RELIGIOUS RULES ABOUT BIBLE INTERPRETATION
There are several schools of thought about Bible interpretation. Review of these various principles is beyond the scope of this page. However, we think it is helpful to understand some of the basics so readers can identify them when religious leaders apply them to justify their teachings. We therefore refer readers to these links: Biblical literalism; Hermeneutics; Historical-grammatical method; Historical-critical method; Pardes (Jewish exegesis).

AUTHORS’ NOTE: Although these represent legalistic approaches to understanding God, we strongly recommend that readers make their own review of these and other techniques commonly applied to Bible study before continuing with this page.

Also see Two Sets of Laws for discussion about religious legalism which is in direct opposition to the New Covenant relationship by which God and his laws are understood.

It is worth noting that only the Jewish exegesis method makes real allowances for symbolic interpretations of scripture. The other methods typically applied by Christians are, in our opinion and in our experience, fundamentally intellectual exercises that leave little or no room for symbolic interpretations — except for a few obvious concepts (e.g. Jesus is the lamb of God); baptism symbolizes death and resurrection, etc).

That symbols and allegories are generally discounted in favor of literal interpretations is best recognized in the fact that neither Christians nor Jews are seriously trained by religious leaders to develop the ability to interpret scripture in their personal Bible studies. The general attitude is that the religious professionals have a special anointing and training (i.e. calling) that equips them for the work of scripture interpretation. Thus, as the thinking goes, the spiritual heavy lifting should be left up to them so that the untrained laity will be spared the risk of making mistakes in interpretation. We find this attitude to be arrogant and self-serving on the part of the religious leaders. We also find it to be Biblically incorrect and costly to the spiritual well-being of both clergy and laity.

With that perspective in mind, we will attempt in these pages to provide some much needed training on symbolic Bible interpretation.