Abuse of Reason and Experience in Biblical Interpretation
The abuse of reason and experience in biblical interpretation often involves misapplying human understanding or personal encounters to divine revelation, leading to misinterpretations of scripture. One common pitfall is the failure to recognize the limits of human reason when confronted with God's actions or decrees. For instance, Josephus notes that some might interpret God's permission for Balaam to go with ambassadors as an "ironical" deception, but he suggests it is better to adhere to the text, which indicates God only permitted Balaam to go under specific conditions [2]. This highlights a tendency to impose human rationalizations onto divine commands rather than accepting the scriptural account at face value.
Similarly, the concept of "understanding" in scripture is often linked to moral and spiritual discernment rather than mere intellectual capacity. Proverbs 6:32, for example, states that one who "lacketh understanding" is "destitute of moral principle and prudence," indicating that true understanding goes beyond intellectual comprehension [7]. Ecclesiastes 7:7 warns that "extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding," suggesting that moral corruption can impair one's ability to reason soundly [1]. This implies that a corrupted heart can lead to a distorted interpretation of truth.
Experience, while valuable, can also be misused. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on Psalms 34:8 interprets "taste and see" as "try and experience," suggesting a positive role for experience in spiritual apprehension [5]. However, the same commentary notes on Hebrews 3:9 that the Israelites "tempted (Me) in the way of testing," meaning they put God to the proof without true belief, despite having "saw my works forty years" [6]. Their experience of God's power did not lead to repentance, demonstrating that experience alone, without faith, can be insufficient or even lead to further hardening of hearts. The Easton's Bible Dictionary also defines "misdeem" in Deuteronomy 32:27 as failing to "recognize the truth, misunderstand or mistake the cause of Israel's ruin," which was God's forsaking them due to apostasy [4]. This illustrates how a misinterpretation of events, or a misapplication of experience, can lead to a failure to grasp divine judgment.
Dreams, for example, were often seen as a means of divine revelation (Numbers 12:6), but false prophets also pretended to receive them (Jeremiah 23:25-28). Scripture warns against regarding such false dreams (Deuteronomy 13:1-3) and condemns those who trust in the "vanity of trusting to natural" dreams (Ecclesiastes 5:7) [3]. This shows that while experience can be a channel for divine communication, it is also susceptible to human deception and misinterpretation, requiring careful discernment against scriptural standards.
Sources
- Ecclesiastes “Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding. -- Ecclesiastes 7:7”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 8, section 29: to go, was ironical, and on design that he deceived [which sort of deception, by way of punishment for former crimes, Josephus never scruples to admit, as ever esteeming such wicked men justly and providentially deceived]. But perhaps we had better keep here close to the text which says Numbers 23:20, 21, that God only permitted Balaam to go along with the ambassadors, in case they came and called him, or positively insisted on his going along with them, on any terms; whereas Balaam seems out of impatience to have risen up in th”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Dreams — Visions in sleep -- Job 33:15; Da 2:28. Often by imaginary -- Job 20:8; Isa 29:8. Excess of business frequently leads to -- Ec 5:3. God's will often revealed in -- Nu 12:6; Job 33:15. False prophets Pretended to. -- Jer 23:25-28; 29:8. Not to be regarded in. -- De 13:1-3; Jer 27:9. Condemned for pretending to. -- Jer 23:32. Vanity of trusting to natural -- Ec 5:7. The ancients Put great faith in. -- Jdj 7:15. Often perplexed by. -- Ge 40:6; 41:8; Job 7:14; Da 2:1; 4:5. Anxious to have, explained. -- Ge 40:8; Da 2:3. Consulting magicians on. -- Ge 41:8; Da 2:”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Misdeem — (Deut. 32:27, R.V.). The Authorized Version reads, "should behave themselves strangely;" i.e., not recognize the truth, misunderstand or mistake the cause of Israel's ruin, which was due to the fact that God had forsaken them on account of their apostasy.”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 34:8: taste and see--try and experience.”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 3:9: When--rather, "Where," namely, in the wilderness. your fathers--The authority of the ancients is not conclusive [BENGEL]. tempted me, proved me--The oldest manuscripts read, "tempted (Me) in the way of testing," that is, putting (Me) to the proof whether I was able and willing to relieve them, not believing that I am so. saw my works forty years--They saw, without being led thereby to repentance, My works of power partly in affording miraculous help, partly in executing vengeance, forty years. The "forty years" joined in the Hebrew and Septuagint”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 6:32: lacketh understanding--or, "heart"; destitute of moral principle and prudence.”