Interpreting the Bible with Love and Intelligence

The essence of interpreting the Bible, as highlighted by Jesus, involves delving into constant debate and dialogue, reading and reinterpreting the text to grasp its true meaning. Jesus challenges popular misinterpretations prevalent in his era, advocating for love towards enemies and calling for the Bible to be read with discernment. He emphasizes the importance of hermeneutics, the art of reading the Bible well, which includes three key steps: revelation, interpretation, and application. Jesus differentiates between revelation and interpretation, disapproving the fundamentalist approach that merges the two. Fundamentalist readings often fail to discern between what the text says and one's interpretation of it, lacking the depth of intelligence required to understand the Bible thoroughly, a quality Jesus exemplifies and encourages in his followers.