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Is The Bible Open To Interpretation?

Overitall said:
Yep. But I believe it interprets itself if the "keys" to its interpretation is adhered to.
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It's generally pretty clear to it's meaning. Lot's of examples and stories of what it means. You don't have to believe in it but a wise man sure does.
 
Integrityrespec said:
It's generally pretty clear to it's meaning. Lot's of examples and stories of what it means. You don't have to believe in it but a wise man sure does.
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It depends. One of the ways by which it can become "unclear" or misinterpreted is by way of punctuation. A simple comma, can change the meaning very easily.
 
Dragonfly said:
Is the Bible open to interpretation?
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The Bible is a recitation of the Word of God as revealed through people that experienced that Word. Unlike works that are considered to be the direct word of god, the Bible MUST be interpreted and it is that interpretation that leads to understanding of the Word.
 
Dragonfly said:
What “keys” might you be alluding to?
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Four basic ones.
1. Right in the verse when it's meaning is clear.
2. The verse and/or verses must be understood in its/their context
3. The word(s) must be understood according to its previous usage or in the way by which they were understood when written.
4. To whom the passages, or books were addressed to. Not everything is addressed to everyone. They are addressed to the Jews, Gentiles, or Church of God. If you read something that isn't addressed to you then the interpretation will be wrong.

This is just the basics but without adhering to them an interpretation is opened to misinterpretation.
 
Integrityrespec said:
It's generally pretty clear to it's meaning. Lot's of examples and stories of what it means. You don't have to believe in it but a wise man sure does.
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Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness – Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are there ‘degrees’ of abomination?

Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
 
Dragonfly said:
Is the Bible open to interpretation?
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The Bible contains superstitions and wisdoms from a distant and brutal era with commonly false conceptions of causation.

Interpretation and annotation is necessary to make many passages somewhat sensical.
 
Crakhobarbie said:
I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
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LOL w/ the list,...

truth be told, the first thing that came to mind was a movie scene where the two main characters where "on a mission from god"



so have to ask,... (in "blues brothers voice")

low mileage, showroom new smell?

excuse me now, have to go to confession,.... for I have sinned
 
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Dragonfly said:
Is the Bible open to interpretation?
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Since the Bible was written in ancient Hebrew and Koine Greek, and since word for word translation doesn’t work due to cultural differences and some uncertainty with the original grammar and word usage, interpretation is necessary even for scholars of ancient Hebrew and New Testament Greek.
 
There are but 2 things that can help us to understand the Bible correctly....1st, we need to consider the context/surrounding verses of any statement...2nd, we need to compare texts with other statements in the Bible that deal with the same subject...only in that way can we let God’s own Word guide our thinking, and the interpretation is not ours but His...
 
Elvira said:
There are but 2 things that can help us to understand the Bible correctly....1st, we need to consider the context/surrounding verses of any statement...2nd, we need to compare texts with other statements in the Bible that deal with the same subject...only in that way can we let God’s own Word guide our thinking, and the interpretation is not ours but His...
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Other religions -- that are not yours -- would probably disagree.
 
Elvira said:
There are but 2 things that can help us to understand the Bible correctly....1st, we need to consider the context/surrounding verses of any statement...2nd, we need to compare texts with other statements in the Bible that deal with the same subject...only in that way can we let God’s own Word guide our thinking, and the interpretation is not ours but His...
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How can you interpret things with someone else's mind?
 
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