I don\u2019t try to be novel in my understanding of Scripture. I am not aware of any particular view I hold on specific passages that is \u201cway out there\u201d compared to how others generally and historically see the same passages. That is not to say that there are no differences or disagreements. That\u2019s common. There are certainly differences in understandings and applications. There might be nuances of a position that are different. Yet when considered passage by passage or theme by theme, I don\u2019t know of any view I hold that is so entirely different as to be some grand unorthodox and odd position that is virtually unknown to commentators and interpreters both now and in the past.<\/p>\n
For example, I am not a Calvinist, but it\u2019s not like you can\u2019t find non-Calvinists throughout the ages. I would be considered amillennial (as opposed to premillennial, dispensational, postmillennial, etc.), but this is not unique. I believe baptism is for the remission of sins, but you can find plenty throughout time who take the same view (and sometimes commentators will teach what is true about baptism even if they might not practice it consistently). I believe corporate worship among Christians ought to avoid mechanical instruments (because we are the instruments), but that is hardly unorthodox throughout history. Insofar as my beliefs about God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and Scripture are concerned, I know of nothing that would set me at odds with typically understood orthodox views.<\/p>\n
My understanding and practices are not based on strange and unconventional views. They are not grounded in a weird twist on how interpretation ought to be done. I have no mystical knowledge that I think gives me an edge over others on how to see Scripture. I believe my views have historical precedents. If this is in question, I am willing to consider and study. My goal is not to be unique, but to be true (Acts 17:11). My task is not to agree with everyone who has gone before, but to be consistent and be able to back it up with sound, biblical argumentation. Just because something is \u201cnew\u201d to me doesn\u2019t make it wrong, and just because something is \u201cold\u201d to me doesn\u2019t make it right (cf. Acts 17). And vice versa. This is why we keep studying. If we do not think we can keep learning, then we are most pitiful.<\/p>\n
Why do I read from others from both now and the past? For the same reason, I talk with others in person about Scripture. I am interested in the truth. I want to know that what I\u2019m thinking and how I\u2019m reading is not something way out there with no support or precedent. I might be missing information or perhaps have a hole in my logic. Perhaps I can take pride in some self-made \u201cI don\u2019t need anyone\u2019s help\u201d approach, but this usually only spells trouble. I\u2019m simply joining the conversation that has been going on for centuries. I often agree (and disagree) with specifics. But the process through which we gather information and draw conclusions is important. We ought to be listening and learning. And this is based on biblical wisdom:<\/p>\n
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety<\/em>” (Proverbs 11:14).<\/p><\/blockquote>\nStudying Scripture need not be something you only<\/strong> do alone. Bounce your conclusions off of others. Be willing to listen and learn. The results are worth it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"by Doy Moyer I don\u2019t try to be novel in my understanding of Scripture. I am not aware of any particular view I hold on specific passages that is \u201cway out there\u201d compared to how others generally and historically see the same passages. That is not to say that there are no differences or disagreements.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[964],"class_list":["post-24829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-understanding-the-bible"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10812,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-does-philippians-310-relate-to-family\/","url_meta":{"origin":24829,"position":0},"title":"How does Philippians 3:10 relate to family?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 12, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: How do I tie Philippians 3:10 in with marriage, family, and parenting? Answer: \"Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":17620,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-benefits-of-reading-the-bible-from-cover-to-cover\/","url_meta":{"origin":24829,"position":1},"title":"The Benefits of Reading the Bible from Cover to Cover","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 2, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Abraham Smith In an earlier article, \"Reading the Bible from Cover to Cover,\" we considered several\u00a0factors that hinder us from reading the Bible in its entirety. Let us now examine the benefits we get from routinely reading all of the Bible. The road to understanding the Bible The Bible\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/01\/Bible-Reading-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":62686,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-harmony-of-the-scriptures\/","url_meta":{"origin":24829,"position":2},"title":"The Harmony of the Scriptures","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 14, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 30:2-9 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The denominational world has long debated the relationship of faith, works, and grace in man\u2019s salvation. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some argue that salvation is by faith alone while others argue the necessity of works. Some turn their attention to grace and argue that grace alone\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58553,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/patience-in-seeking-truth-a-necessity\/","url_meta":{"origin":24829,"position":3},"title":"Patience in Seeking Truth,\u00a0a Necessity","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 28, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Garreth L. Clair \u00a0 John 8:32,\u00a0\"and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.\" ASV John 17:17,\u00a0\"Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.\" ASV II Timothy 3:16-17,\u00a0\"Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":59963,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thats-just-your-interpretation\/","url_meta":{"origin":24829,"position":4},"title":"That’s Just Your Interpretation","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 15, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"by Mark Larson via The Elgin Hills Examiner, Vol. 1, No. 5, May 2006. That's just your interpretation! How many times has someone said that to you when you attempted to teach him the truth from the Scriptures? Rather than take the message of truth to heart, it is quickly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":49264,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-the-language-in-which-the-bible-is-read-change-the-way-we-interpret-certain-passages\/","url_meta":{"origin":24829,"position":5},"title":"Does the language in which the Bible is read change the way we interpret certain passages?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 8, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a question about the Bible that I'd like to ask. Does the language in which the Bible is read change the way we interpret certain passages? Answer: Translating a text from one language to another ideally expresses the same ideas in both languages. However, there are always\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24829"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24829\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/books-300x200.jpg\")
None of this makes a view right or wrong. The patristics are not my final authority and neither is any particular commentary, council, or synod. Yet there is another side to this we ought to consider: if one\u2019s view of something is unique, totally new, and based on an interpretation of a passage that has no historical precedent, then surely that one would need to re-think it. If we believe that we have come up with some brand new understanding that no one else has ever thought of, that alone is enough to be suspicious. Perhaps you are the only one who has ever seen this particular truth \u2026 but I seriously doubt it. Even so, it would be quite arrogant to suggest that \u201cI alone, after two thousand years, am the first to see this truth.\u201d<\/p>\n