[kosta50]

Why does that individual wish so hard to interpret? I think that it is appeal to ego, to ease, and to an overcompensated inferiority complex

I am not sure if anyone did verifiable studies of people's motivations when it comes to interpreting the Bible. Part of it is probably natural tendency to "interpret" what we see, hear or read.

In reality, it is not an interpretation per se, but rather an opinion. And opinion have their roots in personal experiences, culture, personal relationships, and life in general.

Personal interpretation is reducing the scriptures to an opinion, and that in itself degrades the Holy Script. It subjects that which is holy to our level and corrupts it with our prejudices, ignorance and ego.

Those who know me on this Forum also know that I always maintain that what I say about the scriptures is my opinion; likewise, I always defer the interpretation to the Church.

Orthodox Catechism is very explicit about this (emphases added)

"In our understanding of God we often rely upon cataphatic notions since these are easier and more accessible to the mind. But cataphatic knowledge has its limits."

"The way of negation [apophatic thinking] corresponds to the spiritual ascent into the Divine abyss where words fall silent, where reason fades, where all human knowledge and comprehension cease, where God is. It is not by speculative knowledge but in the depths of prayerful silence that the soul can encounter God, Who is ‘beyond everything’..."

"Religion within the bounds of reason is not religion but naked rationalism."

[Ping-Pong]

That understanding should always, of course, be from the Word of God only.......LOL! And just how does one do that?

Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written. 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'"

We must try to understand that Word, taken as it is given, knowing that the following will happen:

Part of it is probably natural tendency to "interpret" what we see, hear or read.....In reality, it is not an interpretation per se, but rather an opinion. And opinion have their roots in personal experiences, culture, personal relationships, and life in general......Personal interpretation is reducing the scriptures to an opinion, and that in itself degrades the Holy Script. It subjects that which is holy to our level and corrupts it with our prejudices, ignorance and ego.

We are human, not robots. What good would it do to read, study and not try to understand? Kosta, if we followed what you are saying why would we ever pick the Bible up. It seems that we should only allow the church to recite scripture to us and only listen to their explanation of it in order to keep it pristine in understanding (their understanding).

We will bring our prejudices, life experiences, ego, etc. (how could we not?) to the table when we read but I don't believe that "degrades the Holy Spirit" at all. Rather, I would think that God would approve of His child reading His letter. It seems to me that all churches also bring their prejudices, beliefs and egos to their congregation and each one believes they are right, that they are the one true church.

So....In my opinion, we should read, study, listen to teachers, our church leaders and the opinions of others to gain the most knowledge possible. Remembering, that we will also be led in that understanding by the Holy Spirit. If He isn't the "voice" that is heard then God's Word will be able to dispel anything the false one says, no matter where that "false voice" and it's message comes from.

.......Ping