Interpreting Scripture

St. Augustine famously said, “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.”

The most important principle of interpretation that Martin Luther used was “Scripture interprets Scripture.” The tools for properly interpreting the Bible are contained in the Bible itself.

Luther wrote, “The Bible is the manger in which Christ is laid.”

Accurate interpretation depends on a relationship with the Triune God. Jesus Christ is called the Word of God. Jesus claimed that all Scripture is a testimony to Himself in Luke 24:44. He helps me when I ask His help to understand difficult verses. He unlocks Scripture. He reveals God the Father’s intended meaning of the Scripture via His Spirit of Truth – the Holy Spirit. I use Enduring Word Commentary by David Guzik. I listen to Christ-centered and Biblically based preachers such as Adrian Rodgers (Love Worth Finding) and David Jeremiah (Turning Point).

Prayer and Bible study go hand in hand. Our receptors of information need to be guided by the Spirit of Truth. The Sadducees were steeped in knowledge of the Old Testament, yet Jesus told them in Matthew 22:29, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.” They had God standing in front of them in the person of Jesus Christ, yet they would not accept His interpretation of the Bible.

We need the Author’s help. We need His interpretation.

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person.” [1]

The prophets mentioned above, and Jesus Christ spoke God’s Word at His direction. The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets and anointed Jesus. So, we need the Holy Spirit to help us interpret the Word of God. We cannot solely lean on academic reasoning or what other reputable people have said about it.

“We have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” [2]

We know the Holy Spirit spoke via the prophets because they accurately described many details about the coming Messiah. Example of this are found in: Psalm 22:16-18, Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1; 53:1-12, Daniel 7:13-14; Hosea 11:1, Micah 5:2, and Zechariah 9:9; 11:12-13. These ten passages are ten examples of 351 prophecies that describe the first coming of Christ.

God is still speaking today through His Word by His Holy Spirit. The question is, are we listening? Are we praying about what He has said? Are we asking Him to help us interpret His Word? Are we sharing what we learn with others?

[1] Hebrews 1:1-3
[2] 2 Peter 1:19-21