How Can We Correctly Interpret the Bible?
By Nate Corley
"How do we know we are interpreting the Bible correctly? Not something like Daniel being prophetic but like, how do we know Genesis is a literal history of how the universe was created and not something more poetic and symbolic instead?"
Ready for a big word? Hermeneutics. I know, I know – it sounds like a weird aerobic workout trend involving leg kicks and rubber bands. But it’s actually the one-word answer to your question. Hermeneutics refers to the process by which we interpret the Bible (or any text). Take the text you point to in your question: the first chapters of Genesis. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…”
If you’ve never picked up a Bible before, this sentence should raise a number of questions. Who (or what) is “God”? When is “the beginning”? What is meant by “heavens” (plural!)? What does the verb “create” involve? Is it significant the verb is in the past tense? And probably many more. In fact, as my hermeneutics professor Jack Willsey put it in seminary: “The basis of good Bible interpretation is learning to ask good questions.”
So by asking this question….you’re already off to a good start! “Is this a literal history or symbolic?” is one of the key questions you’ll need to consider to interpret Genesis 1-2. But to answer that question…you’ll need to ask more questions. Such as: when was this text written? In what language? By whom? Why? How would the first readers (or listeners) have understood this text? How is this text used elsewhere in scripture? And many many more.
If you want an excellent entry-level crash course to the art and science of hermeneutics, I recommend Fee and Stuart’s book How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth (available for a $10 donation in the FBC Book Stall in the foyer!). Or for more specifics on the question of “Is Genesis 1-2 a literal history or symbolic account of creation?” – you can check out Lee Strobel’s book The Case For A Creator or Del Tackett’s documentary Is Genesis History? (free on YouTube)
So you’re probably getting the impression: hermeneutics is a lot of work! It is. But you may also be surprised to discover it’s a lot of fun. Sort of like playing detective. Or historian/archaeologist Indiana Jones raiding an ancient tomb – but in this case, you’re after the treasure of God’s very words. The work is worth it.
One final big word that should be added to this discussion: perspicuity. Again, sounds like a workout word, right?? Even sweaty! But no – what this word refers to is the belief that the Bible is understandable and clear. Sure, there’s always value in learning more and studying more (I loved my years in seminary and still geek out when new books on Bible interpretation are released). But you don’t need a Ph.D. to read your Bible and understand it. Start with good questions, look for good answers, and put in the work. You’ll be blessed on the other side with a richer understanding of God’s words, which are “sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb” (Ps. 19:10).
PS Ok, you might be wondering my personal take on Genesis 1-2. I’m on team “literal history.” If you want to know why in detail, you might have to take me out to coffee! But the short answer is because I believe a more literal reading is closer to how Moses (the author) intended the creation account to be understood and how the original readers would have understood it. There’s plenty of debate regarding how this squares with modern biology, genetics, geology, etc., and we should take those questions seriously (and consult the many good resources that address them). We should also keep in mind that “science” is not monolithic, but diverse and ever-changing. So a certain intellectual humility is appropriate. But in the meantime, I’m personally very confident in those opening words of scripture: “In the beginning, God created…” – and that in Jesus, He will reconcile all things to Himself (Col. 1:20).