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Monthly Question Page
Q. Could you please explain what is meant by the statement, “No prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20)?
A. Very simply put, this verse is warning us not to take Scripture out of context, or isolate it from the rest of the Word of God, and then build a doctrine on it that does not correspond with the rest of the Bible. In other words, we are not entitled to our own private view or interpretation of what God is saying. One verse must fit with the whole of Scripture. And remember there are no contradictions in this living book. Most false doctrines that have ever been propagated are the result of taking a verse or passage and misapplying it to try and uphold or fit some false teaching or way of looking at things. This is never justified. The Bible is like a jigsaw puzzle. Every piece must fit perfectly with every other piece, and one piece lost or forced into the wrong place spoils the whole picture. That’s why Timothy was told, “Hold fast the form of sound words” (2 Timothy 1:13). This is really to have an outline of truth. Like the border of the jigsaw, when complete, it helps us to fill in the other pieces in the right place.
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