Historically, Christians have made use of a variety of approaches to studying, interpreting, and understanding the Bible. In the Catholic Church, the Church is understood to be authoritative in interpreting the Bible. A common attitude among lay Catholics (one encouraged by some clergy) is that they see the Bible as so complex and potentially confusing that they decline to read or study the Bible in a serious way. They rely entirely on their priests and other sources of approved teaching. While Protestants, at least those who care about the Bible, acknowledge having a personal responsibility to understand the Bible, their actions vary. Some, whether from laziness or from intimidation (the Bible is a big book, and some of its teachings are complex), do little study on their own, relying on the teachings of others - pastors, authors, radio and TV teachers. At the other extreme are some who eschew books and teachers, relying on little more than their own reading and study. What guidance does the Bible itself give relative to how it should be studied and understood?

Not surprisingly, the Bible includes examples in which all three approaches (minus any laziness or apathy) are commended to believers. In the Old Testament, priests, along with their other duties, were to instruct the Israelite people in God’s Law, and guide them in applying it. In the New Testament, Acts 15 tells of a council (sometimes referred to as the "First Council of Jerusalem") in which, in response to disputes, the leaders of the Jerusalem church met to inquire about Paul’s teaching and ministry. The result was a letter to all Christian congregations approving what Paul had been teaching and doing, and giving instructions regarding the disputed matters. The Bible also provides many examples of individual teachers. Most Old Testament judges and prophets were neither priests nor members of the tribe of Levi (i.e. those designated for tabernacle and temple service), and many ministered independently of (and sometimes in spite of) the priests and Levites. Judging from the letters of Paul, James, Peter, John, and Jude, apostles and other leaders were received as teachers having a certain degree of authority.1 Corinthians 1:12-13 and 1Corinthians 3:4-9 also allude to this and urge the Christians in Corinth to maintain proper perspective and priority in their loyalties. Galatians 2:11-14 details a situation that demonstrates the fallibility even of apostles. Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:28-31, and Ephesians 4:11-16 show that the ministry of "teacher" is one of the gifts Jesus gives the church through the Holy Spirit. Likewise, the importance of personal study is a theme in both the Old and New Testaments. In Deuteronomy 17:18-20, Israelite kings were commanded to write out their own copy of the Law and study it regularly. Joshua was likewise admonished (Joshua 1:8) to learn and obey the Law. Psalm 119 is a lengthy exhortation about the importance studying and following the Law. Jesus emphasized the importance of studying the Scriptures (John 5:39), informing us that the Scriptures speak of Him. 2 Timothy 3:16 is probably the most succinct statement concerning the nature of the scriptures and the value of studying and applying the Scriptures.

Sadly, the current somewhat divided state of Christians has very much diminished the role of a corporate voice in interpreting the Bible. Many denominations have official positions on most aspects of Christian teaching, but denominational lines of authority can often be evaded by simply jumping to a different denomination. More sad is the fact (in my opinion) that much of the current division among Christians arose from misuses and abuses of the corporate voice. Christian teaching ministries abound, of scope ranging from small Sunday School classes within a local congregation to ministries that are read, heard, or seen worldwide. Used carefully, such ministries are of great benefit to Christians, bringing the teachers’ collective wealth of study and education to their hearers. Careful use is necessary, however. Hearers and readers need to check to be sure that what is taught is faithful to the Bible - meaning, context, and balance. Christians should avoid focusing too much on any particular teacher or topic of Christian teaching. Always remember that every teacher is a finite, fallible human being. Teachers are not a substitute for personal reading and study of the Bible. Without personal involvement, one’s knowledge is only second-hand, and self-motivation to learn what the Bible teaches is weak or lacking. Whether one is a new Christian, or has followed Christ for many years, no Christian should forget that they are human and finite - fallible and always learning. For these reasons, Christians should cross-check their personal studies and acquire a personal library of Bible reference tools - concordances, lexicons, interlinears, multiple translations, commentaries, atlases - to aid their personal studies. There are no Lone Rangers in the Body of Christ.

The bottom line, then is a balanced approach. Christians should consult the collective wisdom of many centuries of Christianity. Christians should listen - literally and metaphorically - to individual Christian teachers. Ultimately, though, each individual Christian is directly responsible to God, and should be convinced through personal study, guided, but not over-ridden by, "the church" and individual Christian teachers.