“…that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation…” ( 2 Peter 1:20).
What exactly is the Private interpretation of scripture?
St. Basil the Great defines the private interpretation of scripture as one refusing “to follow the fathers, (and) not holding their declaration of more authority than one’s own opinion…” (Letter to the Canonicae 52:1 [A.D. 370]).
In other words, the one interpreting the Bible interprets it in accordance to how they want it to be understood. This is dangerous since this creates opportunities for false doctrines to arise, as the individual misinterpreting the scriptures departs from the Tradition of the Church and the Gospel message as a whole.
Why Do Individuals Choose To Privately Interpret The Scriptures?
The Holy Bible and the Patristic Fathers teach that the main reasons are due to spiritual pride. This is evident in their craving to follow one’s own desires, the denial of Infallible Truths, Dishonest Gain, Sloth, and the desire to appear as wise.
Proof:
2 Timothy 4:3-4; “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Peter 2:1; “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”
Titus 1:10-11 ; “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.”
In the words of St. Basil, their “conduct (is) worthy of blame, … being brimful of self-sufficiency.” ( Letter to the Canonicae 52:1 [A.D. 370]).
St. Clement of Alexandria: “For those are slothful who, having it in their power to provide themselves with proper proofs for the divine Scriptures from the Scriptures themselves, select only what contributes to their own pleasures. And those have a craving for glory who voluntarily evade, by arguments of a diverse sort, the things delivered by the blessed apostles and teachers, which are wedded to inspired words; opposing the divine tradition by human teachings, in order to establish the heresy” (Stromata 7:16 [A.D. 202])
St. Hilary of Poitiers: “The Church, ordained by the Lord and established by His Apostles, is one for all; but the frantic folly of discordant sects has severed them from her. And it is obvious that these dissensions concerning the faith result from a distorted mind, which twists the words of Scripture into conformity with its opinion, instead of adjusting that opinion to the words of Scripture. And thus, amid the clash of mutually destructive errors, the Church stands revealed not only by her own teaching, but by that of her rivals” (On the Trinity 7:4 [inter A.D. 356-359]).
What is an Example of a Heresy That Was Birthed from Private Interpretation of Scripture?
The heresy of Sola Scriptura, which is the Protestant theological position that all doctrinal truths are within the scriptures alone, and not found within the Tradition of the Church. Many holding this view reject the teaching of the fathers, and believe that the scripture interprets itself or can be interpreted only literally.
Note: Ironically, this teaching is refuted within the Scriptures itself, as the Bible is based upon the living tradition of the Apostles, which was handed down to the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and Orthodox Church.
Proof:
2 Thessalonians 2:15 – “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”
2 Thessalonians 3:6 – “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.”
The Apostles Believed in Oral Tradition
This is evident from the Scriptures themselves:
Jude 1:9 – “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Point: This is not mentioned anywhere within the Old Testament which was the biblical canon of this time period, with the exception of Deuteronomy 34:5- 6 and Zechariah 3:1-2 being possible references. This belief in St. Michael contending with the devil over the body of Moses was upheld by the ancient Israelites through their Oral tradition.
2 Timothy 3:8 – “Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith.”
Point: Just like the former story about Moses, the latter is also based on Jewish oral tradition since the names of the two sorcerers Jannes and Jambres are not found in the Old Testament.
The Early Church Fathers on Private Interpretation:
St. Ephraim the Syrian: While (the sects) mutually refute and condemn each other, it has happened to truth as to Gideon; that is, while they fight against each other, and fall under wounds mutually inflicted, they crown her. All the heretics acknowledge that there is a true Scripture. Had they all falsely believed that none existed, someone might reply that such Scripture was unknown to them. But now that have themselves taken away the force of such plea, from the fact that they have mutilated the very Scriptures. For they have corrupted the sacred copies; and words which ought to have but one interpretation, they have wrested to strange significations. Whilst, when one of them attempts this, and cuts off a member of his own body, the rest demand and claim back the severed limb…It is the church which perfect truth perfects. The church of believers is great, and its bosom most ample; it embraces the fullness (or, the whole) of the two Testaments (Against Heresies [ante A.D. 373]).
