Roy Zuck begins chapter one “The What and Why of Bible Interpretation” with the Ethiopian eunuch responding to Philip’s hermeneutic question, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The eunuch’s response, “How can I…unless some man explain it to me” (Acts 8:31)? Zuck ends the chapter with the doctrine of clarity or perspicuity which teaches that the Bible can be understood by any layperson. Zuck does not quote 1 John 2:27 but this verse applies: “The anointing which you have received of him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you.” Which is the case in hermeneutics? Do we need human teachers to interpret the Bible or not? The answer is “Yes!”
The doctrine of clarity or perspicuity means the Bible is understandable, it is not too mysterious to learn, and it is not just for the elite or the seminary graduate. Lay people can interpret and understand God’s Word on their own. Zuck alludes to Reformation leader, Martin Luther, who affirmed that “the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5) means the Bible is accessible and undestandable by all Christians. This opposed the alleged obscurity of the Bible, according to the Roman Catholic Church, which said that only the church could disclose its meaning.”
Zuck is referring to Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994): “The task of interpretation (of the Word of God, whether in its written form of Tradition) has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the bishop of Rome.” In the conext of false teachers, this is exactly what 1 John 2: 27 is refuting. No believer is totally dependent on a human teacher to comprehend God’s Word. Contrast this view with Wayne Grudem’s statement: “The clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God’s help and being willing to follow it.”
The next important question is, “How does the lay person interpret the Bible?”
1. Through proper hermeneutic principles
This is the reason I am teaching a class entitled “How I can Interpret the Bible for Myself” so our church members who are not seminary students can understand the Bible for themselves. After this class, each student will be better equipped to privately study and understand God’s Word.
2. Through gifted Bible teachers in the local church
God would not have given the spiritual gift of teaching to lay persons (Romans 12:7) if He did not intend for those men and women to teach others in their church. One of the reasons some of our members are going to better understand the Bible on their own is because I will have taught the class on hermeneutics. Romans 12:7 does not contradict 1 John 2:27. Romans 12:7 compliments 1 John 2:27. Through our Sunday school classes and Sunday night small groups God’s Word is taught each week by God gifted men and women.
3. Through Bible preaching pastors in a local church
One of the descriptions of a pastor in Ephesians 4:11 is “pastor/teacher.” This is one not two offices because one of the requirements for pastor according to 1 Timothy 3:2 is “able to teach.” Church members who are faithful to our services will learn God’s Word because our pastor diligently obeys the command to all preachers in 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the Word…with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
If you like the Ethiopian ask sincerely and desire seriously to understand God’s Word, God will teach you His Word by the means just mentioned. Are you sincere and serious about learning and applying the Bible? Do you avail yourself of the opportunities to learn from others and good study resources like commentaries? Do you spend time daily in God’s Word?
As a Protestant, I haven’t really given thought to the fact that the majority of Catholics do not feel they have the freedom or ability to understand God’s Word by itself. Since they rely upon the institution of the RCC, their understanding of the Bible is arbitrary and can easily be contradictory like history reveals. But through the proper teaching in Protestant churches, the entire congregation becomes empowered to understand and meditate on the Word of God in its purity.
I totally agree with those three points. By clear teaching of the word of God by pastors/teachers it will be easy for one to be able to interpret the Bible for himself.
As humans, we may need others to explain things to us, but ultimately, God gave us the Bible and we must lean on His understanding and not our own. Interpretation is very important, but we won’t understand everything. When those moments happen, we trust God.
God did not intend for His Children to relay on someone else to explain what His Word says. Because I know that the Scriptures themselves have one meaning but can be applied in different ways to different people. But if we ask God to open our eyes to the meaning of His Word He will listen and be ready for it because God follows through.
God desires that we scutinize His word. He encourages us to study and discuss it with other believers. And to a faithful heart, He will give discernment.
John 20:31 says, “And these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his name. This confirms that the Bible was written for everyone that all could read it and understand it. However, the preaching of God’s word can help us to learn how to study deeper and deeper into the word.
I definitely agree that we can learn a great deal on our own about what the bible has to say. Although, I know I have learned far more than I could ever imagine by taking classes in a Bible College. We need good teachers to help us through the tougher parts of the Bible.
Agreed. I think that the Bible should never again be held so loftily that none can touch it save the educated. I thank God for simplicity of the Scriptures
Most people have either too high of a view of themselves or too low when it comes to scripture interpretation (I have been on both sides of that spectrum myself). Everyone can understand the Bible on their own, or at least what they need to understand, but we should also pay very good attention to those who have studied longer than we have. Everyone needs to study the Word and listen to good expositions of the Word to best appreciate the message God has.
Richard Best says:
The Catholic church’s belief that “the task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him” (As quoted in “Questions Catholics Are Asking” by Tony Coffey. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House, 2006) is unbiblical. Jesus said, referring to the coming Holy Spirit, “…when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiatiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come” (John 16:13). As I understand it, Peter is considered to have been the fist Pope, or the “bishop of Rome”, by the Catholic church. If one interprets John 16:13 as applying only to the twelve disciples closest to Jesus (except for Judas, of course), then that still leaves 10 men who would also be guided into all the truth. To my knowledge, the Catholic church does regard any of those men to have been bishops. Yet, it is obvious that they would be able, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, to understand Jesus’ words, which He received from God the Father and would communicate through the Holy Spirit (cf. vss. 14-15). 1 John 2:27, as Dr. White pointed out, does support the belief that the average believer (i.e., one that is not a bishop or one that is given the gift of teaching) will be taught “about all things” by the Holy Spirit. Thus, the Catholic claim that this gift of understanding scripture is given only to the Pope and the bishops in communion with him is fallacious and unsupported by Scripture itself.