By what authority do we interpret scripture?

It seems to me your whole post is a result of your philosophical assumptions. Your statements above are shaped by assumptions, so why should we accept what you say as true or valid?

You are just saying that if we don't have your assumptions then we are wrong.


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How difficult is it to understand 1 Corinthians 2:1-16? Any one of these that you identify,

who is resorting to his / her own interpretation is interpreting from the mind, the intellect, the flesh, not the spirit. At the moment of salvation a spirit of righteousness is imparted to every Believer. THAT is where we go for proper interpretation of scripture, not to the scholar, the pastor, the Calvinist or the Arminian. The Pope operates on purely mental, fleshly constructs, not spiritual. That's why he and Roman Catholicism are so far out in left field. There's a long list of persons out there espousing "Christian doctrine" who apparently have never read the reference in Corinthians. We even have debates about doctrine! How can anyone debate Christianity? One can only do it by resorting to the flesh rather than the spirit. My righteousness is as filthy rags ~ it is only as the spirit imparted to me communicates with God through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit that I clearly interpret, understand, and apply my faith.

 

Logic? You make my point perfectly. Logic is a function of brain, not spiritual discernment. And if there was spiritual discernment throughout the church, yes, we would be in total agreement, which is precisely what we are called to be in! If there is not total agreement, then some of our number are operating in the flesh. It would be impossible for the two pastors you cited to disagree or be in error if they were spiritually discerning what they read and learn.

 

You mean like a schism between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox?

What schism are you talking about? Schism is a pretty strong word. Please give an example.

 

This is one of the typical questions by Roman Catholics who worship idols, goddess, following various paganism, with Papacy.
This coincides with the question by the Serpent:

Genesis 3:1
Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

( Did God say so indeed? or Was it indeed the Word of God?)

If anyone is truly born again, then there is not so much doubt about what is the Word of God, what is not.

Read the Bible !

1 John 2:
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.


Was Apostle John wrong ?

Roman Catholic may say that they have to get the interpretation from Mr Joseph Ratzinger ( current Pope), but he apologized to Muslims even though they claim Papal Infallibility. Do we have to listen to Mr Joseph Ratzinger who respect Muslims so that we may respect Muslims ?


What if the born again believers interpret the Bible differently or in contradiction each other?
That's why Bible says this:

Proverb 27:17
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Do you understand the meaning of this ? Do we have to ask Mr. Joseph Ratzinger ?

This is why Hebrews say this:

Hebrews 10:25
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Finally there will be continuously disagreements among the born-again believers about the interpretation of Bible, but this doesn't mean that the interpretation should rely on any specific person, or any specific organization with authority, or any specific group of people.
The truly born again believers, either men or women, either old or young, they have their own authority to interpret the Bible. If they disagree each other, they have to gather together and study diligently as Bereans did ( Acts 17:11). Until the Lord comes, there will be no way for the world to have any uniform interpretation as Roman Catholic tried to get during the medieval times.
The authority to interpret the Bible was the way how the whorish Roman Catholic persecuted the true believers by Inquisitions.

Trinity is very clear if one read Bible:
1 John 5:7
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

1 Tim 3:16
God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory

 

Problem is there is no plain and simple meaning of scripture except maybe Peter's statement, "I'm going fishing." Or maybe Paul's statement that all residents of the Island of Crete are liars and lazy slugs.

 

Most Baptists and other denominations are not in communion with the Church of Christ because 1) the Church of Christ requires baptism in their church to be saved; 2) the Church of Christ itself does not wish to fellowship with any church but the Church of Christ

Jesus warned of false teachers; Paul warned of wolves arising within the church, leading many astray. The Bible does tell us to divide over doctrine - we cannot fellowship with those who deny the essentials. So yes, heresy is a justification for not fellowshiping with someone.

I don't know of any wide "schism" within Christian ranks. I only divide over the essentials. This is true for my church, the churches where I speak, my seminary, my mission agency, other mission agencies I know of, etc. We may disagree on secondary issues but we don't divide over them. Some Chrisitans do, I realize that, but that does not mean non-Catholic churches as a whole are in schism.

