4 Prerequisites for Interpreting Scripture

Although God desires to communicate to every person, not just anyone can understand Scripture. The Bible is clear on that point. Faith is the prerequisite for truly understanding God’s Word. A person who reads without faith may understand some revealed truth, but he can-not expect to fully understand any truth revealed in Scripture. There are several aspects of faith, all of which are essential for the student who would interpret the meaning of Scripture.

1. Regeneration

Initial faith is necessary, for the unbeliever cannot understand the things of the Spirit. Regeneration is essential. This is explicitly taught in 1 Corinthians 2:6–16 and 2 Corinthians 2:15–18.

The thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received . . . the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God. . . . But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. . . . For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:11–12, 14–16; italics added)

Regeneration is essential, but it alone will not qualify the believer to understand the truth of God.

The Holy Spirit is the great Interpreter (John 16:13). Without Him all our efforts at fully understanding His Word are doomed to failure.

2. Commitment

Regeneration is essential, but it alone will not qualify the believer to understand the truth of God. The believer must have confidence in Scripture, for faith is not mere intellectual assent. Rather, faith means commitment, yielding to the Book; to its message, its meaning, and its divine Author. Faith predisposes one to discover the meaning the biblical writer intended, not to read into the text his own desired meaning. Only the one with full confidence in the Scripture will make the commitment necessary to fully understand its meaning.

If anyone is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself. (John 7:17)

A person must be determined to obey the Word if he expects to understand it. Commitment to obedience has another characteristic: hard work. The person truly committed to obey God will study to show himself approved to God, a hard worker who has no need to be ashamed of his workmanship. “Faith” does not mean the Bible student lays aside his intellect and relies on feelings or subjective im-pulses to understand Scripture. No, the kind of faith that believes the Bible is God’s own Word will drive the student to use all the resources God has given him to understand Scripture so that he may obey it.

3. Prayer

Faith in the Author of the Word, the indwelling Holy Spirit, must be actively expressed. Prayer is the evidence of true faith, and the only atmosphere in which full understanding of God’s intent can occur. It is simply not enough that He indwells us by faith and that we are open to His will with an obedient heart. We must actively ask, seek, and knock. There must be active dependence on the Holy Spirit, our Interpreter.

I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies. (Ps. 119:125)

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

The prerequisite for understanding the Bible is faith. Only one who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, rightly related to God with an obedient heart, and actively seeking the wisdom that is from above can know the truth. Nevertheless, only the Bible is infallible, not we or our interpretations. We are illuminated by the Holy Spirit through the Word, not inspired. For that reason, there is a fourth element in faith necessary to an understanding of the Word of God.

4. Humility

Humility is appropriate since we are dealing with the Word of God. It is also appropriate because of our nature. We are finite and subject to error. Furthermore, we are fallen and see reality only indirectly, veiled by sin. Therefore, an attitude of humility before the Word of God is essential if we would come to a knowledge of the truth. In this way we may be able to discern between that which is certain and that which may be our own fallible or sin-distorted interpretation of that Word.