Having been a bible school teacher (for the deaf) I have noticed something. People seem to add to what they read in the Bible. The color of God or Jesus seems important to some, women's or men's rights,is it relavent to today (read let me correct this). I wonder why. Doesn't it seem right that at some point in our reading God's word, it occurs to us that this is really God's word; and if it is God's word, we should leave it alone. I don't mean to say that we should not read the entire verse to see the complete statement, but should we add worldly ideas or properties to the Bible?

Do you mean people interpret it how they want? I don't know of any additions to the Bible that weren't added by about the year 300 or so.

Why not..it's all subjective to interpretation and perception anyway..

I am told the bible is subject to intrepretation. I guess because people want to make it relevant to their lives, not people who lived all those years ago we read of in the bible. Seems to me the values, the truths, the story of Jesus, are timeless things. Since Jesus said Himself, "My kingdom is not of this world", things become a little clearer. The bible is not about relevance but is about a spiritual relationship with the Lord, how He wants that with us and how we can have it. The world's values in Jesus' time, the worlds values now mean little or nothing. God's values are what is important and they don't change. People change, God does not. To me it's ok to see something in the bible and wonder and discuss what it means. Maybe it says the same thing to all people but when people read it, they don't dissagree with it, they just see how it affects their lives;everyone life and situation are different. Opinions?

God speaks English??????

Yes, I agree. The Bible is subject to interpretation. Martin Luther was the first to stand up and say this. Since then, millions of people have interpreted it for themselves and applied it to their lives. Some successfully, some not.

I believe you are right about the Bible being a roadmap toward spiritual unity with God. Just like many other religions have their spiritual roadmaps that are very similar. The actual stories vary, but the message is generally the same.

The Bible is The Lord's interpretation.

If we continue to alter the words, then we are essentially saying that words can mean whatever we want them to mean, and if we carry this to it's logical conclusion then words don't have any real meaning at all.

Of course, for some reason, we don't read newpaper articles this way. We don't exchange the position of the subject of the newpaper article for ourselves,

So why do so many people think it's ok to make that violation of grammar when reading THIS particular Book? And then justify it? And rejustify the behavior adinfinitum?

Like, well, someone else did it and I liked how they did it, so it's ok to abandon the self proclaimed truth of The Lord and...and...and...

I have never seen any Scripture supporting that, rather, I find Scriptures saying completely different things, such as Words the Holy Spirit teacheth, and, that we cannot stand on our own creature strength (in this matter) but ONLY upon EVERY Word which proceedeth out from the mouth of The Lord, &c &c &c.

Our interpretation is of no value. If we desire to know that is His interpretation then we are going to have to learn something about words, grammar, Hebraisms, Figures of Speech used in The Bible, and as it is written, 'hold fast the form of sound words'.

If you consider the Bible to be literal and historically accurate, then you cannot. If you consider the Bible to be a spiritual guidebook, then you can.

I cannot what ?

interpret/change the meaning of the words. I thought that's what we were talking about. Whether or not one can interpret the Bible for themselves.

It is my experience that The Bible interprets itself. Do you find some Biblical instructions for changing the words? Please share them so I can look them up.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned

This does not mean that license is provided to change the words or the meaning of words, after all, The Bible does not use Websters, in fact English was only invented in the 1500's, so if we wish to be able to acknowledge what the Words mean, we have to do what the instructions tell us to do, study, &c &c...

In every instance, when we read that the people reason amongst themselves, it is very very bad.

Psa 106:39 Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

Ecc 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man (morally)upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

I think that you are assuming that I am a Christian and that I take the Bible literally. I am not and I do not. I have found much spiritual guidance in the Bible and that has been my point all along in responding to this post. The OP asked if the Bible can be interpreted differently by different people. It is my opinion that it can.

As a non-Christian, I do not look to the Bible to give me permission to interpret it as it pertains to me. If you are a Christian, then you probably will be looking for that permission or the lack thereof.

How can a book interpret itself?

Well, when using symbolism, this particular Book tells us what the symbols mean.

