Biblical Interpretation

How is a person supposed to interpret the bible? We often
hear and have heard many theologians, pastors, and therefore, laymen say such
things as “the plain teaching of the bible”. By which they mean the plain
meaning on the surface of the written word of God. I and Covenant Warriors
International Ministries (CWIM) does not dispute the plain teaching of the
Living Word of God for it is exceedingly important in and for many reasons.
Milk is necessary for those who have not come to full age in Christ Jesus. The
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth is the bases for all Christian life,
redemption, correction, and righteous living. It is also the foundational
principals of all enlightenment and revelation. If vision, revelation, Word, or
interpretation alters the logos (written) Word, the plain teaching of the Bible
then it is false or at the very least in error.

Many of you know that CWIM desires the deeper things of God,
the meat as opposed to the milk. I pray that you equally understand that every
good meal must have some milk or water to aide in the digestion. Meat alone
will simply choke the eater to eternal death. We believe that growth in the
Christian walk is not an option but a requirement for those whom are in Christ
Jesus. The meat of the Word of God is rarely on the surface or expressed in the
plain teaching of the Bible.

The Bible is highly symbolic just as it is literal. It’s
literalness has proven thousands of times historically and archeologically in
so much as it barely needs mentioning. However, it current literal
interpretation often alludes many in their practical application of living the
Christian life. Such as “Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the
sick, and they shall recover.” Literally this is true, the Christian cane take
up serpents and drink poison and not be harmed, however, it is also written
“Tempt not the Lord you God” and again “The Lord is not mocked” (Det. 6:16, Psa
78:18, Gal. 6:7).

Very few if any have difficulty with the metaphorical use
(the symbolic use) of the word serpent they quickly understand it to mean the
devil or demons. This is the same case as the use of the Dove in the Bible
symbolizing the Holy Spirit and or Living Water, Oil, also symbolizing the Holy
Spirit. For the Word of God clearly states the meaning of these symbols. The
difficulty arises in the other not clearly stated symbolic uses of the Word to
further understand the things of God whereby we do grow in HIM renewing or
minds until we too have the mind of Christ Jesus.

Too understand and properly grow in the Grace of the Lord we
must learn to correctly interpret the bible, getting past the correct plain
teaching which also has very strong tendency to bring forth carnal Christians.
Christians who believed they will be saved out of the earth but in fact will
not be.

By the above examples we should immediately see where the
Lord, HIMSELF, set the precedent and the precepts for symbolic interpretation
of HIS Word. There are many other examples of using this interpretative
technique. In 1 Corinthians we see God the Holy Spirit writing through Paul
interpreting that the Israelites’ passing through the Red Sea and through the
cloud that led them by day was symbolically a baptism as we understand being
baptized today.

1 Corinthians 10:2
And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ….

In Hebrews we see the Lord Holy Spirit referring to Jesus
the Christ as Melchisedec (Melchizedek), thus the eternal King of Peace
symbolically representing Jesus and vice versa.

Hebrews 5:6  As he
saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec.

As we comprehend from the above Hebrew’s verse the same type
of metaphorical (symbolic) use being applied to New Testament interpretation by
the Holy Spirit through the writer of Hebrews.

Jesus is also quoted as using this speaking and
interpretative technique in and for New Testament understanding. HE uses the
word fowl to symbolically stand for satan and his demons in Mark 4 and Luke
8:5-15, whereas HE gives the interpretation of the parable of the Sower.

The Bible does not only interpret itself but the Lord has
also taught us how the Word of God should be interpreted. It is interesting to
note that you do not see anyone in the written Word of God using technical
definitions of words as we often do. Word studies are a good way of studying
the Bible, I have and do a lot of that type of studying but always with an eye
of avoiding the eminence temptation to cross the line into purely human
intellectual interpretation. For in this Laodicean church age of circumcised
biblical interpretation of great falling away is a danger to all Christians.

I pray that the above biblical way of interpreting the Word
of God is helpful to you in your quest for the full course of coming to the
mind of Christ.