No prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation

[Timothy]

Is it the author of scripture who defines the meaning of scripture, or is it the office of authority within a Church who defines the meaning of scripture?

Arguably it's neither. If we believe the Bible to be the Word of God, then we must believe that its meaning changes based on the context of the readers since it contains truth for all times. Thus the message does not change, but the meaning behind it, and the application does.

[intricatic]

Originally Posted by Timothy

Arguably it's neither. If we believe the Bible to be the Word of God, then we must believe that its meaning changes based on the context of the readers since it contains truth for all times. Thus the message does not change, but the meaning behind it, and the application does.

Depends on whether the scripture in question is propositional (which will require application), or historical (which will be essentially the same no matter what time it's read). Also, propositional statements will not by necessity require different application for different times - some may, some may not.

[Emmanuel]

I think first of all one needs to understand and appreciate that when we are born again we are sealed with the spirit of God.

Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Eph 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

So let us agree on this one thing, despite all the conflicts as Christians we do have the spirit of God living in us as a seal All the bible versions use the word seal.

This being said, to say that we do not need the spirit to interpret scripture, well it's just wrong Christ said i will send you the spirit who will TEACH and cause to REMEMBER

Joh 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of all that I have told you.

So clearly the spirit plays a major role in our understanding of scripture, he teaches us and causes us to remember that which he has taught us. Never the less the spirit does not negate the involvement of the mind and soul in accepting the truth as truth, and sometimes God only reveals that which is profitable for us and edifies his children. In the end all truth points to Christ and no one else, every thing else in between is subjective and may depend on personal circumstances.

Secondly not all interpretation is from God, John said test the spririts:

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Not everyone who interprets does so with the right motives a lot are using the scripture for profit gaining "the so called prosperity preachers".

So in my opinion all revelations and interpretations of scripture are the same, that is in terms of doctrine, Christ is God, was born of a virgin, was crucified, died, was buried, rose on the third day. believe on him and you will be saved etc. (All interpretation of fundamental doctrine is the same, if not it is to be rejected) everything else in between is subjective and may well depend on what the spirit is trying to say to that person at that particular moment. After all God allows us to experience life in our own unique ways and he speaks to us through his word in our own unique ways BUT one thing he has spoken to us of salvation through ONE REVELATION.

That's my opinion please comment.

[intricatic]

Originally Posted by Emmanuel

I think first of all one needs to understand and appreciate that when we are born again we are sealed with the spirit of God.

Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Eph 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

So let us agree on this one thing, despite all the conflicts as Christians we do have the spirit of God living in us as a seal All the bible versions use the word seal.

This being said, to say that we do not need the spirit to interpret scripture, well it's just wrong Christ said i will send you the spirit who will TEACH and cause to REMEMBER

Joh 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of all that I have told you.

So clearly the spirit plays a major role in our understanding of scripture, he teaches us and causes us to remember that which he has taught us. Never the less the spirit does not negate the involvement of the mind and soul in accepting the truth as truth, and sometimes God only reveals that which is profitable for us and edifies his children. In the end all truth points to Christ and no one else, every thing else in between is subjective and may depend on personal circumstances.

Secondly not all interpretation is from God, John said test the spririts:

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Not everyone who interprets does so with the right motives a lot are using the scripture for profit gaining "the so called prosperity preachers".

So in my opinion all revelations and interpretations of scripture are the same, that is in terms of doctrine, Christ is God, was born of a virgin, was crucified, died, was buried, rose on the third day. believe on him and you will be saved etc. (All interpretation of fundamental doctrine is the same, if not it is to be rejected) everything else in between is subjective and may well depend on what the spirit is trying to say to that person at that particular moment. After all God allows us to experience life in our own unique ways and he speaks to us through his word in our own unique ways BUT one thing he has spoken to us of salvation through ONE REVELATION.

That's my opinion please comment.

According to the context of John 14:26, either the Holy Spirit is scripture, or the passage is talking to something different.

Through scripture, we know the works and teachings of Christ. Anyone who knows English (Greek, or any other natural language the bible was written in or translated into) can read and understand scripture, as it is communicated in human language for that purpose. It takes the Holy Spirit to accept the authority of scripture, but not to understand what it says.

9 “ Whom will he teach knowledge?
And whom will he make to understand the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just drawn from the breasts?
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.”
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue
He will speak to this people,
12 To whom He said, “This is the rest with which
You may cause the weary to rest,”
And, “This is the refreshing”;
Yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the LORD was to them,
“ Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little,”
That they might go and fall backward, and be broken
And snared and caught.
(Isaiah 28)

The ability to read and comprehend the message is not a fundamentally Christian ability. The ability to accept scripture as true and meaningful in whole, however, is.