Can there ever be a "clear reading of scripture"? Or only multiple interpretations?
I feel this is why we have so many Bible translations and denominations within Christianity.
"No scripture is of mans private interpretations."
Of course you can have and get a clear reading(?) understanding of scripture . For faith in God comes by not only hearing the Word of God but by understanding the Word of God.
If a man can understand the scriptures enough to get 'saved' or BORNagain . Why is it thought that he cannot understand the scriptures to be sanctified healed or delivered or transformed by the renewal of the mind? Or to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God ? Or to be filled with the Word of God richly that "ye have overcome the wicked one"? 1john.
The man who was let down through the roof and had his sins forgiven through faith did he not then also believe to get up and walk?
The great problem in the church today is that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been reduced to being BORNagain (for A peace sake)which is but the getting out of Egypt and has made the wandering around the wilderness for 40 years as the NORM .When in fact it took only 40 DAYS to get from Egypt to the banks of the river Jordan.
and whatever happened to "when the Spirit of truth shall come HE will lead you into all truth"? Which interpretation of scripture should we take heed to? Mans ?Or the one who inspired to write it in the first place?
Is God dead?
Has not the Holy Spirit come?
Does He no longer lead?
Or capable of leading men to the truth or the right understanding of scripture?
Or is it that many have a name that they live but are dead?
That many are unwilling to follow ?
Or many are always learning but never come to a knowledge of the truth?
We have many or multiple versions of the Bible because people seem to want the truth to be what they think it is and if it does not conform to their truth , they change it, or find a 'teacher' or 'preacher' or bible that does .
The denominations came about because like those who built the tower of Babel found a pleasant place (by pass meadow?) and decided to make a name for themselves and built themselves a tower or high steeple(?) Instead of going out into all the world....
So God had to use some one else outside the denomination to further His programme .
Thus each denomination persecuted the one that followed thinking that they had all the truth (like Peter) and denied that which was given next .
We now have all the denominations all holding fast to their truths and fighting to the death only that part that fits their 'school' of theology.
Rather than contending for THE faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints" Some will take that as justification for their church as having not changed at all and thus wrongly conclude that THEY are the church which the scriptures speak of.
When in fact it could be argued that God" gave them time to repent but you would not"
But we have this confidence "that God knows who are His" even as we know that the tares and the wheat have been allowed to grow together in the field .Which is the world.
Till the tares are gathered and tied together in bundles FIRST . and all the different bundles religious and political and lifestyles etc even to the left and the right are but the different bundles being tied together FIRST "ready for the fire"
We are now in a reverse reformation and there is a growing idea (leven) in the church that unless you learn Hebrew and Greek you cant or don't understand the scriptures .It will soon be an offence to preach without the approval of men . As it is also more or less an offence ( if not yet in law ) to say that they who say they do are wrong .If so be they are .
The end result despite 400 years of preaching the gospel in English with an English BIble and a world wide missionary outreach people are slowly and subtly being led away from the Bible to 'experts ' and even to some who count themselves infallible .Or to any number of false apostles and self proclaimed prophets .By the simple expedient of robbing people of their confidence in God and His ability to keep His word and to enable SOME translators to accurately translate HIS Word into whatever language is deemed nescersary .
In Ephesians 2 .One of the primary purposes to what those true anointed ministers of God are called to do is not only to perfect the Bride but also to bring all who are His "to a unity of the faith" Now if faith in God comes by hearing and understanding the Word of God .Then to have a unity of THE faith there needs must be a unity of understanding also . Which does not mean a myriad of private interpretations .
But of that understanding which is of the mind of God and in the mind of God when he inspired men to so write what is written .
This I know of only one person in SCripture ,who knows the mind of God That is the Holy Spirit of God and of truth . Rom 8:27.
For if it is according to the will of God it is then acording to His mind also . For God is not divided.
and they who also in scripture who say they have the mind of God in A matter do so because they are LED by Him in the matter .
If then you say there are many interpretations .Notwithstanding levels of spiritual maturity .Which is not what we are speaking about here .
Then clearly something is wrong and people are being led by their own hearts at best and subjecting the scriptures to the intellect and the wisdom of men . Given the state of the world and the condition of our own hearts without Christ .I would suggest nay rather insist that is the wrong approach to the study of the scripture s.
in Christ
gerald