Biblical Interpretation
Why are there so many different Biblical interpretations?
There are so many different kinds of interpretations because there are so many different kinds of people. From a postmodern stance, diverse people interpret the bible in diverse ways. Our interpretations differ based on our experiences, ways of knowing, learning styles, abilities, communities, countries, languages, and other identities. Clark-Soles tells us that in this postmodern approach to interpretation:
...texts cannot literally speak for themselves; they are always interpreted by readers who come from particular philosophical, epistemological, cultural, locations that influence and, to some degree, predetermine the kinds of interpretive outcomes that ensue.
There is a myriad of methods and experiences used to make meaning of this sacred book, and interpretations multiply through the wondrous differences in each human life. My mentor once told me, “Interpretation is an art form.” Interpreting the bible is a creative endeavor, and we use the tools we are supplied with to make these art pieces. If I have watercolors and my friend has charcoal and pastel crayons, the image (interpretation) we create will most likely look, feel, and even smell different.
“Interpretation is an art form.”
How do I know what interpretation method to use?
At times, it may seem overwhelming to choose which method to use. My suggestion is: to be honest, become familiar, and be confident. First, be honest: think about the times you felt resistant when reading the text, and explore why you feel that way. A helpful resource is the list in the “Hermeneutical Self Inventory” provided by Clark-Soles in Engaging the Word. Second, become familiar with different interpretations. Read from feminist (She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse by Elizabeth Johnson), womanist (Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God-Talk by Delores Williams), queer (Bible Trouble edited by Teresa Hornsby and Ken Stone), and postcolonial (Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist Theology by Kwok Pui Lan) points of view. While not all of these examples are explicitly biblical interpretations, they help the reader get a sense of the experiences and political and moral commitments that influence the authors’ interpretations.
Lastly, it is important--especially for those of us in minoritized and marginalized communities--to be confident in our ways of knowing, our experiences, and the creativity we bring to the artful act of interpreting. To take a note from Audre Lorde, “it is necessary to teach by living and speaking those truths which we believe and know beyond understanding. Because in this way alone we can survive, by taking part in a process of life that is creative and continuing, that is growth.” Honestly owning up to our whole self with the humility that we do not not have the whole or only interpretation is critical. Even though white, cis-heterosexual able bodied men seem to flood the commentary section of your library, that does not make them the sole authority. Your community needs your voice — and so does the world!