HOW DO WE KNOW?

How do we know what the scriptures say and mean for sure? Who is the final authority on such matters? Who has it all ‘right’ concerning interpretation? We can (and often should) ask many of these questions. But really it is not as confusing as it may first appear to be. Many times I think we convince ourselves it is difficult so we have an excuse not to have to deal with it.

I hold to Bible teacher Dr. David L. Cooper’s “Golden Rule of Interpretation,” which states:

“When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.”

“Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?” Jesus