WELS and Scripture

The goal of biblical interpretation is to understand the words in the way the author intended. Allow me to distinguish among and explain several terms of biblical interpretation. When we accept at face value the ordinary meanings of words, we are following a literal interpretation. When figures of speech or genre make it clear that the author is using figurative or symbolic language, we interpret figuratively. If we disregard figures of speech and genre and interpret literally, we are interpreting literalistically—and that is wrong.

We confess this in This We Believe: “We believe and accept the Bible on its own terms, accepting as factual history what it presents as history and recognizing as figurative speech what is evident as such. We believe that Scripture must interpret Scripture, clear passages throwing light on those less easily understood. We believe that no authority–whether it is human reason, science, or scholarship–may stand in judgment over Scripture. Sound scholarship will faithfully search out the true meaning of Scripture without presuming to pass judgment on it.”

Northwestern Publishing House offers good, reliable books on the subject of biblical interpretation. I commend them to you for your reading.