Interpretation
OPENING THOUGHT
Booth saved Lincoln.
Does that statement surprise you? Maybe it offends you. Because of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth, the natural assumption is that it’s putting a positive spin on killing Lincoln.
But what if you knew the statement was about Edwin Booth, not John Wilkes, and Robert, not Abraham? Does that change the way you feel about it?
Edwin Booth and Robert Lincoln were passengers on a train in Jersey City. Robert lost his balance and fell into an open space between the train and station platform. By all accounts, he would have been crushed and likely killed if Edwin had not seized him and pulled him out onto the platform.
Context is essential to understanding the meaning of the written word. Without it we can draw the wrong conclusions. This is especially true of the Bible, a book many may know a little about but neglect to study with depth and purpose. Therefore, we must pay close attention to how we interpret God’s word.
EXPLORING GOD’S WORD
Matthew 4:1-11
The devil quotes Psalm 91:11-12. Does this make him right? What was wrong with his use of Scripture?
How did Jesus use Scripture in this passage?
Luke 24:25-27
Discuss the background of this passage.
Why did Jesus use Scripture to explain how his death, burial, and resurrection were “necessary”?
What does Luke mean by “Moses and all the Prophets”?
What is the Bible about according to Jesus?
Read how Jesus also interpreted Scripture for the apostles in Luke 24:44-45.
2 Timothy 2:14-19
How was Timothy supposed to handle the word of truth?
What did Paul tell Timothy to avoid?
What had happened to Hymenaeus and Philetus?
Did misinterpretation change the truth?
2 Peter 3:15-16
How did Paul’s letters compare to Scripture, according to Peter?
What do you think about Peter’s admission that some of Paul’s letters are “hard to understand”?
What’s the danger of being careless with the Scriptures?
Contextual Clues to Consider
When was it written?
Does it apply to the Patriarchal, Mosaic, or Christian age?
Who is speaking?
Is it the devil? A flawed human being? God? An inspired speaker?
What’s the context?
Does your interpretation make sense when you consider what’s directly before and after the passage?
What does the rest of the Bible say?
Do any of your conclusions contradict Scripture elsewhere? If so, revisit your interpretation.
What does it have to do with Jesus?
If we aren’t reading the Bible in light of the Son, we are not handling it accurately.
