Topic: To Avoid Error – Have The Right Interpretation Of The Scripture (15)
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
It is because of this Apostle Paul made this statement and I quote;
“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:10
There are things that even the people who wrote them down in the scripture could not understand and cannot explain why they wrote them because it is beyond their understanding. What they did is just to pencil down what they were asked to write and they were only meant to obey the instruction and that was it.
“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.”
1 Corinthians 2:4-7
The truth beneath their writings have to be exposed by the Holy Ghost who knew all things and have everything under His lock and keys as far as the wisdom to comprehend what is written is concerned. As a result of this Apostle Paul prayed this prayer for his congregation in Ephesus in his epistle to them because it is very important for them.
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”
Ephesians 1:17-18
Without the Spirit of understanding who is the Holy Ghost, no one reading the mysteries as the Scripture is called will understand it. And if one does not understand it, he or she will definitely make mistakes while trying to interpret it with his human wisdom.
Now, the interpretation of the Scripture must come by the Holy Ghost or through a man the Holy Ghost has already filled with His wisdom. Therefore, someone who has been filled with the power of understanding by the Holy Ghost is reliable to teach the Scripture, and he or she knows how to navigate the lines of the Scripture and produce result. This was the case between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.
“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?” And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”
Acts 8:30-35
Just because Philip is filled with the wisdom of the Scripture he stands and has the right to teach and unfold the mysteries to this Ethiopian man. It is important to point out that the Scriptural study was not done outside Christ. It was conducted in the light of Christ and only in this way the right interpretation of the verses the man was reading was revealed to him. With the revelation knowledge he has gotten from the teaching of Philip it wasn’t a glitch for him to opt for baptism. The resultant effect of that was salvation of his soul and he went home rejoicing as stipulated in the scripture.
However, remember no one can ascertain the truth while in error!
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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