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NASB | Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED IN (trusted, relied on) GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIS ACCOUNT AS RIGHTEOUSNESS (right living, right standing with God)." [Gen 15:6] |
Bible Question: Can one dismiss a person’s exegesis of a given passage by simply saying, "That’s just your interpretation"? |
Bible Answer: kalos, Good question, my friend. Certainly we want to avoid the attitude that all scripture is "up for grabs" when it comes to interpretation. This ignores some basic rules of interpretation. Perhaps the Chicago Statement on Hermenuetics can shed some light: "WE AFFIRM that the meaning expressed in each biblical text is single, definite, and fixed. WE DENY that the recognition of this single meaning eliminates the variety of its application. The Affirmation here is directed at those who claim a "double" or "deeper" meaning to Scripture than that expressed by the authors. It stresses the unity and fixity of meaning as opposed to those who find multiple and pliable meanings. What a passage means is fixed by the author and is not subject to change by readers. This does not imply that further revelation on the subject cannot help one come to a fuller understanding, but simply that the meaning given in a text is not changed because additional truth is revealed subsequently. Meaning is also definite in that there are defined limits by virtue of the author's expressed meaning in the given linguistic form and cultural context. Meaning is determined by an author; it is discovered by the readers. The Denial adds the clarification that simply because Scripture has one meaning does not imply that its messages cannot be applied to a variety of individuals or situations. While the interpretation is one, the applications can be many." Biblical Prophecy is one area where good men of God come to different conclusions as to what is meant. Speaking The Truth In Love, BradK |