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What does it mean that scripture interprets scripture? This is a huge component of sola scriptura and the Scriptures being the only authority of God's truth. I would say that the majority of those on the forum understand the concept of how scripture interprets scripture but for the sake of those who don't, or the few for which the concept is alien and untenable; for the sake of acting as a refresher course which we all need in all things from time to time; and to open the conversation for additional input, insight, and understanding; I will give my understanding and input.
The Bible is a book and is meant to be read as any other book is read. It contains 66 books within it, many penned by different authors, and containing various types of literature or genre. The ultimate author of course is God the Holy Spirit. (2 Tim 3:16-17; John 17:18-19) Books are often divided into sub-books so the fact that there are many books within the one book, does not change the dynamic of reading it as we would any other book.
In some novels for example we will see the story being told from one viewpoint or time period, a pause, and then Book 2, which continues the same story from a different vantage point or perspective or time period. But it is the same story leading to the same conclusion. So it is with the Bible. Some books overlap, some give the same account as others from the viewpoint of a different author, and for a different purpose. It is particularly to be noted that this is the case with the Gospels.
Some are historical, some apocalyptic, some poetry, some letters etc. but all are part of the same story. And through them all God is revealing Himself; revealing sin; giving instruction in righteousness; revealing our need of Him; revealing His actions in history and in individual lives; exposing our utter helplessness to change our standing before Him. It is all the story of redemption and the Redeemer.
As such, everything in the Scriptures is connected to this overarching theme and must be consistent throughout, in every passage, every word, every event, with itself in the truth it is revealing. Therefore all our doctrine and teaching must remain consistent with these scriptures. We cannot arrive at a true doctrine unless we weigh and measure it against the whole. There can be no contradictions. And who God reveals Himself to be within the scriptures is the number one thing that must be considered when we search out interpretations of scripture. We must never arrive at an interpretation that would contradict who He says He is, or contradict any other statement of truth in the scriptures.
There are many difficult to interpret passages in the Bible, and many that at first glance would appear contradictory with other scriptures. And many, many more that seem, contradictory because we bring a preconceived doctrine into the scripture and are unable to remove that from our own thinking and simply ignore the contradiction or deny it exists, failing to measure it by the first principle and premise----who does God say He is.
Sometimes with difficult passages we can not always find the resolution in other scriptures that are clear on the same subject (the usual way), to our own satisfaction. Sometimes it takes time and waiting upon the Lord to direct our paths in the matter. And often in these cases, for we never stop learning, we can let it rest by seeing what it cannot mean since it says otherwise somewhere else. But there are ways to search out the matter that are helpful.
Context, context, and context. This does not only mean the surrounding text, though that must always be considered. It also includes the historical context, and in the case of the epistles especially, where we learn the Christology and soteriology of Christianity; who is writing, who they are writing to, why they are saying what they are saying, when----what was the historical and cultural situation surrounding those who are being written to, what was the writer's purpose was in writing the letter.
Theology. The study of God, the absolute and only revealing of God by God Himself, found only within the pages of our Bible, that must be our first plumbline because all else within the Bible's pages aligns with Him, and is therefore utterly trustworthy in interpreting itself and defending itself. Everything He says and gives to us in His Book does not move one iota off of who He is, what He is doing, and how He is doing it.
The Bible is a book and is meant to be read as any other book is read. It contains 66 books within it, many penned by different authors, and containing various types of literature or genre. The ultimate author of course is God the Holy Spirit. (2 Tim 3:16-17; John 17:18-19) Books are often divided into sub-books so the fact that there are many books within the one book, does not change the dynamic of reading it as we would any other book.
In some novels for example we will see the story being told from one viewpoint or time period, a pause, and then Book 2, which continues the same story from a different vantage point or perspective or time period. But it is the same story leading to the same conclusion. So it is with the Bible. Some books overlap, some give the same account as others from the viewpoint of a different author, and for a different purpose. It is particularly to be noted that this is the case with the Gospels.
Some are historical, some apocalyptic, some poetry, some letters etc. but all are part of the same story. And through them all God is revealing Himself; revealing sin; giving instruction in righteousness; revealing our need of Him; revealing His actions in history and in individual lives; exposing our utter helplessness to change our standing before Him. It is all the story of redemption and the Redeemer.
As such, everything in the Scriptures is connected to this overarching theme and must be consistent throughout, in every passage, every word, every event, with itself in the truth it is revealing. Therefore all our doctrine and teaching must remain consistent with these scriptures. We cannot arrive at a true doctrine unless we weigh and measure it against the whole. There can be no contradictions. And who God reveals Himself to be within the scriptures is the number one thing that must be considered when we search out interpretations of scripture. We must never arrive at an interpretation that would contradict who He says He is, or contradict any other statement of truth in the scriptures.
There are many difficult to interpret passages in the Bible, and many that at first glance would appear contradictory with other scriptures. And many, many more that seem, contradictory because we bring a preconceived doctrine into the scripture and are unable to remove that from our own thinking and simply ignore the contradiction or deny it exists, failing to measure it by the first principle and premise----who does God say He is.
Sometimes with difficult passages we can not always find the resolution in other scriptures that are clear on the same subject (the usual way), to our own satisfaction. Sometimes it takes time and waiting upon the Lord to direct our paths in the matter. And often in these cases, for we never stop learning, we can let it rest by seeing what it cannot mean since it says otherwise somewhere else. But there are ways to search out the matter that are helpful.
Context, context, and context. This does not only mean the surrounding text, though that must always be considered. It also includes the historical context, and in the case of the epistles especially, where we learn the Christology and soteriology of Christianity; who is writing, who they are writing to, why they are saying what they are saying, when----what was the historical and cultural situation surrounding those who are being written to, what was the writer's purpose was in writing the letter.
Theology. The study of God, the absolute and only revealing of God by God Himself, found only within the pages of our Bible, that must be our first plumbline because all else within the Bible's pages aligns with Him, and is therefore utterly trustworthy in interpreting itself and defending itself. Everything He says and gives to us in His Book does not move one iota off of who He is, what He is doing, and how He is doing it.