St. Ambrose: Wherefore all other generations are strangers to truth; all the generations of heretics hold not the truth: the church alone, with pious affection, is in possession of the truth (Commentary on Psalm 118:19 [A.D. 387]).
St. Augustine: But when proper words make Scripture ambiguous, we must see in the first place that there is nothing wrong in our punctuation or pronunciation. Accordingly, if, when attention is given to the passage, it shall appear to be uncertain in what way it ought to be punctuated or pronounced, let the reader consult the rule of faith which he has gathered from the plainer passages of Scripture, and from the authority of the Church, and of which I treated at sufficient length when I was speaking in the first book about things (On Christian Doctrine 3:2:2 [A.D. 397]).
“For heresies, and certain tenets of perversity, ensnaring souls and hurling them into the deep, have not sprung up except when good Scriptures are not rightly understood, and when that in them which is not rightly understood is rashly and boldly asserted. And so, dearly beloved, ought we very cautiously to hear those things for the understanding of which we are but little ones, and that, too, with pious heart and with trembling, as it is written, holding this rule of soundness, that we rejoice as in food in that which we have been able to understand, according to the faith with which we are imbued (On the Gospel of John, Homily 18:1 [A.D. 416]).
Origin: Now the cause, in all the points previously enumerated, of the false opinions, and of the impious statements or ignorant assertions about God, appears to be nothing else than the not understanding the Scripture according to its spiritual meaning, but the interpretation of it agreeably to the mere letter. And therefore, to those who believe that the sacred books are not the compositions of men, but that they were composed by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, agreeably to the will of the Father of all things through Jesus Christ, and that they have come down to us, we must point out the ways (of interpreting them) which appear (correct) to us, who cling to the standard of the heavenly Church of Jesus Christ according to the succession of the apostles (First Principles 4:1:9 [A.D. 230]).
The Bible: Written Tradition?
The biblical canon of scripture is not mentioned anywhere within the scriptures. In fact, Church History shows us that there were several biblical canons before they were officially codified at the councils of Hippo, Carthage, and Rome.
Examples of Early New Testament Codex Manuscripts:
• Sinaiticus, 4th Century : This manuscript contained The Septuagint, all of The New Testament books starting from Matthew to Revelations. The apocrypha books such as the Letter of Barnabas and the Shepherd of Hermas were included.
• Vaticanus, 4th Century : The New Testament books of this manuscript were Matthew, 2 Thessalonians, Hebrews 1:1-9:13, James, and Jude. It lacked Hebrews 9:14-13:25, 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Revelations.
• Alexandrinus, 5th Century : All or the New Testament books were included ( Matthew – Revelations ), however, it lacked parts of Matthew ( 1:1-25:6), John 6:50-8:52, and 2 Corinthians 4:13-12:6. The apocrypha books of 1st and Second Clement were included.
• Washingtonensis, 4th – 5th Century: Only contained within its New Testament the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
• Bezae, 5th – 6th Century: It’s New Testament included The Four Gospels, most of Acts, and 3 John 11-15.
For those that upheld the doctrine of Sola Scriptura: The Burden of Proof is for them to show how we arrived to the Canon of Scripture, without admitting that it was codified by THE CHURCH. This is because the Church came before the Bible as we now know it.
“… but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
Council of Hippo: Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read, in the church under the title of divine writings. The canonical books are:—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, the four books of Kings, the two books of Paraleipomena (Chronicles), Job, the Psalms of David, the five books of Solomon, the twelve books of the (Minor) Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Tobias, Judith, Esther, two books of Esdras, two books of the Maccabees. The books of the New Testament are:—the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, thirteen Epistles of S. Paul, one Epistle of S. Paul to the Hebrews, two Epistles of S. Peter, three Epistles of S. John, the Epistle of S. James, the Epistle of S. Jude, the Revelation of S. John. Concerning the confirmation of this canon, the transmarine Church shall be consulted (Canon 36 [A.D. 393]).
