If there was ever a skill more needed but less known, understood and used-- it is Biblical Interpretation. It is at the root of every spiritual issue and question. It affects our knowledge about God and his ways. It affects our choices and expectations. Its use or misuse is particularly evident when we get into questions of spiritual abuse and unhealthy spiritual systems.

There are some misconceptions about Biblical Interpretation that we are going to have to do away with immediately:

• Biblical Interpretation is not optional. Everybody who reads the Bible makes interpretations; it is not reserved for spiritual leaders. The question is whether the interpretations will be good ones or not. The idea that we can "just read the Bible and do what is says" (without "interpretation") is a fallacy steeped in naivete, ignorance or dishonesty.
• Interpretations are not just a matter of opinion. There is such a thing as a good interpretation and a bad interpretation. One can't just come up with any "interpretation" and claim it is just as valid as any other interpretation. Even if somebody feels like "God showed it to them."

So what makes a good interpretation? A good interpretation has the following characteristics:

• Respects the original historical, geographical and theological context of the passage.
• Respects the theme of the book in which the passage is located.
• Respects the type of literature of the book that contains the passage.
• Respects the way in which the author has framed the passage and what issue is being addressed.
• Considers what a passage or teaching meant to the original readers or hearers, and how it might have been put into practice.
• Pays attention to how the passage relates to the rest of the book in which it is contained.
• Respects the limits of what is said, and what is not said.
• Considers figures of speech and other grammatical devices that may be used by the author.
• Considers allusions to other Scriptural themes, terminology and imagery.
• Can be easily explained and defended to another person.

These might sound like a lot of work, but the reality is that anybody can become a good interpreter of Scripture. The chief rule is not to take a passage out of context, but to understand it in its context. A good interpreter is always learning and growing in the skills that support solid interpretation.

Even after doing all of this, some passages are open to multiple interpretations. In these cases, it is important to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each possible understanding and to consider which best fits the context. While disciplined interpretation is especially beneficial for difficult passages, it is critical for all passages. In fact, most Bible readers who learn to take interpretation seriously begin to realize that their past interpretations of passages that were once considered "easy" are often the result of bad interpretation!

Some spiritual leaders may discourage or even mock learning Biblical Interpretation. They may say it is more important to have the "right heart" or to "do what the Scriptures say." What is more indicative of having the "right heart" than truly seeking to understand what God has said or refusing to allow others to distort what he has said? And how can one "do what the Scriptures say" without knowing what they say?