A trend that I have noticed increasingly happening in Christian circles is the question, “What does this passage mean to you?” Does the Bible mean different things to different people? Do we give meaning to the text or do we interpret the text? Is it possible for three people to read the same passage of scripture and each come to a different meaning? The short answer to this question is no.
The Bible is not a modern piece of art where we are intended to interpret what it means to us. Scripture has a singular meaning that the author was conveying to the reader. When we approach this sacred text we must ask “what is the author trying to say” not “what does this verse mean to me”. Two people can have a different understanding about a passage and both be incorrect, but they cannot both be right.
Maybe you think, well you are just being persnickety. Does it really matter if there is a variation between how people interpret a passage? Yes, it does matter, because if a verse can have a multiplicity of meanings then nothing could be known about the Bible. It would become a subjective book that makes us feel nice. Now, the Bible can have multiple applications. Several people may read a portion of God’s word and apply it differently in their lives; after all, we all have different struggles, personalities, and situations.
So, the next time you are sitting in small group, Sunday school, or simply having coffee with a friend discussing God’s word please don’t ask, “What does this verse mean to you?” Instead, seek to collectively understand what the singular meaning of the passage is, and how each person may apply it to their own lives.
Walk good. Live wise. Be Blessed.
Josh
Question: What is your favorite passage in the Bible?