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?

[Austin]

I believe faith, humility, and awareness are the greatest influences on my ability to interpret a biblical passage. My faith in the Word enables me to believe in the lessons I am being given, with no faith I would just be reading a book. Humility, with faith, enables me to accept the message even if it contradicts what I see or hear, and awareness means that I will take any preconceived ideas and be able to process them correctly.

[Austin]

Faith and illumination because I believe it is through Him alone that I have the ability to interpret.

[Austin]

I would say pre-understandings affect me the most. It is hard to change the way I think about a topic.

[Austin]

i am not sure which of these points have the greatest influence on me as it all depends on what passage I am reading, how much I have read or heard others interpretations of it and whether I have had personal experience in what is being said. What does hinder me is when I have made an opinion and need to be humble enough to let the Word teach me something i may not have heard or known or even like

[Austin]

faith affects me the most because it helps me to believe in the truth