When we read and interpret the Bible, we should seek to do so in a manner that if we were to have a conversation with God, God would have no corrections for us. This means our interpretation should defer to what God intended in a passage, and also how God chose to communicate that passage, through a historical writer. 

When we read our Bible, individually or corporately, we have the opportunity to hear, interpret and apply God’s word.

Hearing comes first, then our minds begin to comprehend, and make assessments of what we are hearing and how it impacts us. When we hear something, we begin to make sense of the sounds (or words) we hear. Once a determination is made, we begin to act in accordance with our assessment of what we’ve heard. It is only after we’ve heard something that we can assess it, and it is only after we’ve assessed something that we can act in response.

If you are driving a car and you hear what sounds like sirens, you may begin to check your various windows and mirrors. You may roll down your window to see if you can further hear which direction the sirens come from. You may slow down or pull over. You may speed up and move to the side. You only can do these actions, after you’ve made an assessment regarding the sound of the sirens.

When reading the Bible, most of us don’t think we are making any interpretations. Yet, when we open the Word and begin to hear we cannot help but begin to make an assessment. We compare what we hear with what we know. In our minds we begin to “play” with the ideas, concepts, and messages we’ve heard. As we are moved by conviction of what we’ve heard we begin to take action. It is in the realm of assessing what we’ve heard, and then applying what we’ve heard to our actions that interpretations take shape.

When we hear something and do nothing, we’ve determined that nothing other than the status quo should be done. Our interpretation of something we’ve heard, which inspires us to do nothing must mean our interpretation made no impression for our immediate life. Sometimes we hear something, and it takes many thoughts, many conversations, many relationships, many days and nights to arrive at an actionable conclusion. Sometimes we hear something (like a siren) and immediately begin to apply what we’ve heard (like moving out of the ambulance or firetruck’s way). Regardless of the speed of application, as soon as we hear something we begin interpreting it. 

It is frequently asked “is there a right way to interpret the Bible?” Often this question arises when people of two persuasions come to a particular impasse. Which way is right when one person interprets X and the other person interprets Y? How can a right interpretation be formed between multiple mutually exclusive interpretations?

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