Interpreting the scripture

[Peds nurse]

Hello people!!

I have talked with a couple of non believers who are somewhat disturbed when Christians claim to interpret or have more insight to scripture than they do. I am wondering why this is an issue? If we read multiple books on electric conductivity of the brain, and how various diseases interfere with that process, would we claim to know as much as a neurologist?

I don't think that Christians are claiming that nonbelievers are incompetent in any way, or that they lack the skills to interpret scripture, rather I believe it is because we as Christians, have God living in us (His Spirit), giving us discernment in how to apply and live out those scriptures in our life (New Testament).

Question for debate: Do you think it is reasonable to think that Christians have an advantage over nonbelievers in interpreting scripture? Why do some find this claim offensive?

HAPPY 4TH of JULY!!!

[Peds nurse]

In response to the OP:

Do you think it is reasonable to think that Christians have an advantage over nonbelievers in interpreting scripture? Why do some find this claim offensive?

[quote-"Tam"]Technically, no... because interpretation does not belong to men, so it should not BE a Christian interpreting scripture.

I agree Tam, we have the aide of God's Spirit. This is not to say that sometimes we misinterpret things apart from God.

A Christian should have an advantage over a non-believer in understanding scripture IF that Christian has had that scripture opened to them by the Spirit (Christ)... therefore IF that Christian is listening to the Spirit, and IF the Christian knows Christ. (Well, a Christian knows Christ - they are anointed with holy spirit that Christ has given them - but not all who call themselves Christians truly are Christians)

I think it is also important to note that understanding and living it out are two very different things. I for one, am known to stray from the teaching of God's word at times.

All that being said, a person could study the scriptures their entire life, every day devoted to them, and still not have an accurate (truthful) understanding of them. ("You diligently search the scriptures because you think that by them you will have eternal life, but you refuse to come to me for life") Nor do you need to turn to scripture to see this - for there are a great many conflicting 'interpretations' of scripture out there. But there is only One Christ, One God, One Truth. (someone other than a Christian might not accept that, but for a Christian, I do not know how one could reject that)

I personally don't think we will ever have complete understanding of scripture because God is always working in the lives of His people. As we know and trust Him better, we understand scripture at a whole new level, even those verses that we have known forever! God's word is living, meaning that we constantly draw life from it.