that come here it brings that richness that is of the value we seek. Meditation is such a great thing in the life of a believer, so I find the “Word” exciting enough with God’s Spirit to guide. There is way more than enough to work with, without bending the intent of what God had to say. As in Peter’s writings, he warns about those who misrepresent the “Word” of God, and cautions us of their twisted intent. Thanks Tim, and please don’t be running off.
tim gustafson on July 19, 2017 at 10:16 am
Gary, Square Tim Blue Pants is still here! Must be a glitch. At the very least, they accepted my posts for this month. 🙂 Although I am stuck in meetings all morning and very limited in my responses here. Okay, let me reword that. I have the opportunity to serve in another capacity this morning, and that has challenged my ability to interact with you. LOL.
Yep, we certainly have a need for deep study of the Scriptures, but we can trust the Bible for what it says in plain language too. There is a need for both. But beware of somebody’s “hidden meaning” or secret code. God has shared His Word with all of us.
jjw2855 on July 19, 2017 at 8:55 am
Hi Tim,
Yes in the past God spoke to us through the prophets and then He sent His only begotten son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to earth to speak to us. Now God speaks to us through the word of God, and the Holy Spirit of God our comforter and advocate, who Jesus promised is with us to help us discern the word of God.
As for putting meanings into Scripture that aren’t there, the word of God warns us in Revelation 22: 18 – 21, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Be blessed. ☺
tim gustafson on July 19, 2017 at 10:17 am
That is such a dire warning, jjw. We simply can’t detract from or add to God’s message to us. Thanks for sharing today.
godlove on July 19, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Tim, I think the temptation to add (or bend) meaning to passages of Scripture comes when we want to make it say what we would like to hear… a bit like wanting to fit Scripture to us, rather than us trying to fit to the Word of God. May the Spirit help us to hear the truth in Scripture just as it is and also help us to apply it in the fullest, including the difficult parts.
minkjh on July 19, 2017 at 12:36 pm
Thanks for this timely post, Tim. Many, many years ago a trusted biblical expositor gave me some sound advice- the best authority on the Bible is… the Bible. I know no other source that’ s inspired, inerrant, and infallible. Biblical interpretation for many has followed the path of truth in today’s theological climate. Both have become subjective, yet we know that both interpretation and truth must be objective and not contradictory (think relativism). While scripture may indeed have a multiplicity of applications, there can be only one correct meaning of any text. When we go the route of personal interpretation, we are responsible to make sure it is correct…and true. Exegesis yes, eisegesis no!