Interpreting Scripture Without Human Reasoning or Extrabiblical Influences
Interpreting Scripture without human reasoning or extrabiblical influences is a concept rooted in the belief that the Bible is divinely inspired and sufficient for understanding God's will. The apostle Peter states, "knowing this first, that [the scope of] no prophecy of scripture is had from its own particular interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20 Darby [1]). This verse is often understood to mean that the origin and interpretation of prophecy do not come from the prophet's individual human will or understanding [4, 7]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, explains that this does not negate the right of private judgment in interpreting Scripture but rather emphasizes that the prophecy itself did not originate from human will [4, 9].
The Bible is described as "theopneustic," meaning "breathed into by God," indicating that the writers were supernaturally guided to express God's intended revelation [3]. This divine origin suggests that human invention or cunning should not be mixed with its message [6]. The apostle Paul warns against being "taken captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ" (Colossians 2:8 BSB [2]). This caution highlights the potential for human traditions and worldly philosophies to distort the understanding of divine truth [2].
While the Scriptures are considered clear on matters of salvation for those who approach them with an "upright mind," some passages may require guidance, especially concerning dispensational truths not yet fully revealed to the original audience [5]. However, this need for guidance is not an endorsement of an "authorized interpreter" in the sense of a human authority whose interpretation is indispensable [5]. The emphasis remains on the divine origin and self-sufficiency of Scripture.
The concept of interpreting Scripture without external human reasoning aligns with the idea that the "new creation" in Christ transcends human distinctions like Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian or Scythian, implying that human categories and traditions are secondary to the spiritual transformation found in Christ [8]. The goal is to understand God's mind as revealed in the text, rather than imposing human frameworks upon it [3].
Sources
- II Peter “II Peter 1:20 (Darby) — knowing this first, that [the scope of] no prophecy of scripture is had from its own particular interpretation,”
- Colossians “Colossians 2:8 (BSB) — See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Inspiration — That extraordinary or supernatural divine influence vouchsafed to those who wrote the Holy Scriptures, rendering their writings infallible. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (R.V., "Every scripture inspired of God"), 2 Tim. 3:16. This is true of all the "sacred writings," not in the sense of their being works of genius or of supernatural insight, but as "theopneustic," i.e., "breathed into by God" in such a sense that the writers were supernaturally guided to express exactly what God intended them to express as a revelation of his mind and ”
- 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:20: Knowing this first,.... Especially, and in the first place, this is to be known, observed, and considered; that no prophecy of the Scripture, that is contained in Scripture, be it what it will, is of any private interpretation: not that this is levelled against the right of private judgment of Scripture; or to be understood as if a private believer had not a right of reading, searching, examining, and judging, and interpreting the Scriptures himself, by virtue of the unction which teacheth all things; and who, as a spiritual man, judgeth all things; otherwise, wh”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 8:31: How can I, except some man should guide me? - This is no proof that "the Scriptures cannot be understood without an authorized interpreter," as some of the papistical writers assert. How could the eunuch know any thing of the Gospel dispensation, to which this scripture referred? That dispensation had not yet been proclaimed to him; he knew nothing about Jesus. But where that dispensation has been published, where the four Gospels and the apostolic epistles are at hand, every thing relative to the salvation of the soul may be clearly apprehended by any simple, upright”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 1:11: But I certify you, brethren, etc. - I wish you fully to comprehend that the Gospel which I preached to you is not after man; there is not a spark of human invention in it, nor the slightest touch of human cunning.”
- 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”
- Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 3:11: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew - In which new creation no inquiry is made what nation the persons belonged to, or from what ancestry they had sprung, whether in Judea or Greece. Circumcision nor uncircumcision - Nor is their peculiar form of religion of any consideration, whether circumcised like the Jews, or uncircumcised like the heathens. Barbarian, Scythian - Nor whether of the more or less tractable of the nations of the world; for although knowledge, and the most refined and sublime knowledge, is the object to be attained, yet, under the teaching and”
- 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:21: For the prophecy,.... The whole Scripture, all the prophetic writings; so the Jews call the Scriptures "the prophecy" (g), by way of eminence, and from the subject matter of the sacred word: came not in old time by the will of man; was not brought into the world at first, or in any period of time, as and when man would, according to his pleasure, and as he thought fit: neither Moses, nor David, nor Isaiah, nor Jeremiah, nor Ezekiel, nor Daniel, nor any other of the prophets, prophesied when they pleased, but when it was the will of God they should; they were stirre”