40 Questions - Discussion Part 2 A - Why Interpretation Matters

Kelly Ann Marino

Welcome back to Family Church's Hermeneutics for You channel, everyone. I’m Kelly, and I’m here with Paul. Today we’re digging into Part 2 A of Robert Plummer's book, "40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible." We addressing probably the most basic question of all: why does the way we interpret the Bible even matter? I feel like for a lot of people—maybe, honestly, for me growing up—there’s this sense that, well, everyone’s reading the same book, so shouldn’t everybody pretty much land in the same place? But, Paul, that’s not what actually happens, right?

Paul Sheffield

No, it sure isn’t. I’ve seen it in church life and wider Christian circles: folks are often surprised that, even while everyone’s quoting from the same pages, you get these wildly divergent convictions. Think about it. Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons—they’re all opening up the Bible but walking away with beliefs about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit that are just… poles apart. I mean, some see one eternal God in three persons—the Trinity. Others, like Jehovah’s Witnesses, would say Jesus isn’t divine at all. And it’s not just about doctrine either—whole denominations debate what the Bible says about, say, sexuality or even things like church leadership.

Kelly Ann Marino

Yeah, and I think there’s this temptation to just say, “Well, I believe the Bible,” as if that closes the conversation. But the source material in Robert Plummer’s book makes it clear: just saying you believe Scripture doesn’t automatically mean you’re interpreting it well or in the way it was intended. I keep coming back to those texts Plummer cites: like 2 Timothy 2:15, where Paul tells Timothy to “correctly handle the word of truth.” That warning doesn’t even make sense unless there’s a very real chance we might get it wrong, misread it, or even twist it.

Paul Sheffield

Exactly, Kelly. And 2 Peter 3:15-16, too—Peter says Paul’s letters contain things that are “hard to understand,” and some “distort” them, to their own destruction. That’s a pretty sobering thought. The Bible itself warns us: it’s possible to get this desperately wrong, and there can be real consequences in misunderstanding.

Kelly Ann Marino

It makes me think about something from my own family, if I can share a quick story. So, I grew up in this big blended family, and there was this one dinner—actually, it was a Thanksgiving, now that I’m remembering—where two relatives were both quoting Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go,” but they used it to defend totally opposite parenting strategies. One said it meant tough love, strict discipline; the other, all about gentle guidance. The same proverb! I was a kid but I remember just feeling—wait, are they reading the same book? And it clicked way later that how you approach context and intent changes everything.

Paul Sheffield

That’s an awesome example, Kelly. And I think, honestly, most people have a moment like that—maybe not at Thanksgiving, but you notice that context, history, intent…if you overlook those, it’s easy to attach your own perspective. Plummer stresses that proper interpretation is about truly seeking the inspired author’s meaning—both the human writer’s and the divine intention—rather than just pulling verses, out of habit or even just because it suits what we’re hoping to find.

Paul Sheffield

What’s fascinating, too, is that our struggles aren’t new. Christians have wrestled with interpretation from the very beginning. If you look back, say, at the way New Testament writers themselves read the Old Testament, they were always careful—respecting the context, showing how, say, messianic promises found fulfillment in Jesus. They didn’t just riff on Scripture for secret codes or wild symbolism.

Kelly Ann Marino

But then, you get this big shift after the time of the apostles, right? Early church history shows this move toward allegorical interpretation—Origen, for example, would say a passage had a literal meaning, a moral meaning, and a spiritual or allegorical meaning. Sometimes it’s poetic, but it also gets… a little out there. I mean, suddenly Jerusalem is not just a city but also the human soul, the church, and the future heavenly city, all at once.

Paul Sheffield

Yeah, and while allegory might feel creative or even inspirational, it winds up drifting from the actual author’s intent. The Reformers—Luther, Calvin, and all those tough-minded folks—really pushed back on that. I still remember my first sermon series as a rookie pastor in Kansas—we were going through Numbers, and one very sweet, solidly Midwestern gentleman would ask each week what all the “fives” and “twelves” secretly represented. Was God telling us the date for Jesus’ return? Did the number of loaves mean the number of church picnics we should plan? I—I tried to take it seriously, but it was a lesson in how easy it is to get sidetracked. It made me appreciate the Reformers’ insistence on returning to the literal, historical context—authorial intent, not just what we hope to find.

Paul Sheffield

Where was I going with that? Oh right—the point is, church history is kinda littered with both good and not-so-helpful methods, and looking back helps us see the strengths and the pitfalls.

Kelly Ann Marino

Totally, Paul. And honestly, even in more recent times, you get people trying to push for nuanced allegory again—like, suggesting maybe it helps with tricky or uncomfortable passages. But Plummer’s summary makes it clear: if we lose touch with the plain meaning, we’re in dangerous territory. Church tradition can help guard us, but ultimately, the closer we get to those original sources, the better.

