Again, keep things in context. Read all of 1 Timothy 3 so you will understand why Paul is writing to the church.
Is private interpretation of the Bible condoned in the Bible Itself? No, it is not (2 Peter 1:20).
Read on to the next verse for a complete understanding of this. You might also want to check with the Bereans on this issue..."Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." Acts 17:11 NASB
Peter also had this to say about the word....
2like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation 1 Peter 2:2 NASB
Was individual interpretation of Scripture practiced by the early Christians or the Jews? Again, "NO" (Acts 8:29-35).
We will note the Ethiopian was not Jew or Christian. However, Philip was and he was moved by the Spirit to explain Isaiah to the man. He used, gasp, the scriptures, the written word, to explain how the man could have salvation through Christ.
This is not a case of forbidding someone to read the word to try and understand it. It is an example of helping someone come to Christ using the word.
The assertion that individuals can correctly interpret Scripture is false.
Guess that part about the Holy Spirit being our Helper doesn't apply in reading the word......
I understand why the rcc doesn't want their members to read the text if your understanding of the text is an example of the level of understanding of a catholic.
If you read the Bible, how do you know what it means unless there is a priest or bishop there to explain it to you?
BTW....you're making your own interpretation of Scripture, weak as it is, just by posting these verses.
When I was a catholic, many years ago, I had unanswered questions, so I went to my catholic priest in Grand Forks, ND. I wanted to know why am I here, what am I supposed to be doing, and where am I going? He just said, well, the church teaches this and the church teaches that, but I left even more frustrated than when I started. This particular priest never told me not to read the Bible for myself, but my parents certainly did. Being as I was an absolutely TOTALLY rebellious person, after my parents told me that, the first thing I did, was to sneak our catholic family Bible to my room at night, and read it, just to spite them. 😱 The Word of God had a profound impact on my life, and the rest is history, as they say. Now, I no longer have any unanswered questions.