READ: 2 Peter 1:12-21
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. – 2 Peter 1:20, 21
It is very important to interpret the Bible correctly whilst you are having your quiet time.
1. Read the text in its context.
2 Each word must be read in the context of other words in the verse.
3 Each verse must be read in the context of the chapter.
4 Each chapter in the Bible must be read in the context of the whole book.
5 You can make the Bible say almost anything you want it to. Anything that is taken out of its context becomes an oddity.
For instance, you can make the Bible say, “There is no God.” You may ask, “How do you make the Bible say that there is no God?” Just take these
four words of Psalm 14:1 out of context of the other words and you will have a false message.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God… Psalm 14:1
When you put the phrase, “There is no God,” back in context, you get a different message: “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” In other words, it is not a case of “there is no God”, but a case of the fool saying in his heart that “there is no God”.
If you take some Scriptures from the book of Song of Solomon out of context you may even think the Bible is discussing pornography. However, within its context you will discover a beautiful message of the love that God had created.