READ: 2 Peter 1:19-21
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15
It is very important to interpret the Bible correctly whilst you are having your quiet time. The Holy Spirit is the author of the Word of God and therefore He is the one who can lead us into correct understanding of the Word.
Here are some keys to interpreting the Bible correctly.
1. Read the text in its context. Each word must be read in the context of other words in the verse. Each verse must be read in the context of the chapter. Each chapter in the Bible must be read in the context of the whole book. You can make the Bible say almost anything you want it to. Anything that is taken out of its context becomes an oddity.
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 has created.
2. Do not spiritualize meanings of words.
If you take the language of the Bible at face value, you will save yourself from deception. There is no reason to spiritualize or allegorize the meaning of any word. When the Bible says that Moses stretched out his rod over the Red Sea and the sea parted, you must believe that is exactly what happened (Exodus 14, 21, 22).
If you spiritualize the meaning, you will immediately stray into deceptive waters.