Many hold the position that the Bible should just be read, rather than interpreted. The fear is that careful study could push aside the Holy Spirit. I don’t think so.Everything requires interpretation. Have you ever tried to express dry humor through email? Unless the person with whom you're communicating knows you really well, the joke will probably go over like a lead balloon. Interpretation is more difficult without being able to see facial expressions and body language.
Or suppose your spouse asks for a Kleenex. Would you give him/her a soggy used one, or a fresh new one? The new one, of course. But how did you know that was the appropriate choice? You interpreted the request.
There are some simple interpretive questions we must ask when reading the Bible, too.
Next: Questions to Ask
[NOTE: In a previous post I mentioned that one benefit of reading through the Bible at a faster pace is that, in doing so, we may see the broader message more clearly. We don’t want to miss the forest for the trees. However, anyone knows a forest cannot be studied in depth without studying the individual trees that make up the forest. The same could be pointed out regarding Bible reading vs. Bible study. While a through-the-Bible reading program has its place (and I think it's the right place to start), it will never replace careful study of select passages. It's not an either/or kind of question. Both are vital for a disciple’s development.]
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