How do I figure out what the Bible means when it seems to teach different things?
When we consider teachings that are addressed in many places in the Bible, we are guided by a scale of importance. That scale comes from and involves our preconceptions. My preconception is that God has communicated to people to give us revealed truth vital to our lives and that we can figure it out. Here’s how it works.
- Plain statements interpret hard to understand statements, not the other way around. This inevitably leads to changes in what we believe as our understanding grows.
- Teaching cannot be contradictory, and interpretation is best guided by the clear statements.
- All teaching must be in line with who God is. Clear statements about God, including God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit always interpret any other teaching. Clear understanding of God is the primary truth. He is the Creator. Everything is created and sustained by him. “For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever.” Nothing can contradict the nature of God and who he is.
- After God, we are guided by his work in the world and in us. So we look to the clear teaching about creation and re-creation: God’s gift of salvation , Jesus redeeming us by his death and resurrection, and the plan God has for our eternal life.
So, here is an example of how this matters.
We read in 1 Timothy 6:15-16 that God is the only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He alone is immortal. Considering these clear statements we now know that nothing or no other being is immortal by nature. That is, all else either had a beginning, will have an end, or both. So, the material universe will not last forever in its present state. Human beings and any other spiritual beings are not immortal by nature. Any explanation of the universe must fall in line with this clear statement. Any belief about the eternal existence of humans happens only because God sustains their existence. People are not immortal by nature.