Who can interpret The Bible?

Answer 1

One perspective:The Bible claims for itself to have been written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit of God.

2 Timothy 3:16, 17 -All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As such, it stands to reason that anyone who is led by the Holy Spirit of God can properly interpret it. Conversely, anyone who is NOT led by the Spirit cannot hope to understand it.

1 Corinthians 2:7-14 - But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Answer:

"Jesus Christ."

The Bible is the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the WORD of God [John 1:1].

The Bible is the compilation of the inspired Words that have "proceeded out of the Mouth of God" [Matt.4:4]. It's the spiritual equivalent of physical "bread," that imparts God's "Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding" to the hearts and minds [spirits] of those to whom God has opened it.

"Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures." (Luke 24:45)

Regarding this "Bread"; the Word of God; the BIBLE: "...Jesus said unto them, I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE..." (John 6:35).

Only Jesus can "interpret" His Words, which He received from His Father to pass on to us.

"...I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things. And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him." (John 8:28-29)

"For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me Commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak... whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak." (John 12:49-50)

From the beginning... Jesus Christ [the WORD] has uttered aloud and inspired His creation with the Words that the Father gave Him to say and do [although their relationship wasn't "Father and Son" in the beginning... not until the WORD became flesh]. And it has been recorded and preserved by God through those whom He chose, and has come down to us in these last days in what is known as the "Holy Bible."

"...This is he [Moses]... and with our fathers: who received the Lively Oracles [the Scriptures] to give unto us..." (Acts 7:38).

Jesus Christ is the Bible. the Word of God, the Bread of Life: "...Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have Eternal Life: and they are they which TESTIFY OF ME." (John 5:39)

Only Jesus can interpret the Bible. And the Bible interprets itself.

When King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed his dream [Dan.2]... Daniel was called upon to "interpret" it for him. The king had his own "interpreters," wizards, magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and who knows what other spiritual counsels to advise him on visions, dreams and the like. But, when the king required that they also tell him what the dream was, before they interpreted it, they all balked.

Except, for Daniel. But, he told the king up front that what he was about to say was decidedly NOT HIS INTERPRETATION... but that of his God:

"Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision..." (Dan.2:19).

"...Hear now My Words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord [Jesus Chirst] will make Myself known unto him IN A VISION, and I wll speak unto him IN A DREAM." (Num.12:6)

Daniel's God, Jesus Christ the WORD, revealed it to Daniel.

"Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said... there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days..." (verses 27-28).

"...this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king..." (verse 30).

"This is the dream; and WE will tell the interpretation thereof before the king." (verse 36)

Jesus Christ told Daniel... and Daniel recorded it.

Daniel didn't understand many of the prophecies he was inspiried to record.

"...Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision." (Dan.8:16)

"...thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision." (Dan.9:23)

God's Word... the Words of Jesus Christ, the Bible, can be understood by those whom God "loves" and has called to understand them. As God sees fit for them to understand... and as the time comes for them to:

"...I heard, but I understood not... And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the Words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end... NONE OF THE WICKED SHALL UNDERSTAND; but THE WISE SHALL UNDERSTAND." (Dan.12:8-10)

Jesus Christ's Words reveal to us that "the Wise" are those who "fear Him"... and "continue in His Word."

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom: and the Knowledge of the Holy [the Knowledge revealed in the Bible] is Understanding." (Prov.9:10)

"...if ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the Truth [see John 17:17], and the Truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)

The Bible was subsequently completed in the inspired and preserved words and works of Jesus' disciples and others [Isa.8:16]... which we call the "New Testament," today.

"...Neither pray I for these [disciples] alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word..." (John 17:20).

The Bible has come down to our generation... for those [God-fearing wise] whom God is calling in these last days to know and understand those "closed up and sealed Words" that escaped Daniel's understanding.

Men have attempted to "interpret" the prophecies of God's Word throughout the generations. But Jesus says:

"...Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation." (II Peter 1:20)

Yet, interpretations of the Bible abound among men as to what the last days hold for the nations of the earth.

John saw Daniel's "closed up and sealed" book [scroll] of baffling end time prophecies in the right hand of the Father in heaven, in his "vision," known today as the book of Revelation [Rev.5:1].

And everyone wanted to know who was "worthy" to: "...open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" (verse 2)

And regarding the "interpretation" thereof: "...NO MAN in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE BOOK, NEITHER TO LOOK THEREON." (verse 3)

Except for Jesus Christ.

"...the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, HATH PREVAILED to open the book [scroll], and to loose the seven seals thereof." (verse 5)

Like Daniel's "revealing" of the dream before the king before he and his God could "interpreted" it -- Jesus Christ is the only One who was found "worthy" to strip the seals away, thus "revealing" what they are, before any interpretation could be offered.

The "interpretations" of the Christ-revealed seven seals of Revelation are many and varied... have baffled men throughout these last generations... and they are still a source of much confusion among men, because they don't submit to "Jesus Christ's interpretation" of them. Which is found in "secret" places in the Bible, like Matthew 24, where Jesus talked intimately and privately with His disciples regarding the end time. Jesus spoke plainly and clearly to those whom His Father gave to Him [not in meaning-hiding parables]. Those whom He personally made to "understand the Scriptures" [Luke 24:45].

Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 are the Bible's three inspired perspectives of their "recorders" regarding the "interpretation" and understanding of Revelation's mysterious seven seals... which Daniel couldn't grasp... because he and his generation didn't need to know.

The entire Bible and the "interpretation" thereof, is the: "...Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God [the Father] gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass..." (Rev.1:1).

The key, therefore, to understanding and knowing the proper "interpretation" of the Bible... is to simply "BELIEVE WHAT JESUS SAYS."

Millions of people "believe on Jesus" -- but you would be astonished at how many of them don't "believe what He SAYS. "

Therein lies the problem of private "interpretation" of the Bible by men... as opposed to just "believing what the Bible says."

That group of Jews who "believed on Jesus," who tried to kill Him because they didn't believe a Word He said, in John 8:30-59... is a lesson to us as to the frightening difference between having the Right interpretation and the wrong one.