onifre writes:
So does this mean that any interpretation is right or does it mean that none are right?
Here's a scripture verse quoting the apostle Paul to young Bible student, Timothy, relevant to that question:
II Timothy 2:15:
Give diligence to present yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
In the KJ version the word for diligence is
study. Mastering the scriptures is not for novices. It does take a lot of diligent work and study to corroborate all of the writings of around 40 different authors so as to compare scripture with scripture on any given topic. Concordances, interlinears and Bible dictionaries are all helpful tools in this work.
By mine quoting scriptures out of context, deceivers can apply the scriptures to support just about any doctrine that suits their fancy.
1. The rule of thumb is unless the context and corroborating contexts indicate otherwise, restrict your interpretation to the literal wording.
2. Compare scripture with scripture. II Peter 1:20: "...no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation." In other words, let no private interpretation undermine what is written in the scriptures on any given topic.
3. The Bible is dispensational in that different scriptures apply dispensationally to what period/age they were intended. For example there was an age of Levitical priesthood applicable to the nation of Israel in the dispensation of the Levitical law. That was replaced by the dispensation of grace where the letter of the Levitical law to Israel was finished relative to animal sacrifice, Temple worship, etc.
The apostle John said in Revelation 1:3 relative to understanding the Revelation mysteries: {.....read....hear...keep what is written."
BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW.
The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.