With groups using Scripture as artillery against each other in TV-broadcast wars, is there really a true interpretation of the Bible�s contents? Is there a single message that each author wanted to communicate or is everything plain relative, subject to the type of criticism each reader leans toward?

In Practical Discipleship, Bertram Lim points out certain concerns when studying the Bible as well as steps on understanding the Scriptures better.

The first consideration is that the Bible was written in three languages�Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Translations can never fully grasp the full meaning of the words, even the syntax used in these languages.

The different translations of the Bible serve different purposes but the preferred version for beginners is the New International Version (NIV) because it gives a more fluent, thought-for-thought rendition. Translation discrepancies are bridged by Bible concordances, commentaries and dictionaries, unless one really studies the original languages the Bible was written in.

Second, the Bible�s books are written in various formats and the style used in understanding one book may not be applicable to another book. The Bible�s books are classified into history, law, poetry, prophecy, the Gospels and letters (epistles). Each book should be grasped through the format it was written in.

Third, each portion of the Bible was written to an original audience. Although the messages still apply to modern day people, understanding the context in which each book was written is the key to proper understanding of Scripture.

A technique called OIA (Observation-Interpretation-Application) is very helpful in uncovering the meaning of the Bible�s passages. Observation is questioning the section to determine its context (Who is the author? What were the political and socio-economic conditions that time? Why was the book written? Who are the people involved? Where are they? What are they doing? Why are they doing such things?).

Next, Interpretation is gleaning the segment�s meaning from the observation. Observation is crucial since wrong observation leads to wrong interpretation. Last, Application relates the SPECS (Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey and Stumbling blocks to steer clear of) of the Biblical times to present�day situations. There is only one interpretation of Scriptures but the applications vary.

Fourth, the Bible has one supreme author�the Holy Spirit and has only one great theme and central figure�God�s salvation through Jesus Christ. It should then be understood as a whole, each book taken in the light of Scripture�s entirety and not as individual pieces of literature.

Fifth, reading the Bible literally from cover to cover is not advised unless one has grasped the meaning of the entire Scriptures first. Devotionals and reading programs (like the NIV Introductory Bible Reading Courses) usher readers into an overview of the Bible. Also, beginners can start with the Gospel of John, where the Bible�s core message is (otherwise they will only get muddled in the deep contexts of the other books, especially in the Old Testament).

Finally, being written by the Holy Spirit, the Bible can only be understood with the Holy Spirit. Humans from different backgrounds produce the same interpretation of Biblical passages as long as they are guided by the same Spirit. We can ask for this guidance through prayer. Enjoy your Daily Bread!

Junette B. Galagala, 19 September 2005