Understanding the Author's Background and Intentions in Biblical Interpretation
Biblical interpretation often involves discerning the author's background and intentions to grasp the text's original meaning. This process is rooted in the understanding that human authors, though inspired, wrote from specific contexts and with particular purposes [1, 3, 4]. The psalmist, for instance, speaks of the "inner thought of a man, and his heart, is deep," suggesting the complexity of human intention [1]. Similarly, Ecclesiastes 7:25-26 describes a mind directed "to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations," highlighting the author's deliberate intellectual pursuit [3, 4].
The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians, explicitly states his intention for readers to "understand my insight into the mystery of Christ" when they read his letter [2]. This implies that understanding the author's perspective is crucial for comprehending the message. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on this verse suggests that by perceiving Paul's understanding of these mysteries, readers will also be enabled to understand them [7]. This highlights the idea that the author's knowledge and insight are meant to be conveyed and apprehended by the audience.
The concept of "revelation" itself, as defined by Easton's Bible Dictionary, involves "an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen" [5]. God's supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes was committed to writing under the guidance of his Spirit, making the Scriptures not merely a record but the revelation itself in written form for accurate preservation and propagation of truth [5]. This underscores the divine intention behind the human authors' writings.
Interpreters like John Gill emphasize the need for divine assistance in understanding. one tradition notes that the psalmist desired understanding to "know thy testimonies," recognizing that the Scriptures are "only rightly understood by those who have their understandings opened and enlightened" [10]. Gill also suggests that understanding the law requires a "spiritual understanding" that is a "gift of pure, free, rich grace" [11]. This perspective indicates that while human effort is involved in seeking understanding (Ecclesiastes 7:25-26), divine enablement is also necessary to fully grasp the author's intended meaning, especially in spiritual matters [3, 4, 8, 9]. The Geneva Bible (1599) notes that understanding includes "a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings," further indicating the depth of understanding required for biblical texts [6].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 64:6 (BBE) — Or make discovery of our secret purpose? The design is framed with care; and the inner thought of a man, and his heart, is deep.”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 3:4 (LEB) — so that you may be able when you read to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ”
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 7:25 (BSB) — I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.”
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 7:26 (DRC) — I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 1:6 (Geneva1599) — To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 3:4: understand my knowledge--"perceive my understanding" [ALFORD], or "intelligence." "When ye read," implies that, deep as are the mysteries of this Epistle, the way for all to understand them is to read it (Ti2 3:15-16). By perceiving his understanding of the mysteries, they, too, will be enabled to understand. the mystery of Christ--The "mystery" is Christ Himself, once hidden, but now revealed (Col 1:27).”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 12:2: But I have understanding as well as you,.... A natural understanding, or an understanding of natural things, which distinguishes a man from a brute; and a spiritual understanding, an understanding enlightened by the spirit of God, which is naturally dark as to divine things; but he had an understanding given him, to know himself, his state and condition by nature; to know God, his love and grace to men, and, as his covenant God, to know Christ his living Redeemer, who should stand on the earth in the latter day, both to be his Redeemer and his Judge; to know his interest”
- 2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 2:7: Consider the force of the illustrations I have given from the soldier, the contender in the games, and the husbandmen, as applying to thyself in thy ministry. and the Lord give, &c.--The oldest manuscripts read, "for the Lord will give thee understanding." Thou canst understand my meaning so as personally to apply it to thyself; for the Lord will give thee understanding when thou seekest it from Him "in all things." Not intellectual perception, but personal appropriation of the truths metaphorically expressed, was what he needed to be given him by ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:121: I am thy servant,.... Not only by creation, but by grace; and as he had a work to do, he desires to know what it was; and as it was proper he should know his Master's will, he applies to him for it; using this as an argument, that he was his servant, devoted to his service, and willing to perform it to the best of his knowledge and ability; and therefore prays, give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies; the Scriptures, which testify of the will of God; which are only rightly understood by those who have their understandings opened and enlightened; or”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:32: Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law,.... A spiritual understanding; an understanding of the law, the perfection, purity, holiness, and spirituality of it; an understanding of the Gospel, and of Christ and the things of Christ; from whom grace and strength are to be had for the due observance of the law, as in his hands; which understanding must be given, and is a gift of pure, free, rich grace, to such who have it; though they cannot keep the law perfectly, as no mere man can, yet will keep it spiritually, from a principle of love and gratitude, and with”