The Bible Doesn’t Believe in a ‘Plain Reading’ of the Bible

Sometimes you hear people advocate for a ‘plain reading’ of scripture. I believe that scripture isn’t meant to be molded into anything we want it to be. However, all too often I fear what people are saying when they advocate for a ‘plain reading’ is that we shouldn’t put ourselves in the shoes of the first recipients of the scriptures, in their context and customs, that we should trust that original language translated into English perfectly captures the idea that was meant to be conveyed.

The biggest problem with this is that the Bible doesn’t believe in a plain reading of the Bible.

…and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand…  -From 2 Peter 3

Why is it hard to understand Peter? Just read it plainly.

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2 thoughts on “The Bible Doesn’t Believe in a ‘Plain Reading’ of the Bible

  1. Seems like faith is rarely plain. I have come to the conclusion that I have to be OK with not understanding everything. We can’t put our lives in a neat little package we surely can’t put God in one.

  2. jonstallings Great point Jon! Those I’ve know to have the strongest faith also seem to admit the complications in it.

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