Step #2: Interpretation
November 30, 2021
This month, we have been on our way to becoming better students of the Word. Last week, we learned our first step in the process: Observation. If you need a refresher of how to do that well, you can read about it here. This week, we’ll talk about our next step: Interpretation. These steps should go in a sequential order, because they build on each other. If you remember, often when we read a passage, we begin asking questions like “What does this mean? Or How does this apply to me?” but we don’t want to do that right away. We get to those questions after looking and making in depth observations of what we see.
In our step of Interpretation, we do finally get to ask the question: “What does it mean?” Not “What does it mean to us?” but “What did God mean for the original audience?” The longer we spend in the Observation stage, the less time we will have to spend in Interpretation, because the meaning will become clearer the more time we spend looking and making observations. Every book has a message that God wants to reveal. And yes, I know we are not God and can’t read His mind, but I believe with the right tools, we can hopefully feel confident in what He is trying to communicate to us.
We begin trying to interpret a passage correctly by looking at the cultural context, historical barriers, literary barriers, and so on. We want to ask questions like:
What did the author intend by his words?
What did the original readers understand the author to be saying?
Our goal is to try and align our understanding as closely as possible with the understanding of the author in the passage. Those questions are easier to answer when we dig into the background.
You also want to interpret Scripture literally, where it is literal. Now if it says a person is a dog, that doesn’t mean they are a literal dog. So keep figurative language in mind when you’re reading. You want to avoid allegorical interpretation by trying to look for a hidden meaning of the text or over spiritualizing a text. One way to help understand is best described in the terms “prescriptive” and “descriptive.” When it talks about a king having 200 wives, that doesn’t mean we should have 200 wives, because it is a descriptive passage telling us about something at the time. When it talks about not committing adultery then that is prescriptive, because God is giving us a command for marriage. So when reading, you can decide if it’s prescriptive or descriptive, is it allegory or literal, etc.
A couple other things to keep in mind is that Scripture will not contradict Scripture. If you read something and think it means one thing, but in another verse it contradicts what you think, then your interpretation probably isn’t correct. You might have to go back to Step 1 and work it all again. Also, remember that Scripture has one interpretation and many applications (which we’ll learn more about next week). I know there are different denominations and people that argue about what a passage may mean, but there is truly only 1 interpretation, because God has one single meaning for it. We are just finite and may not always interpret things correctly or interpret things differently. Finally, this is also the step where we can use all those fun Bible study tools such as Commentaries, Bible Dictionaries, and a Bible Atlas to help us interpret. I do encourage you to try it on your own first and then as extra help bring out the tools.
Now let’s practice Interpretation with our Philippians 4 passage.
Read Philipians 4:10-13
“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
You should have your observational notes from last week. You can click here to see them again. I’ve taken the time to jot down an Interpretation based on my study of the passage.
-The secret of contentment and facing all things is by being in union with Christ and looking to Him as your sufficiency.
Take note that I tried not to add in what I think or any application to my own life. I tried to base the interpretation off of the context, what Paul is saying, and what other Scripture says about this topic.
Now it’s your turn...go ahead, find a passage. Make some observations and begin practicing interpretation this week. Next week, we’ll talk about how to apply those passages.