Kelly Ann Marino

Alright, so let’s get super practical for a second. If the goal is a faithful, meaningful interpretation, what exactly are some best practices? Plummer gives us this helpful checklist: start with prayer, let Scripture interpret Scripture, always check the context—literarily and historically—and, my favorite, study in community. Don’t go it alone or just rely on your own hunches.

Paul Sheffield

I couldn’t agree more. Prayer really sets the posture—reminding us: this isn’t just about head knowledge, it’s about a heart open to God’s guidance. Then, considering genre—like, knowing a proverb’s not a guarantee, or a parable isn’t an allegory for everything. For resources, you have powerful tools out there: study Bibles—The ESV Study Bible comes up a lot—concordances for tracing themes or words, and commentaries for background info you’ll never get from just skimming the text. Plus, Bible software like Logos or Accordance, or even websites like biblegateway.com or biblicaltraining.org, make the deep stuff much more accessible.

Kelly Ann Marino

I actually wanted to ask you about this, Paul, because you once told me about a Bible study where you used a really basic concordance just to link together Old and New Testament verses. Was that for a group or your own study?

Paul Sheffield

Oh, that was with a small group on a Wednesday night, maybe a decade ago. We were puzzling over Hebrews and all those Old Testament references. I brought this beat-up concordance—I mean, pages falling out—and together we started tracing ideas through the whole Bible. Suddenly, things that seemed mysterious or disconnected—well, it was like someone turned the lights on. Sometimes those tools that look basic can uncover layers you’d never catch otherwise. So, it’s not just about having a big library; it’s about knowing how to use what you have, and being open to learning together.

Kelly Ann Marino

Yeah, and that “aha moment” is so energizing. I love how Plummer adds, too—study Bibles and guides are super useful, but discernment matters. It’s easy to lean too hard on footnotes and forget to wrestle with the text yourself.

Paul Sheffield

So let’s bring it right down to real life. Interpreting the Bible well isn’t just some academic thing. It shows up when you’re facing an argument at work, or you’re standing at a fork in the road with a tough decision. One of the best practices is just asking: what does this passage reveal about God’s character—and what does it mean for me, here, now?

Kelly Ann Marino

Patience and humility, right? Sometimes I get super frustrated when I’m stuck on a verse or it just doesn’t seem clear. But, after talking about this with friends or in a small group, it almost always opens up, even if I don’t get a complete answer. Plummer reminds us: understanding goes deeper over time, and especially as we listen to others, not just our own interpretation.

Paul Sheffield

It really takes regular habits—like journaling questions and ideas, writing down insights, or even things you’re unsure about. That practice slows things down, lets stuff marinate. I also recommend finding a Bible study group or a mentor you trust. The shared wisdom and those gentle nudges—they help you grow and avoid the “echo chamber” of just your own thinking.

Kelly Ann Marino

Definitely. For me, sometimes it’s as simple as jotting down a one-sentence takeaway, or even a question, after reading a passage in the morning. Even if it feels small, those daily touches really add up. And hearing from others—especially people who have walked with God a long time—always widens my perspective.

Kelly Ann Marino

So, as we wrap up, I love the idea that everyone can develop a kind of personal guide for approaching the Bible. It’s not a formula, but maybe more like a checklist. I’ll admit, I’m a checklist person. So, like: always start with prayer for wisdom, check the context—historical and literary—ask “does another passage clarify this one?” Before jumping to conclusions, jot down what you’re actually seeing in the text, then compare.

Paul Sheffield

Yes! And keeping a journal, not just of insights but of the process—the questions, the moments when you shift your mind about a passage, or even the bits that frustrate you. Over time that record becomes a pretty rich tool for discernment. It reminds you not just where you’ve been, but how you got there. I’ve seen real fruit come out of reflection like that, both for myself and for folks in my congregation.

Kelly Ann Marino

One last encouragement—if you haven’t yet, find or form a study group focused on good interpretation. Not just sharing what you “got out of the passage,” but really digging into questions, challenging assumptions, and growing together. The group dynamic adds layers of trust, honesty, and even fun that solo study sometimes lacks.

Paul Sheffield

That’s right. Our understanding grows best when it’s shaped not just by information, but by honest relationships and holy curiosity. And those conversations—the ones that make you pause and re-examine—those are the ones that stick.

Kelly Ann Marino

Alright, that’s it for today’s episode! We’ll keep going deeper in the next one, but for now, thanks so much for joining us. Paul, any final words?

Paul Sheffield

Just this: interpretation is a journey we take together, not a contest we win alone. Grace to all of you as you keep studying—and, Kelly, as always, it’s a joy talking with you.

Kelly Ann Marino

Likewise, Paul. Thanks everybody—we’ll see you next time on Hermeneutics for You. Take care.