Bible Talk > Bible Study
Divine Inspiration
Fat:
2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
I have read some bible commentators that say these verses prove that the interpretation of Scriptures is to be left up to the church leaders. I emphatically disagree with that.
Your views?
calluna:
--- Quote from: Fat on May 07, 2011, 05:37:03 pm ---2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
I have read some bible commentators that say these verses prove that the interpretation of Scriptures is to be left up to the church leaders.
--- End quote ---
Any commentator or leader who says that needs to study more. Having reminded his readers of the miraculous witnesses to him personally of Jesus' baptism and transfiguration, Peter wrote that these events confirmed all Bible prophecy of Jesus:
'So then, we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation- because prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.' 2 Pe 1:19-2:1
So, if anything, Peter is saying that Scripture, like a light shining in a dark place, needs no interpretation- it just needs taking seriously.
Fat:
--- Quote from: calluna on August 27, 2011, 05:17:07 am ---Any commentator or leader who says that needs to study more. Having reminded his readers of the miraculous witnesses to him personally of Jesus' baptism and transfiguration, Peter wrote that these events confirmed all Bible prophecy of Jesus:
'So then, we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation- because prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.' 2 Pe 1:19-2:1
So, if anything, Peter is saying that Scripture, like a light shining in a dark place, needs no interpretation- it just needs taking seriously.
--- End quote ---
Hello Calluna,
As man was moved by the Holy Spirit to write the Scripture so man needs the Holy Spirit to interpret the Scripture. It is the reason that we pray before we read the word asking for the Lords guidance in It's meaning.
Some will never understand the Gospel and are not meant to understand it, this is why Christ spoke in parables.
Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables ?" 11 Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 "For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance ; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 "Therefore I speak to them in parables ; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND ; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE ; 15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.' 16 "But blessed are your eyes, because they see ; and your ears, because they hear. 17 "For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
But Calluna, the real problem I have here is the growing number of christian cults that teach that only the leadership can tell the meaning of the Word. In the group I would put Catholic, JW, and LDS which are not small denominations. I see this as a way for them to gather power to themselves and control over their followers.
But reading your response where you say that the Scriptures "needs no interpretation- it just needs taking seriously," I wonder if you believe that a non-believer could set down and read the Bible come to faith and salvation without the help of the Spirit?
calluna:
--- Quote from: Fat on August 27, 2011, 01:20:33 pm ---But Calluna, the real problem I have here is the growing number of christian cults that teach that only the leadership can tell the meaning of the Word. In the group I would put Catholic, JW, and LDS which are not small denominations. I see this as a way for them to gather power to themselves and control over their followers.
--- End quote ---
Hello Fat, I agree- one can usefully say that one of the signs of a cult is its tendency to arrogate interpretation to its leadership. Particularly if they misuse this passage of Peter's so erroneously.
--- Quote ---But reading your response where you say that the Scriptures "needs no interpretation- it just needs taking seriously," I wonder if you believe that a non-believer could set down and read the Bible come to faith and salvation without the help of the Spirit?
--- End quote ---
But the Spirit works through the Bible. He wrote it! He speaks through it to those who reject Christ. People have indeed read the Bible and come to faith and salvation through doing only that. Indeed, ultimately, every convert since the Reformation has come to faith by that means.
But Peter was of course writing to fellow believers.
Fat:
--- Quote from: calluna ---
But the Spirit works through the Bible. He wrote it! He speaks through it to those who reject Christ. People have indeed read the Bible and come to faith and salvation through doing only that. Indeed, ultimately, every convert since the Reformation has come to faith by that means.
But Peter was of course writing to fellow believers.
--- End quote ---
Calluna,
I have to disagree with you on this one point. Understanding of the Scriptures is only for those who are called by God and taught by God. Christ did not mean for His words to be understood by everyone.
John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. ...... 65 And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father."
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version