We might as well shut the Bible up for good if this sort of thing is true, for we could never be sure just what is, or

what is not divine revelation.

Although Scripture basically has one meaning, there are moral applications that can be made. The apostle Paul

` ... whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort

of the Scriptures might have hope' (Rom. 15:4).

That is, the Old Testament Scriptures, though primarily referring to Israel, can have a message for us. The strict

interpretation of them is to the Jew, but there are principles in them that can apply to us today. In another passage

(1 Cor. 10:6,11), Paul states that the things which happened to the Israelites during their wilderness journey were for

our examples, and in 2 Timothy 3:16 we are instructed that all Scripture (and this has primary reference to the Old

Testament) is for our profit with regard to doctrine, reproof, correction and education in righteousness. However,

we must always bear in mind that such applications are not interpretations, and must not receive that status; nor must

we ever misinterpret a passage in order to derive an application from it that appears attractive to us. Furthermore a

true application can be made only if it fits in with revealed truth for this present age of grace; if it does not, it

becomes error, however appealing it may appear.

In the Anglican morning service, the congregation quote Psalm 51:11, as a prayer: `Take not Thy Holy Spirit

from me'.

That is wrong application, John 14:16 makes clear:

`And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever'.

The Holy Spirit can be grieved by the believer (Eph. 4:30), but there is no statement in the church epistles that

He is ever taken away from the children of God. Such praying, Sunday by Sunday, is needless and quite ineffective.

The first thing to do with any passage of Scripture is to settle the interpretation, or its basic meaning, and not until

then are we in a position to make any application.

Todd, in his Principles of Interpretation writes :

`Only after the meaning or interpretation of a passage has been learned is one in a position to apply it to the life of

an individual or of a company. The application is quite a distinct thing from the interpretation. Much has been

lost in the study of the Bible by using it almost entirely by way of application, without enquiring into its literal

meaning. Specially is this true of devotional study. Sometimes lessons are drawn from Scripture which are, to

say the least, very far fetched, and not really warranted by the passage'.

We can therefore state as a guiding principle that there is one interpretation of God's Word, but there may be

several applications. It is most important to keep these two things distinct and in this order, and in so doing it

becomes another check on human ideas and peculiarities. The correct interpretation of the Bible takes note of the

people to whom it is addressed, and the background or need that called for its writing. It is like the address on the

envelope of a letter.  The contents of the letter belong solely to the one to whom it is addressed (this is

interpretation), but it may contain statements that are not only true of the owner, but of people in general (this is

application). The failure to distinguish between these two things has been the cause of wrong doctrine and

confusion, and everyone who wishes to handle the Word of God aright and to receive its riches will take care to

avoid doing this.

Putting into practice the important principle of settling the interpretation of a passage first, we should attempt to

discover its real and basic meaning, and not attribute one to it that appeals to us. If we do this we are only reading

our own ideas, or those of other people into it, and this is always destructive of truth. Luther wrote: `The best

teacher is the one who does not bring his meaning into Scripture, but brings it out of Scripture'. Wise words indeed!

Happy is the person who can approach the Bible relatively free from personal prejudices, bias and pre-conceived