His Interpretation

First of all, you should know this: no prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation.... - 2 Peter 1:20

The academic term for the interpretation of Scripture is "hermeneutics" and every student of the Bible should work at applying a good standard in this area. Generally, there are some good rules to follow. For example, here are just a few:

1. Every text must be considered in context.

2. A passage of Scripture cannot mean more to us today than the original writer   

   intended.

3. Our understanding should come from Scripture and we should not read our own 

   understanding or beliefs into Scripture (easier said than done).

4. Scripture interprets our experiences, our experiences do not interpret Scripture.

Too often, a person may have an emotional, existential experience and then search the Bible for justification of that experience. Many heresies have been propagated by this technique, but the bottom line is this: The only interpretation that matters is also the only one that is correct, His. We must do our best to arrive at nothing short of this.

We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior. - John Stott