16) Prescription vs Description
Not everything written in
the Bible are prescriptions! There are merely descriptive and other are prescriptive
passages! The terrifying stories of the Old Testament are typically
descriptive. The Bible doesn't expect us to follow them like killing, rape,
idol worship, child sacrifices, fornication, etc. The prescriptive passages are
the one we should follow such as Jesus' commanding to make disciples, loving
our neighborhood, the 10 commandments, etc. One must study thoroughly to
differentiate two kinds in the passages.
17) Use of literary devices
The Bible doesn't always speak
to us in straightforward language. Many times figurative languages are used to
communicate greater and deeper spiritual truths. There are metaphors, similes,
exaggeration, hyperbole and many others. We must look up for those literary
ways to understand the message.
When Jesus said cut off your eyes if it prompts us to sin;
it is better for the one with one eyes less to enter in heaven instead of going
to hell with both eyes. Now, Jesus simply doesn't mean to do that! Otherwise we
wouldn't be left over (pun) but what Jesus was trying to say is seriousness of
our sin! It is called hyperbole!
18) One passage but varieties of interpretations!
And that's
okay as long as they don't touch salvific line! There are so many passages in
the Bible that has more than one ways of understanding. What we should know is
that, the Bible is clear only on salvation associated contents and not on
everything (Deut. 29:29). There are rooms for freedom and choices of
interpretations that doesn't negotiate with the Gospel and our salvation. But,
one must learn to respect one another and have friendly discussion to get more
closer towards obvious interpretation.
Some examples could be whether or not creation days were
literal or figurative, but everyone agreeing on God as creator and humanity
being made in his own image. The debates of spiritual gifts, woman pastoring,
free will and predestination, modes of baptism, etc. are other issues that
needs more discussion but none of these are associated to our salvation!
19) Don't read in-between lines
One shouldn't try to read
something that isn't there in the text. We should remember that where scripture
is silence, we should be. This goes beyond the point we discussed above
elsewhere regarding assumption. Assumption is an extrapolation which relies on
supporting passages throughout the scripture. Here, we aren't just making
assumptions but we are really adding something into the text.
One example could be reading gaps between creation days
which is technically known as Intermediate day-age theory of Genesis 1. Christian
scholar and philosopher William Craig insists that it is reading in-between
lines.
20) Avoid cherry-picking!
Now, this is disastrous! This
sprouts from our own personal ideologies, favoritism and positions that
encourages us to pick up certain verses. This is mostly done in preaching areas
by false preachers like in prosperity gospel and word of faith. This might also
be well-known by 'Proof-text' and used basically in favour of denominational
stands. For example, those who heavily oppose women as pastoring, often uses
women must be silence verse. Other churches may use tongues shall cease verse
from 1 Cor. 13 to speak against modern tongues used in Pentecostal and
Charismatic area. This is bad theology and worst way of interpreting the Bible!
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