Interpretation in Bibliology (Doctrine of Scripture): How Christians Read and Apply the Bible
Interpretation in Bibliology addresses how Christians read and apply the Bible. Scripture is God’s Word, written through human authors, and therefore requires careful understanding. Reading the Bible is not a mechanical act but a spiritual discipline that calls for humility, prayer, and trust in God.
Christians have always confessed that Scripture speaks with divine authority, but how it is interpreted determines whether its message is heard clearly. The Bible must be read in its historical context, recognized as a unified story centered on Christ, and applied faithfully to the lives of God’s people. This work of interpretation is essential not only for personal devotion but also for the church’s faithfulness in proclaiming the Gospel and living in hope of Christ’s return.
1. Interpretation as Understanding God’s Word
The first principle of interpretation is recognizing that Scripture is both divine and human. God inspired the human authors, yet their historical setting, vocabulary, and intention matter. Paul wrote, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Faithful interpretation includes:
Seeking the author’s intended meaning in grammar, syntax, and context.
Listening with love and trust, knowing God speaks through His Word.
Approaching with humility, acknowledging dependence on the Spirit.
The authority of Scripture demands careful attention so that Christians may rightly understand God’s truth.
2. Interpretation in the Unity of the Bible
The Bible is not a random collection of writings but a unified narrative of God’s plan. Jesus Himself showed this when He explained, “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).
This unity shapes interpretation in three ways:
Textual reading: Words and sentences must be read carefully in their immediate setting.
Epochal reading: Each passage belongs to a stage of redemptive history, whether promise, fulfillment, or hope.
Canonical reading: Every part of Scripture belongs to the whole Bible, with Christ at the center.
Reading the Bible this way prevents distortion and keeps interpretation anchored in the story of salvation.
3. Interpretation through Biblical Theology
Biblical theology traces the unfolding story of God’s kingdom across the whole of Scripture. It answers how individual texts contribute to the broader narrative. For example, God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12—“in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”—finds its fulfillment in Christ and the mission of the church (Galatians 3:8).
From biblical theology flow several applications:
Themes such as covenant, kingdom, temple, and exile connect the Old and New Testaments.
Typology shows how earlier events foreshadow later realities in Christ.
Systematic theology is grounded in biblical theology, organizing doctrines by what Scripture itself reveals.
Interpretation, then, is not only academic but a way of entering the story of God, centered on the Gospel of Christ.
4. Interpretation by the Spirit and the Community
Understanding the Bible is not only intellectual but spiritual. Jesus promised, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). Christians believe the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word, enabling believers to understand and apply it.
This work is carried out within the community of faith:
The church interprets together, guarding against private distortions.
Tradition provides wisdom, though it is always measured by Scripture.
Preaching and teaching carry forward the task of interpretation for each generation.
Interpretation is never isolated but belongs to the life of the people of God.
5. Interpretation for Life and the Last Days
The goal of interpretation is not simply knowledge but transformation. James exhorts, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). Christians read the Bible to be shaped in faith, obedience, and hope.
Interpretation matters for:
Doctrine: Understanding who God is and what He has done in Christ.
Discipleship: Living lives of holiness and love.
Mission: Bearing witness to Christ in a world awaiting His return.
In the last days, when many voices compete for authority, Scripture remains the lamp for God’s people. Correct interpretation anchors the church in God’s truth and strengthens it to endure.
Conclusion
Interpretation in Bibliology is the work of understanding and applying the Bible as God’s Word. It requires careful attention to the text, recognition of its unity in Christ, reliance on biblical theology, dependence on the Spirit, and participation in the church community.
By reading and applying Scripture in this way, Christians hear the voice of God, embrace the Gospel, and are equipped to live faithfully until the appearing of Christ.
Bible Verses on the Interpretation of Scripture
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 — “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children.”
Psalm 119:18 — “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”
Isaiah 55:11 — “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty.”
Luke 24:27 — “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
John 16:13 — “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”
Acts 17:11 — “They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
Romans 15:4 — “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
2 Timothy 2:15 — “Rightly handling the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 3:16–17 — “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable… that the man of God may be complete.”
James 1:22 — “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
