Unveiling the Scriptures: Navigating Ancient Interpretations in a Modern World
Today, we’ll explore a fascinating and often overlooked aspect of Scripture: how the authors of the Bible interpret earlier portions of the Bible, and how we, with our modern expectations, sometimes find these interpretations difficult to understand. Our challenge today is not only understanding the ancient text but also adjusting our expectations so that we can rightly divide the Word of truth and apply it to our lives.
Let’s begin by reading our foundational verse from the New Living Translation, 2 Timothy 3:16-17: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
This tells us that all of Scripture is useful for teaching, but it also implies that understanding requires effort and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
Point 1: Understanding How the New Testament Interprets the Old One of the first challenges we face is that the Bible often interprets itself. New Testament writers, especially, often re-interpret Old Testament passages in light of Christ’s coming. Sometimes this re-interpretation can seem puzzling to modern readers. Let’s look at one example from Matthew 2:15 (NLT): “This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: ‘I called my Son out of Egypt.’”
Here, Matthew is quoting Hosea 11:1, where the original context is about Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Yet Matthew sees this passage as prophetically speaking about Jesus. This interpretive leap shows us that Scripture often has layers of meaning. Hosea was speaking about Israel, but under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Matthew saw a deeper, Christ-centred fulfilment.
What can we learn from this? We need to be open to the Bible’s complexity and depth. When reading Scripture, especially passages that seem to refer to historical events, we should ask, "How does this point to Christ?" As believers, our role is to seek the deeper layers of meaning.
Modern theologian N.T. Wright once said, “The Bible is the book we are given, and the one we are to live with; but its very strangeness demands humility, attention, and a willingness to think in new ways.”
Point 2: The Challenge of Modern Expectations Another challenge we face is the expectation that the Bible should conform to our modern, often Western way of thinking. One example is how we approach the Bible’s use of metaphor and symbolism. For instance, Revelation 13:1-2 (NLT) gives us a vivid image of a beast rising out of the sea: "Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God."
In modern terms, we might expect a clear, logical explanation of what this beast represents, but ancient readers were more accustomed to symbolic and apocalyptic language. They didn’t demand literal interpretations in the way we often do today.
We must recognise that the Bible was written in different times and cultures. To understand it fully, we must lay down our modern presuppositions and allow the Bible to speak on its own terms. Instead of asking, "What does this mean in my modern context?" we should first ask, "What did this mean to its original audience?"
Point 3: The Importance of Context in Biblical Interpretation A key principle in understanding Scripture is the importance of context—both the immediate context of the passage and the larger biblical narrative. Take, for instance, Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT): "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
Many people take this verse as a personal promise, which can be encouraging, but in context, God is speaking to the nation of Israel during their Babylonian exile. The promise is about God’s long-term plan to restore Israel after 70 years of captivity. Understanding the context doesn’t make the verse less meaningful, but it deepens our understanding of how God works through time and circumstances.
Before applying any verse to our lives, we must ask, "What is the immediate and historical context?" When we understand the original meaning, we can then apply it more faithfully to our modern lives.
Point 4: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Understanding Ultimately, understanding the Scriptures is not merely an intellectual exercise; it is a spiritual one. In John 16:13 (NLT), Jesus says:
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future."
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in illuminating the meaning of Scripture. Without His guidance, we can easily misinterpret the Bible or get stuck in our limited understanding.
As we study the Word, we should always pray for the Holy Spirit’s help. He is the one who opens our eyes to see the depth and beauty of the Scriptures.
Conclusion and Call to Action:
Today, we’ve explored how the Bible interprets itself and how we often bring modern expectations that can hinder our understanding. But through careful study, attention to context, and reliance on the Holy Spirit, we can grasp the truths of God’s Word. Let’s commit to being faithful students of the Scriptures, willing to wrestle with the difficult parts and trusting God to reveal His truth to us.
Invitation to Faith:
If you have not yet made the decision to follow Jesus, I want to invite you today. He is the fulfilment of all Scripture, and in Him, we find the fullness of God’s plan for our lives. Turn to Him today, and let the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word, which is alive and active. Help us to understand the deeper meanings of Scripture, to lay down our modern biases, and to embrace the richness of Your revelation. Guide us through Your Holy Spirit as we study Your Word. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
