Topic: To Avoid Error – Have The Right Interpretation Of
The Scripture (3)
Continued from last episode-
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 that has resulted into wrong application of
what the Scripture says.
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
Interestingly, Apostle Paul openly stated it that Apostle
Peter and his group were not walking according to the truth of the gospel. He
openly expose Peter’s mistakes, he didn’t call him by the corner or in secret.
No wonder he instructed his progenies Timothy and Titus to rebuke those who are
in error without mincing words (1Timothy 5:20, Titus 1:13, 2:15). However, of course after that encounter with
Paul, Apostle Peter advises himself and knew better. That was why he has the
effrontery to write about Apostle Paul’s teaching and instruct his audience not
to misinterpret it. On several occasions Apostle Paul instructs his disciples
not to go against the truth which he has taught them. This is because he knows
that in the knowledge of the truth one can rightly be established in Christ. In
the same manner he instructed Titus one of his sons in his epistle to him and I
quote:
“But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober,
just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught,
that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the
circumcision whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching
things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.”
Titus 1:8-11
Apostle Paul didn’t stop there; he went ahead to instruct
on how he can stop them because it is important to do so.
“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply,
that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and
commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”
Titus 1:13-14
As a result of this Apostle Paul forewarned about the
consequence of the erroneous teaching that it will cause people to begin to
choose the kind of teachers they want irrespective of what they are teaching
inasmuch as it suit their taste. This is what Apostle Paul called itching ears
and such is still in vogue even today.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears;”
2 Timothy 4:3
Overtly, there is this consistency of the word ‘truth’ in
virtually if not all the quotation I have written which entails that the word ‘truth’
is the crux of the matter. The word truth signifies the wholeness of the
Scripture and it shouldn’t be altered and if there be a little alteration to
it, it is no longer the truth because the truth must be whole for it to be the
truth! Jesus in the gospel affirming the wholeness of the Scripture or Word as
the truth declared as I quote:
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
John 17:17
Earlier in the previous chapter He has declared to His
disciples that the word He spoke them has sanctified them (John15:3), which
means that what the word of truth does is to sanctify people whenever they hear
it. In other words if someone is taught wrongly as a result of wrong
interpretation of the truth, he or she will not be sanctified because what has
been taught to him or her is no longer the truth. And no wonder the Apostles
were so worried and as a matter fact continued to point it out to their progenies
not allow any alteration on the truth because it will become part of the
problem instead of solution in the life of people.
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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