How Can We Recognize Good Biblical Interpretation?

Interpreting Scripture can be messy. But I’ve become almost certain of at least two things: Scripture can be twisted and abused to justify hateful and unholy ends; and a good interpretation of Scripture builds up the twin loves of God and neighbor.

But I’ve become almost certain of at least two things.

I turn to the Bible to understand who God is, who we are, and what we are to do. Nevertheless, I am well aware that Scripture has been used to justify slavery, genocide, and further evils even in our own day. How do we decide what is correct or good interpretation? I think St. Augustine has some wisdom to impart to us as we consider this question.

In De Doctrina Christiana, St. Augustine wrote that if you think you have understood the divine Scriptures, or any part of them, in such a way that this understanding does not build up the twin loves of God and neighbor, then you have not yet properly understood the Scriptures. For Augustine, who wrote this treatise to preachers in the making, this is the main key by which Scriptural interpretation is to be judged.

This leads me to ask: do our interpretations of the Bible lead us to love God and love our neighbors, all of our neighbors, more? If not, then we undermine everything that the law, the prophets, and Jesus hang on (Matthew 22:40). Scripture is not just about doctrine—it is meant to transform us in such a way that we love God and our neighbors more. If our interpretation alienates us from God or causes us to hurt our neighbors, it is not a good interpretation.

Do our interpretations of the Bible lead us to love God and love our neighbors, all of our neighbors, more?

One powerful lesson from this understanding of Scriptural interpretation as building up the twin loves of God and neighbor is that it suggests a very tight interrelationship between how we see God and humanity. Our misinterpretations of God lead us to misinterpret people. Additionally, our misinterpretations of the human experience lead us to misinterpret God. As Jesus taught about the two greatest commandments (e.g. Matthew 22), our love of God and neighbor are intimately linked.

Another lesson that can be drawn from this understanding of Scriptural interpretation is that Scripture always points beyond itself. It is easy sometimes to idolize the Bible and think that God is the Bible itself. Yet, Jesus himself said: “You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf” (John 5:39).

Our misinterpretations of God lead us to misinterpret people.

The Barmen Declaration, a confession written by Christians in Nazi Germany, states: “Jesus Christ, as he is attested to us in Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God whom we have to hear, and whom we have to trust and obey in life and in death.” Scripture testifies to Christ. Scripture is meant to build up our love of God and neighbor. While biblical knowledge is important, that knowledge alone is not sufficient if we do not understand that the Bible is meant to do something to us and lead us like a sign, as Augustine would say, to the actual thing. That actual thing is the love of God and neighbor. 

This is Daniel Camacho's last article on Do Justice as a columnist, since he has finished his year of writing for us and is moving on to other pursuits. You've enriched our community, Daniel. Thank you for sharing your reflections with us! To see Daniel's other thought-provoking Do Justice articles, visit his author profile--or visit the Guardian U.S. to see his writing there! 

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