Loading ...Interpreting the Unclear Text
This rule of interpretation was given to me at Brown Trail School of Preaching. The general rule was to interpret the unclear text with a clear text in the Bible. This principle seems valid but there can be abuses in this method of reading the text. Sometimes the clear text can overshadow the unclear text. One will read the intent of the clear text into the purpose of the unclear text. This is done without proper knowledge into the context and argumentation of the original author through the Holy Spirit. The authors of each text are making separate points, not interpreting one another. The classic illustration of this method is Martin Luther’s handling of the Romans’ and James’ passages on faith. Luther in desiring to interpret the text used the Roman text as the overshadowing paradigm. His desire to allow Romans to carry extra weight over James significantly influenced his understanding of faith. These verses did not contradict, but were making separate points concerning the nature of faith. We must be careful not to allow the preconceived ideas to overshadow the unclear text. It is easy to allow one text to dominate another. But proper interpretation allows all of God’s Word to equally speak to us. Instead of suppressing the unclear text with the presuppositions of another text, one must study the difficult text for the added light that it will bring to the Biblical doctrine.
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- Mentioned in another Blog
About The Author
Interesting post…
Scripture is a large meta-story with reconciliation to God and each other in Christ as its trajectory and somehow, all scripture (easy or difficult) is trying to fulfill that purpose. But to use a supposedly easier text to interpret a more difficult text… No way. The only way to understand what a certain passage is saying is to try and ascertain what that passage is saying. And if we cannot due that with any reasonable confindence, I don’t see any harm in simply saying “I don’t know.”
But I used to try and interpret more difficult passages through other less difficult passages. The funny thing is, the more I study the more some of those seemingly easy-to-understand passages become a little more foggy.
Grace and peace,
Rex
Ithaca Church of Christ
Ithaca, NY
There is a real need, particularly for some people who are awfully sure of their ideas, to sometimes let an “unclear” text shade our reading of what we think is a clear text.
Almost thou persuadest me to become a Deconstructionist.