Is it possible to do biblical theology without presuppositions in interpretation?

The question of whether it is possible to do biblical theology without presuppositions in interpretation has long been debated among scholars. Many argue that interpreters cannot approach Scripture with a completely blank slate. Every reader brings prior experiences, cultural assumptions, and theological convictions. While some presuppositions can distort interpretation, others are necessary for understanding at all.

This article will examine the role of presuppositions in biblical interpretation, why the idea of presuppositionless exegesis is considered impossible, and how the church can responsibly engage Scripture while acknowledging interpretive commitments.

1. The Illusion of Presuppositionless Exegesis

Some interpreters have argued that biblical theology should be done without presuppositions, relying solely on the text itself. Yet many scholars have shown that this idea is unrealistic. The attempt to read Scripture with no assumptions has been called “the Principle of the Empty Head,” suggesting that a truly presuppositionless interpreter would have no framework for making sense of the text.

When Philip asked the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:30, “Do you understand what you are reading?” the eunuch replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:31). This exchange shows that interpretation requires prior categories and instruction. A completely neutral reading is not possible.

2. The Inevitability of Human Assumptions

All interpreters bring assumptions to the text. These include cultural background, language skills, theological traditions, and even personal experiences. For instance, when Paul spoke of adoption in Romans 8:15, his readers would have understood it within the Greco-Roman legal system, which shaped their presuppositions about the permanence of adoption.

Modern readers may not share those same assumptions and must learn them to interpret Paul’s words faithfully. This example shows that presuppositions are not optional—they are inevitable parts of interpretation.

3. The Risk of Distorting Presuppositions

While some presuppositions are necessary, others can distort interpretation. Jesus confronted the Pharisees for letting their traditions override the word of God (Mark 7:13). Their presuppositions about purity and tradition led them to miss the heart of God’s law.

In the same way, interpreters today may import philosophical systems, cultural biases, or theological agendas that obscure the message of Scripture. The danger is not that we have presuppositions, but that we may allow them to dominate the meaning of the text.

4. The Value of Theological Commitments

Some presuppositions, however, can guide interpretation in the right direction. For Christians, the belief that Jesus is the Christ and that the Bible is God’s word is not a distortion but a faithful starting point. Jesus himself declared, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). To approach the Bible with this presupposition is to take seriously its divine authority.

Paul likewise urged Timothy to continue in the Scriptures “which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Such convictions are not obstacles but necessary commitments that shape how Christians hear God’s word.

5. The Call to Self-Awareness in Interpretation

If presuppositions are inevitable, the key task is not to eliminate them but to be aware of them. Interpreters should examine their assumptions, test them against Scripture, and submit them to correction. The Bereans modeled this when they examined the Scriptures daily to test Paul’s teaching (Acts 17:11).

Awareness of presuppositions prevents blind spots and encourages humility. It allows interpreters to recognize where their cultural or theological background may color their reading, and it opens space for Scripture itself to correct those assumptions.

6. The Role of the Faith Community

Interpretation is not an individual task alone but belongs to the community of faith. The canon was given to God’s people, and the church across time serves as a safeguard against misinterpretation. Paul urged the Corinthians to “let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said” (1 Corinthians 14:29).

In the same way, biblical theology is best done within the community of the church, where presuppositions can be challenged, tested, and refined. The “communion of saints” helps ensure that no single interpreter’s assumptions dominate the meaning of Scripture.

7. The Guidance of the Holy Spirit

Beyond human awareness, the Holy Spirit plays a decisive role in interpretation. Without the Spirit, readers may understand words but miss their true significance. Paul wrote, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God… and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The Spirit enables believers to hear God’s word not only intellectually but faithfully. While presuppositions shape interpretation, the Spirit leads readers into truth, conforming them to the reality of Christ.

8. The Unity of Scripture as a Guiding Presupposition

One of the most important presuppositions in biblical theology is that the Bible speaks with a unified witness. Though written by many authors in different contexts, it is ultimately one book with one divine Author. Jesus himself affirmed this unity when he explained “in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

The presupposition of unity allows interpreters to read the Old and New Testaments together, recognizing their coherence in Christ. This conviction is not a distortion but a theological necessity for Christian interpretation.

9. The Gospel as Interpretive Center

All presuppositions must finally be tested by the Gospel. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ provide the center from which all Scripture is understood. Paul declared that “what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

The Gospel itself functions as the controlling presupposition of Christian interpretation. It ensures that exegesis remains faithful to God’s redemptive plan and resists being reduced to human speculation.

Conclusion

It is not possible to do biblical theology without presuppositions in interpretation. Every reader brings assumptions to the text, and some level of prior knowledge is required for understanding. While certain presuppositions can distort, others—such as the belief in Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the unity of the canon—are necessary for faithful interpretation.

The task is not to eliminate presuppositions but to be self-aware, to interpret within the community of faith, and to rely on the Holy Spirit. By doing so, the church can read the Bible with humility and confidence, hearing God’s word as a unified witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.