Many have the desire that in every verse all the words would be explained again for them. But this is not realistic at all. We don't see that expectation when studying math or science, so how can we expect that the entire set of definitions be given again in every verse? It's simply not realistic. What is realistic is that we might remember the instructions we are given and then to apply them when the context, the subject, and the grammatical object, are acknowledged and then followed through to completion.

(I make no assumptions on behalf of your position)

I can say, however, that anyone who is not intimately familiar with the subject matter of any given subject, would have a difficult time convincing anyone but themselves of their predetermined position, whether that be The Bible, math, anatomy, or a host of other subjects.

I see Bible scholars who disagree widely on the interpretation of the Bible. These are people who are intimately familiar with the Bible. I have read the Bible. Yes, the whole thing. Grew up in a very fundamentalist Christian home. So, I am familiar with the teachings. However, it still is my opinion that the Bible is very open to interpretation.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

I can live with that, however it is always nice to be able to look it up where one get's their information from. That's the difference between what it says and what we think it says you know...inventions.

Like I said, I didn't get my views/beiefs from a statement in the Bible. Or in any other book for that matter. They have been developed through many sources and all my experiences over the last 42 years.

I hear ya, still, it's got to be fairly obvious that anyone who doesn't know or want to know what the subject matter is of any given subject will have more than just a little difficulty in digging deeper into that subject, in this case, what is actually written.

Everyone has the right to make it up as they go along with all their own feelings and everything like that, and even to form opinions traditions and interpretations which are in direct conceptional conflict with that which is written, however I don't believe that is any reason to alter that which is written. People do it all the time, they don't believe that which is written and say, well I like this, or, I don't like that. Does that change what is actually written though ? Of course not.

For example, I didn't like math so much, but my opinion was of no value on the subject.

I mean, when one takes that approach in most any endeavor, rather than learning the instructions, given interpretation, and then practicing them, the result is failure in most instances.

This particular Book concerns our consummate failure as well as the perspective of One who cannot fail, and in that we are instructed of those deeper things wherein we can have a real hope, and perhaps if pay attention enough and do those things which constitutes real obedience, we might see a reward in view; something more than the free gift.

Of course, there is no way to practice the instructions if we don't know what they are, or, change them to mean something that we feel more comfortable with. You wouldn't want me to give you eye surgery if I had my own ideas about it and failed to take in all that is written in the instructions about it. Many leaders in the so called church do this all the time...what they say sounds good, makes me feel comfortable - but what is actually written ?


If The Lord had simply left it those who cannot reach up and know Him, then all we would be left with is our own ideas, but we aren't left to guess. We have actual instructions on the instructions as well as what the practice should look like in His eyes. Of course, it is essentially wrong and incorrect to mix up one peoples instructions with someone elses instruction - and we see this so prevalently that it is discouraging for both those who desire to understand what the words mean as well as those who have their own opinion while not really concerned with what the words mean or say.


This is a great and recognized problem. We call them denominations, which comes from a Greek word meaning divisions.

No one should add or substract anything from the Bible but our government in the United States does it all the time.

Just look at Rom 13.

We were to obey Jesus and our Pastors etc now we are to obey our local government and pay city and state taxes.... EXCUSE ME?

It has been changed many times over but the KJ is about the best to go back to and understand. That is the older the better even the new ones are being changed to control the people to the better of the United States NOT GOD.

You must decide for your self who you will follow and obey God, or men. For me and my family and the members of the children of God we obey God Acts 5:29

We walk not in the darkness as most of you do, do not wear clothing that the opposite sex does, after all britches were made as under garments not outside wear as both sex wears now. Man, told you to do that not God.

Ecc 9:8 Let all your garments be white? Look I'll bet your not wearing white anything right now. Nor were you today or last week.

"he is shaking his head at those of you who thought you were obeying God and are not..."

umm, it doesnt look like a white shirt in your picture,,,

for as many people as you talk to you'll find as many different beliefs from the bible

and all of them are convinced that they are right and everyone else is wrong