The Real Meaning Of "Private Interpretation"
Today, I want to present a message entitled "Learning about 'private
interpretations.'"
I would like to explain to you how this term "private interpretation"
is not a faithful translation.
"Private interpretation" is not a correct translation of the original
Greek Bible. Instead, it should be translated to "its own interpretation."
And if we employ this phrase, we can re-translate this verse as:
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of its own
interpretation [interpreted by itself]" See the J.N. Darby version.
This translation reflects the correct meaning of this verse. This verse talks about the method of interpreting prophecy. For example, when we try to interpret any prophecy i.e. an animal who has seven heads and 10 horns in Revelation, we should not interpret this passage only from its text. Instead, we should refer to other prophetical texts like Daniel, Ezekiel, etc.
Many Bible scholars say "Let scripture interpet scripture (sola scriptura)." This saying comes from this verse.
But, many Christians only interpret this verse as "private interpretation,"
and never see the other translation. But, the King James translation
is not appropriate.
I did not say it was "a failure," but this translation does not cover
the primary meaning of the Greek text. If we consider the primary Greek
meaning, we should interpret this verse as "its own interpretation."
Why should we insist on this? I can offer you two reasons:
AV - his own 48, their own 13, privately 8, apart 7, your own 6,
his 5, own 5, not translated 1, misc 20; 113
In sum, this word is frequently translated as "own." Of course, it is also translated as "privately", but it is not the first priority. Therefore, it we would want to reflect this word's original Greek meaning in an English translation; it is therefore inappropriate not to include the meaning "own."
Concerning point 2, I used the "Online Bible" to study scripture. This CD includes some English Bible translations. The Online Bible explained this translation as "more faithful than the King James version." "And this J.N. Darby Bible translates this verse as "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of its own interpretation."
Therefore, we should not limit the translation of this verse to "private interpretation" only. At least, we should accept the fact that this verse can be translated as "its own" .
Usage Of Word "Idios" In Matthew
Let's see how this word "idios" is used in the new testament. Through
this, we can acquire a true rendering of this word. Let's see every usage
of this word in Matthew.
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* And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into
his
own city.(Mt 9:1)
*When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.(Mt 14:13)
*And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.(Mt 14:23)
*And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (Mt 17:1)
*Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? (Mt 17:19)
*And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way,and said unto them,(Mt 20:17)
*But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his<2398> farm, another to his merchandise:(Mt 22:5)
*And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately , saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Mt 24:3)
*For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (Mt 25:14)
*And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another
one; to every man according to his several
ability; and straightway took his journey. (Mt 25:15)
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Note: 2398 is the word number of "idios" in "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of The BIBLE"
As you may understand from the above examples, this word "idios" is usually translated as "own." This word has own as its basic meaning.
From the above, we can find one example of "privately."
"Mt 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"
Even in this passage, we can find the meaning "own" is implied in this verse.
In conclusion, I would like to repeat myself. The basic meaning of this word "idios" is "own." Therefore, the most appropriate and faithful translation of the text under review should be "its own interpretation."
The translation "privately" is not false, but this translation has only a third priority in the Greek dictionary. Therefore, if we exclude its most faithful rendering, we will not be doing justice but a "private interpretation" of our own and this will distort the original meaning of the message.
Let's do the Lord's will faithfully in this end time period.
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