Ask a Pastor Column

Q: If the Bible is true then how come there are so many different perspectives on what it really teaches? How can I tell who’s right?

A: Let’s begin by stating that there is only one completely right interpretation of Scripture, and it is the one intended by God when He inspired it. While every passage of the Bible is rich and different teachers can emphasize different points, opinions of a particular passage which contradict each other cannot both be right.

It is also helpful to know a couple of facts about the Bible. First is that the Bible was intended to communicate (Hebrews 1:1). Second; the Bible is intended for everyone to read, not just an initiated few, or well-educated experts (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Psalm 1:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Finally, the Bible was written to provide mankind with a standard for right and wrong behavior (Psalm 119:11, 105). These truths require us to start with the most basic or obvious meaning possible in a particular text, and to begin reading the Bible with the same basic rules of literature that we use to read other books (genera, author’s intended meaning, etc.).

Now that doesn’t mean that there are not some passages of Scripture that are difficult to interpret, nor does it mean that there aren’t deep and profound truths in a passage that we might overlook by ourselves. The more a person knows about the Bible, the more that they are able to learn and share. This is why we all can benefit from those with a deeper understanding of the Bible than we ourselves possess. A good Bible teacher will lay hold of truths that are beyond our reach and bring them down to our level. However, each of us is responsible for understanding God’s message as best as we can so that we can respond appropriately in our lives (Matthew 7:24; James 1:22-25; II Peter 3:18; I John 2:20, 27).

If a teacher presents an interpretation of Scripture that does not seem accurate or contradicts what you’ve been told in the past, ask them about it (I Thessalonians 5:21). A good teacher will always be willing to explain their perspective.

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  Let us know what you think of the ask a pastor articles! If you’ve found them helpful in any way, been blessed by an article, or have any thoughts on how we could make it better, let us know by sending an email to askapastor [email protected] or by mail to Formoso Church; P.O. Box 66; Formoso, Kansas 66942. And, as always, feel free to send us your Bible questions!