Does the Bible really say that?
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”
… or so they say
What about the Bible? Is it also in the eye of the beholder?
Given the range of interpretations that abound, it seems that the answer is yes.
- Is the Bible factual? Some say “Yes” and others say “No”
- Is the Bible literal? Some say “Yes” and others say “No”
- Is the Bible metaphorical? Some say “Yes” and others say “No”
- Does the Bible allow women to be pastors? Some say “Yes” and others say “No”
- Does the Bible support slavery? In the past they said “Yes”, in the present we say “No”
These questions and many more, are answered in different ways depending on the point of view, but as the saying goes –
A point of view is just a view from a point
So where does that leave us when we are trying to follow a set of teachings that were written at least 2000 years ago? We can say, with certainty, that it wasn’t written for our modern culture, and that it wasn’t written in English. While these two factors don’t help us unravel the full meaning of the Bible, they should at least remind us that our English translations may have grounds for inaccuracy in translation and cultural understanding.
Most Bible teachers will say that the three most important points are context, context and context. Looking at the intended audience and their culture are important, but probably beyond the interest of casual Bible readers. So I’m going to step out on a limb and say that the most important thing to keep in mind when we read the Bible is to remind ourselves that we might not have a full and clear understanding of the text. Approaching the text with humility allows for other perspectives, and gives us the ability to see beyond our own blinkered interpretation.
Lets not be guilty of excluding the views of others simply because they have a different interpretation of a passage, especially if it is not the core doctrine of Christianity. As the saying goes:
In essentials, Unity
In non-essentials, Liberty
and in all things, Love
Given my foundational belief that God is love, this saying sounds about right.
Faith should be lived out in practice
- In Christ Daily – Day 3 - 2 November 2025
- In Christ Daily – Day 2 - 2 November 2025
- In Christ Daily – Day 1 - 2 November 2025