Topic: To Avoid Error – Have The Right Interpretation Of
The Scripture (1)
Preamble: There is obvious gross interpretation of the
Scripture as a result of the way and manner the Scripture has been studied and
read. The inappropriate studying and reading of the Scripture has led to wrong
interpretation of the Scripture and consequently the mishandling of what the
Scripture says.
Anchor Text:
Anchor Text:
"And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?"
Acts 8:30
Text of Interest:
“But ye have not so learned Christ;”
Ephesians 4:20
It is based on this premise Apostle Paul advised his
progeny in the Lord; Timothy thus:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
It is very important to note this statement in the
quotation above “rightly dividing the word of truth” which means that the word is truth, and though it is the truth but it must be rightly divided if not the one who is
studying or reading will go into error, notwithstanding that he’s handling the
word of truth. It is aptly therefore, to say that one can make a lie from the
word of truth because of erroneous studying and reading of it. Sometimes these
errors are induced intentionally and in most cases it is as a result of not
knowing better mainly because of carryover from mentors and teachers who do not
know better and it continues as an extended goad in the hand of people.
In one of his epistle as quoted below Apostle Peter
talked about being established in the present truth.
“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in
remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the
present truth.”
2 Peter I: 12
So if someone didn’t study rightly he will not be able to
decipher what the present truth is and ultimately will walk in error, and there
is no way one can know the truth in error. No wonder he warned his audience
about people who were misinterpreting the letters of Apostle Paul and I quote:
“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is
salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto
him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of
these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that
are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto
their own destruction.”
2 Peter 3:15-16
From the quotation above it is easy to deduce that the
issue of erroneous interpretation of the Scripture did not start in this
present day, but dating back in the days of the early Apostle. And
unfortunately we are still facing it till this present day and that is why
there is a need for us to tackle it and put it to rest. In his epistle Apostle
Jude warned believers about handling the word of truth wrongly and I quote:
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of
the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you
that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto
the saints.”
Jude verse 3
To be continued…..
Till I come your way again, keep on
basking in the Arena of Indubitable Truth!
Chukwuemeka C. Asiegbu
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