Who has the right to interpert

Brother, in light of the 'Right of Private Judgement', which was a major article with the reformers, and which I believe in wholeheartedly, this scripture does seem to pose a problem. I don't know how to answer your question.

 

All who are in Christ do...

What are you suggesting? That your "interpretation" stipulates that other people cannot because theirs is "private?" :smilewinkgrin:

 

I believe what is meant here by private interpretation is that scripture shouldn't be interpreted apart from the rest of scripture. It has nothing to do with an individual person and them not being able or allowed to interpret it.

 

20this first knowing, that no prophecy of the Writing doth come of private exposition,

21for not by will of man did ever prophecy come, but by the Holy Spirit borne on holy men of God spake.


found this online;

 

This passage has always been puzzling to me. It seems susceptible to two interpretations:

1. The matter of private interpretation refers to the prophet who wrote it. That is to say that the prophet's writing was inspired by God, not as a matter of his own private interpretation.

2. This verse is an admonition to the reader that he should not rely on his own private interpretation. This second take on the passage is the Catholic position, that interpretation of scripture is a matter for the Magisterium.

So it boils down to whose private interpretation is it talking about, the writer's or the reader's? I don't think it is what Steven2006 says, that scripture should be read in view of other scripture. That is a very good and correct principle but these verses do not address that matter.

 

here are two more;

 

I think if we go further, it is explained.

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Scripture is not man's words, but God's.




2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; to which you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:


I think the "sure word of prophecy" is referring to the witness of the apostles to the coming of the Messiah who fulfilled the OT prophecies. Christ was that "sure word", proving the validity and truth of the OT prophecies.

 

"Sure word of prophecy". IMHO, I believe that means that we can trust that we have the actual word of God. (remember is is God breathed). It is the light in a dark place.

I do agree that "until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" is about Jesus return.


Basically, we can trust it entirely as the word of God. Because of that we know ("Knowing this first") that we shouldn't interpret scripture apart (private interpretation) from the rest of scripture. (shouldn't create a doctrine from one verse) and we can trust in it because it is from God not from man (vs 21).

 

Excellent answer!

 

Well, I see where you are coming from OUB.

Private interpretation cannot mean private study here is being refuted, as other Scriptures do tell us to meditate on the Word &c, and as the preceding verse does tell us to take heed to the Word, pay attention to it, in this we do well &c.

In the passage at hand we are told this interpreting, basically is not an island unto itself, not interpreted by man, not to be authoritative only in one mans interpretation. Thus, it is not a private interpretation. Also note prophecies is a plurality, i.e., not limited to one man, but many. Why and what about private interpretations?

The next verse tells us the source itself is God. The Holy Spirit gave us this. He is its Author. He moved the men to write these prophecies, thus they themselves did not interpret them each time, by themselves, neither were they full aware, by themselves of what they wrote, nor was one man the end all of all prophecies. Thus, those recording the Words of God at times had no idea what exactly they were penning as to all of it's meaning. These then are not what man has said, nor are they one mans thought, there are many prophecies, see, but they all culminate into one about our Saviour, and are all harmonious, none to be taken as proof text, they all agree, thus they are not mans own private (pertaining to ones self) interpretations. It is way beyond that, and in this we see the Lord and His Word glorified. Therefore these writings are not of one persons private interpretation, these are many prophecies coming into one, all of these prophecies relating to the coming of our Messiah, versus some singular, private interpretation. And all of this came from God.

In other words, all of this was not of one man, but of many, not some private little interpretation, all these prophecies agree, yet, albeit, are hard to understand.

I do think however when we see false prophets arise, one with all the answers and all of these divine revelations, he being this sole source, then we apply this passage. No man is an island and repository of all truth.

I do think however, this verse is applied liberally, and sometimes for good, and sometimes for not so good.

 

The serious nature of interpretation (teaching) is also found in Isaiah.

27Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.
28Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches. (Isaiah 43:27-28, KJB)​

...Bob

 

2 Peter 1:20-21

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.​

private 2398 idios {id'-ee-os}
Meaning: 1) pertaining to one's self, one's own, belonging to one's self.

Prophecy did not come from the individual understanding (private - idios) of the prophet or out of his own will to speak/write but from the Holy Spirit who moved the prophet to speak/write.​

Sometimes even the prophets themselves did not have a total understanding of what they were moved to say or write.​

1 Peter 1
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.​

HankD​

 

I haven't read the whole thread but I would guess in concert with the whole christian community. In otherwords, If everyone says one thing and you're going off on a limb then you're giving over to your own "private interpretation".

 

So, if everyone told you that the signpost up ahead that said "Danger/Bridge Out" was not to warn you of danger, and OUB told you he had seen the very fact that the bridge was out, his account would not be valid?

'of no private interpretation' is not saying God is not going to reveal to an individual something different that the mass believes. It is simply saying one must interpret Scripture with Scripture.

 

The passage is most likely to mean (in context) that the Scriptures were not just the apostles own thoughts and ideas, but rather, they came from the Holy Spirit through the men who wrote them down for posterity.

This is the way it reads when puzzled out in the Greek.