Council of Carthage: [It has been decided] that nothing except the Canonical Scriptures should be read in the church under the name of the Divine Scriptures. But the Canonical Scriptures are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Josue, Judges, Ruth, four books of Kings, Paralipomenon two books, Job, the Psalter of David, five books of Solomon, twelve books of the Prophets, Isaias, Jeremias, Daniel, Ezekiel, Tobias, Judith, Esther, two books of Esdras, two books of the Maccabees. Moreover, of the New Testament: Four books of the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles one book, thirteen epistles of Paul the Apostle, one of the same to the Hebrews, two of Peter, three of John, one of James, one of Jude, the Apocalypse of John (Canon 47 [A.D. 397]).
Does The Orthodox Church view the Bible with importance?
The Orthodox Church indeed views the Bible with importance and has a great reverence for the scriptures, as it is infallible and Divinely Inspired. This explains why the Church decided which books were to be read within her liturgies.
The canons of the Coptic Orthodox Church show that the scriptures are of great importance, as it not only contains the Infallible Truths of The Gospel, but is also the prayer book of the church:
“Prayer includes reciting what the Bible and Cannons (Laws of the Church) determined to be used in prayer which includes: The Lord’s Prayer, The Profession of faith (Nicean Creed), Praying day and night the Psalms, Praises, Glorifications, Confessing God the Omnipotent, and confessing our sins. In the morning prayer recite psalm 62 and in the evening prayer recite Psalm 142”(Chapter 14 – On Prayer – “Al Magmou Al-Safawy Le Ibn Al-Assal”, 13th century).
Fun fact:
The Orthodox Church has produced many martyrs who refused to hand over the Holy Scriptures and Holy Books to the heathens. One example of many would be St. Timothy the Deacon. He was a Deacon in the rank of Lector.
Here is his story from the Coptic Synaxarium, which is the 5th day of the month of Hatour:
“ On this day also the church celebrates the commemoration of the martyrdom of St. Timothy. He was a deacon for a small village church in the district of Ansena, and was married to a young lady called Mora. Emperor Diocletian issued his orders to persecute the Christians, burn their books and force them to worship the idols.
Arianus, the governor of Ansena, brought Timothy, the deacon, and ordered him to bring the books of the church to burn them, as he also ordered him to raise incense for the idols. Timothy refused and told the governor; “Is it possible for a father to hand down by his own free will his own children to an avenging enemy?” The governor became angry and ordered his soldiers to torture Timothy.
They forced red hot iron rods in his ears, so his face swelled, lost his hearing and also his sight. Arianus told him; “Raise incense to the idols and I will stop torturing you.”
Timothy replied; “There is no benefit for your persistence for I do not feel the torture because my Lord Jesus Christ relieves my pain. Arianus crucified him head down on a pole, and brought his young bride Mora to persuade him that he might yield and raise incense to the idols.
Instead, he preached her with the words of the Gospel and talked to her about the eternal life and the crown of martyrdom. She went to Arianus and declared her Christianity and that she preferred to be martyred with her husband than a life in worshipping idols. The governor started to torture her with a successive dreadful means but she faced them bravely and silently.
Later on Arianus the governor ordered to crucify the pious deacon Timothy and his wife Mora facing each other. They agreed not to fall asleep on the cross lest the Lord comes and find them asleep. They remained crucified for several days then delivered their spirits in the hand of God Whom they loved and thus they received the crown of martyrdom.
The blessing of their prayers be with us all. Amen.” (Source: Coptic Reader).
Glory to God forever, amen!
Faith Unto Ages 