Interpreting the Bible is an in-depth subject that can’t adequately be covered in a brief article, so here I will just remind us of a few principles to remember so that we can make the most of our Bible studies. First, consider the original audience. Though the Bible was written for us, it was not written to us. Therefore, not everything will apply to us directly. For example, we are not required to build an ark like Noah, build a tabernacle like Moses or to have the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit like the first century church did. We still need to read those parts of the Bible and apply the principles found where possible (i.e., obedience, faith, service, etc.).
Second, consider the timing. Some things were permitted or commanded under the Old Covenant that are not permitted or commanded under the New Covenant. For instance, the Old Testament commanded certain feast days to be kept and foods from which to abstain, while the New Testament gives no command for feast days or abstinence from food (except blood, Acts 15:29). Also remember that the accounts in the Gospel records took place under the Old Covenant; this is why the thief on the cross is not a valid argument against baptism, as some think, since neither had the church been established yet (Acts 2:47) nor had the Great Commission baptism been implemented yet (Mark 16:16).
Third, consider the unity. The Bible was written by men as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21), God-breathing the message into them (2 Timothy 3:16). This means that the Bible is not going to contradict itself. Therefore, if one finds two verses that seem to contradict each another, that person missed something in one or both passages that led to an incorrect conclusion.
[Editor’s Note: Right thinking and objective analysis of Scripture contributes to a proper understanding of God’s communication to humanity, as well as its appropriate application to people today. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
