The Question of Misinterpretation

Have you ever experienced a moment when you completely missed the point of a conversation? It’s a common situation. Children often face the disappointment of failing a test or assignment simply because they didn’t understand the instructions. Many marital conflicts arise from misunderstandings between spouses.

The Danger of Misinterpretation

Misinterpretation can be dangerous or even life-threatening. For example, if a person misunderstands a prescription, they may not only not get better, they may invite serious harm. There’s a reason why warning labels are placed on electrical appliances; misinterpreting those could lead to placing a hairdryer in the bathtub–which is extremely dangerous. Similarly, misinterpreting traffic laws could result in running a red light and facing fatal consequences.

Purposeful Misinterpretation

Purposeful misinterpretation can be particularly frustrating. When someone deliberately takes your words out of context to win an argument or to make you look bad, it can understandably tempt you to be angry. This kind of misinterpretation frequently occurs during televised interviews. For instance, a liberal journalist might interview a conservative to trap them in their statements. The Pharisees attempted this with Jesus on several occasions, such as when they questioned him about the acceptability of paying taxes to Caesar. They conveniently ignore the context that gives a statement its true meaning, of they patently like about the meaning.

People who deliberately misinterpret others are imitating the Pharisees, harboring malice in their hearts, and it is this sinful heart that needs to be exposed.

Jesus Traps The Trappers

Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies who pretended to be sincere. The Pharisees hoped to use Jesus’ own words to catch Him and  hand Him over to the governor. In an attempt to manipulate Him into a misspeak, the spies questioned Him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus was not a man who could fall for such trickery. He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” They were unable to trap Him in what He had said and, astonished by his answer, they became silent. (Luke 20: 20 – 26, ESV)

The Irritating Five-Year-Old

Sometimes, my five-year-old intentionally misinterprets my instructions to avoid doing chores. When I ask her to clean her room, she watches television on the couch instead. I remind her that I want her to clean her room, and she claims she didn’t understand my request. Afterward, she might only pick up one toy, prompting me to remind her to put all the toys in the living room where they belong. This behavior frustrates both me and my wife, because it isn’t possible that she truly didn’t understand the expectation. She is intentionally misunderstanding my words to do what she prefers.

Similarly, many people read the Bible with the goal of misinterpreting its meaning. Various factors contribute to this, including figures of speech, cultural differences, language barriers, and the varying covenants addressed to different audiences. However, the primary reasons for misinterpretation are often rooted in unbelief or preconceived notions.

Natural Barriers and Misinterpretation

While these barriers can be challenging to overcome, they are not insurmountable. To gain proper understanding, one must take time, exercise patience, humility, and a willingness to learn, utilize appropriate resources, and submit to guidance from the Divine author. Essentially, one must genuinely desire to understand, invest time and effort, and seek God’s assistance.

These obstacles are present throughout Scripture but are particularly prevalent in the historical narrative portions. One of the most commonly misinterpreted texts is the Genesis Creation account. Historical narratives in the Bible tell real events in story form, incorporating elements such as main characters, antagonists, plots, conflicts, and resolutions. While these events are expected to be accepted as truth, some people disregard these storytelling elements due to unbelief or preconceived ideas.

The theory of evolution directly challenges fundamental views on marriage, death, sin, resurrection, and the nature of God; many people struggle to accept miracles, and others reject the supernatural because it conflicts with their preexisting beliefs and manmade mythologies. But the Genesis Creation account challenges these preconceived ideas and unbelief, as do many miraculous events in the Bible, like Jonah and the fish or the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

How do we know we are correctly interpreting the Bible? We read it in its context, looking for the author’s intended meaning. We do not try to trap the biblical author or twist his words. We interpret it seeking the intended meaning.

More From Striving for Eternity

If you want more information regarding how to study the Bible and interpret it correctly, check out the store section at strivingforeternity.org/store. There are a variety of resources to help you get started on your journey to interpreting the Bible better. Also, invite Andrew Rappaport and Aaron M. Brewster to attend your church and teach biblical interpretation with their Biblical Interpretation Made Easy Seminar. Andrew Rappaport, Aaron M. Brewster, and other guests on Apologetics Live would also enjoy answering your questions on the live show on Thursdays from 7 pm–9 pm CST with the link to the stream yard at strivingforeternity.org/apologeticslive. Lord bless you and strive to make today an eternal day for Christ Jesus.