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There are five points we must examine about ourselves as interpreters: faith, illumination, qualification, humility, and awareness. Which of these five do you believe has the greatest influence on you as you interpret a Bible passage? How does it help you when you interpret a passage? How does it hinder you?
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I would have to say that faith has the greatest influence on how I interpret a Bible passage. It helps me when I interpret knowing that it is God’s written word. I don’t know that it hinders me.
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Illumination the Holy Spirt has the power and authority to guide as we read and study the scriptures.
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Faith for me is most important. Faith that God’s word is true and inerrant. I believe that the other points follow faith. I have faith that God will give me illumination, qualification, humility and awareness if I earnestly ask him to help me understand my readings.
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Illumination has the greatest influence on me as I interpret a Bible passage. I am trusting the guidance of the Holy Spirit to give me clarity and understanding of God’s word as written.
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AWARENESS – because I have been a student of God’s Word for some 39 years and I “know a lot” of His Word. But I bring that to my interpretation and have “attitudes and theological convictions” I bring to the table. It helps because I do know and understand the fundamental principles and doctrines of the faith so largely this works as an advantage…. but….in matters of sovereignty vs. free will there is a “fight” within me to read Scripture in favor of God sovereignly allowing man to express his free will in matters of salvation and I admit to looking for ways to uphold my belief as I have no desire to believe God picks some people to save and others He, even justly, does not pick. This skews what I am willing to see when interpreting Scripture.