I asked for an example and you didn't give one except for the Church of Christ, which itself has separated from other churches. Please give an example of a wide schism within Protestant/non-Catholic churches. Keep in mind that disagreement is not schism. Schism is not fellowshiping in Christ.

 

Actually there is, if you have trained and studied the customs and cultures of the Jews of Christ's time. The greatest example is the world "Sleep" that SDAs get all wrong because they have not the knowledge of why certain words were used and what context the words were used. That is one of the reasons one has to fall back as well onto history and/or the writings of the Early Church Fathers.

 

That is one of the reasons one has to fall back as well onto history and/or the writings of the Early Church Fathers.[/QUOTE]

The true early church fathers were the apostles including Paul. They had the authority to teach correct doctrine. When it comes to interpreting scripture, if we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13) and use a few basic rules of study, we will have the correct interpretation of scripture. People however, are not perfect and sometimes bring their own "baggage" (personal experiences) so to speak into the study process which can lead to a misinterpretation. Also, one doesn't have to be an expert in the Greek language or lean on the interpretation of a "church father" to understand that Paul meant dead not sleeping. Let scripture interpret scripture instead of taking verses out of context.

 

Thanks, Amy. I think Angus_Dei is frustrated with Christianity and looking for justification to become a Roman Catholic. Shudder.

 

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
--Only the Bible is inspired; it alone. This is why it is our sole authority in all matters of faith and doctrine. It is God's revelation to mankind. Man's opinion means nothing in the light of God's Word.
Therefore:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
--The onus is on every person to study the word of God. As carpenters that do shoddy work would be ashamed of their work and would not be able to sell it, so it is that people who do not study God's Word, do not know what it says, pull Scripture out of context, and thus are not able to convince true believers of the truth.
"Rightly dividing the Word of truth" is an expression that carries on with illustration of a carpenter, when after he has cut out all the parts or rather has all the parts (different piesces of wood, the nails and screws, the plaster and/or paint, all of the finishing touches including the small intricate parts, then he is able to put it all together into one piece like a puzzle and come out with a sold good product that he will not be ashamed of. He rightlly divides (cuts up the wood) so that he may rightly put it together. It involves searching the Word so that you can put it all together.

2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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.
--The inspired Word of God came to us not by man. It came to from God by the Holy Spirit who guided God's men what to say. It is God's Word. They spoke and wrote what God wanted them to say. They were instruments in the hand of God.
The Word of God is of no private interpretation. The Catholics take this verse out of context and misinterpret. The very fact that the Bible commands us to study the Word of God for ourselves infers that we are going to come to our own conclusions and will differ at some points. We will have our own interpretations of some things. No two men agree 100% on everything. That is just an impossiblity knowing the nature of man. We are fallible and imperfect with a sin nature.
But the Catholic Church has their own private interpretation. They claim that their interpretation is right to the exclution of all others. The give permission to the adherents of the RCC to read the Bible but not to interpret it. Only the priest has the power to interpret the Bible, and that according to the magesterium. Theirs is a private interpretation. Every cult has their own private interpretation.
The J.W.'s according to the publications of the Watchtower.
The Mormons according to Joseph Smith and the book of Mormon as well as their other so-called sacred writings.
The SDA' according to the writings of Ellen G. White.
and so on.

The Bible is our final authority in all matters of faith and doctrine. It is an inspired book. It came to us from God Himself through the Holy men of God as they were directed by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
--The beleiver has been given the Holy Spirit of God that he may be able to understand the Bible, the things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
--The natural man, that is the unsaved man, is unable to understand the Word of God on his own.

That is why:
Acts 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
--The Ethiopian could not understand the Scriptures that he was reading unless some saved person could guide or show him what they meant.

Therfore:
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

There is a warning given in the OT, that is applicable to us today:

Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
--If we do not speak according to the Word of God, but contrary to it, it is because we are not saved. There is no light in us. Our doctrine must agree with the Word of God. The Word of God is our final authority. It does not contradict itself. That is why it so important to compare Scripture with Scripture. For the Bible interprets itself.
DHK

 

The early church fathers have some good things to say and study, but their words are not our authority, God's word is.

 

Thanks Marcia. God's word is THE authority! :thumbsup: