Interpreting Scripture with Examples: Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Interpreting Scripture involves careful attention to the text and an awareness of potential missteps that can lead to misapplication or misunderstanding. One common pitfall is allowing personal biases or external pressures to distort the plain meaning of the text.
One significant pitfall is the introduction of "divers and strange doctrines" that deviate from the unified message of Scripture [5]. The doctrine of the Bible, Christ, and the apostles is presented as uniform and consistent, in contrast to varied human doctrines or traditions [5]. This suggests that interpretations that introduce novel or conflicting ideas without clear biblical support should be approached with caution. Similarly, false prophets and teachers are noted for using flattery and dreams to mislead, indicating that interpretations driven by personal gain or subjective experiences rather than the text itself can be problematic [3, 4].
Another pitfall is the tendency to create stumbling blocks or occasions of offense for others [2]. While some offenses are unavoidable, such as the wicked taking offense at Christ's low station or the righteousness of faith, believers are warned against causing others to stumble through their actions or interpretations [2, 6]. This concept of "stumbling and fall" metaphorically refers to behavior that can cause spiritual harm to another person [6]. Therefore, interpretations that lead to division or cause fellow believers to falter in their faith, particularly concerning matters of conscience, should be re-evaluated [6].
Misinterpreting the nature of prophecy is also a pitfall. The apostle Peter emphasizes that "no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation" [8]. This means that prophetic texts do not originate from the individual prophet's private understanding or solution, but rather from divine inspiration [8]. This caution extends to the interpretation of prophecy, suggesting that personal conjectures or attempts to "explain away the spirit and design" of prophecies can lead to severe consequences [9]. Adam Clarke, commenting on Revelation 22:19, notes that taking away from the meaning of prophecy can result in a loss of one's "part out of the book of life" [9].
Furthermore, engaging in strife and contentious disputes can hinder proper interpretation and spiritual growth [1]. Strife is identified as a "work of the flesh" and an "evidence of a carnal spirit," often excited by pride, wrath, and a contentious disposition [1]. The Bible warns against curious questions and tale-bearing that stir up conflict [1]. Such an environment is not conducive to understanding God's word, as it prioritizes argument over edification.
Finally, a pitfall can arise from failing to recognize the clarity of Scripture where it is intended to be plain. While some passages require careful study, the prophet Habakkuk is instructed to "write the vision... plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it" [7]. This suggests that God intends for certain truths to be readily accessible, implying that overly complex or obscure interpretations of clear passages might miss the intended message [7]. However, this does not mean that all Scripture is easily understood by a casual reader, but rather that the core message should be clear enough for those who "attentively peruse" it [7].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Offence — Occasions of, must arrive -- Mt 18:7. Occasions of, forbidden -- 1Co 10:32; 2Co 6:3. Persecution, a cause of, to mere professors -- Mt 13:21; 24:10; 26:31. The wicked take, at The low station of Christ. -- Isa 53:1-3; Mt 13:54-57. Christ, as the corner-stone. -- Isa 8:14; Ro 9:33; 1Pe 2:8. Christ, as the bread of life. -- Joh 6:58-61. Christ crucified. -- 1Co 1:23; Ga 5:11. The righteousness of faith. -- Ro 9:32. The necessity of inward purity. -- Mt 15:11,12. Blessedness of not taking, at Christ -- Mt 11:6. Saints warned against taking -- Joh 16:1. Saints ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Flattery — Saints should not used -- Job 32:21,22. Ministers should not use -- 1Th 2:5. The wicked use, to Others. -- Ps 5:9; 12:2. Themselves. -- Ps 36:2. Hypocrites use, to God. -- Ps 78:36. Those in authority. -- Da 11:34. False prophets and teachers use -- Eze 12:24; Ro 16:18. Wisdom, a preservative against -- Pr 4:5. Worldly advantage obtained by -- Da 11:21,22. Seldom gains respect -- Pr 28:23. Avoid those given to -- Pr 20:19. Danger of -- Pr 7:21-23; 20:5. Punishment of -- Job 17:5; Ps 12:3. Exemplified Woman of Tekoah. -- 2Sa 14:17,20. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:2-6”
- 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:”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 13:9: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines,.... The word "divers" may denote the variety and multitude of other doctrines; referring either to the various rites and ceremonies of the law, or to the traditions of the elders, or to the several doctrines of men, whether Jews or Gentiles; whereas the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ, and his apostles, is but one; it is uniform, and all of a piece; and so may likewise denote the disagreement of other doctrines with the perfections of God, the person and offices of Christ, the Scriptures of truth, the anal”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 14:13: 14:13 This verse acts as a bridge. Let’s stop condemning each other summarizes 14:1-12, while the concern about causing another believer to stumble and fall becomes the major emphasis of 14:14-23. • stumble and fall: This phrase originally applied to obstacles that could trip people as they walked, or to traps into which a person might fall. It is used metaphorically throughout the New Testament for behavior that might bring spiritual harm to another person (see 1 Cor 8:9, 13; 1 Jn 2:10; cp. Matt 21:42-44; Luke 20:17-18; Rom 9:32-33; 1 Pet 2:8).”
- Habakkuk (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Habakkuk 2:2: Write the vision - Carefully take down all that I shall say. Make it plain upon tables - Write it in a full plain, legible hand. That he may run that readeth it - That he who attentively peruses it may speed to save his life from the irruption of the Chaldeans, by which so many shall be cut off. The prophet does not mean that the words are to be made so plain, that a man running by may easily read them, and catch their meaning. This interpretation has been frequently given; and it has been incautiously applied to the whole of the Bible: "God's book is so plain, tha”
- 2 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Peter 1:20: "Forasmuch as ye know this" (Pe1 1:18). first--the foremost consideration in studying the word of prophecy. Laying it down as a first principle never to be lost sight of. is--Greek, not the simple verb, to be, but to begin to be, "proves to be," "becometh." No prophecy is found to be the result of "private (the mere individual writer's uninspired) interpretation" (solution), and so origination. The Greek noun epilusis, does not mean in itself origination; but that which the sacred writer could not always fully interpret, though being the speaker o”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 22:19: If any man shall take away - If any man shall lessen this meaning, curtail the sense, explain away the spirit and design, of these prophecies, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, etc. Thus Jesus Christ warns all those who consider this book to beware of indulging their own conjectures concerning it. I confess that this warning has its own powerful influence upon my mind, and has prevented me from indulging my own conjectures concerning its meaning, or of adopting the conjectures of others. These visions and threatenings are too delicate and aw”