How can we know when there are different oppinions?

While leading a bible study at cell recently, we touched on a couple of topics where there is more than one opinion on what the passage means. In discussion of these points I commented that some scholars think 'x' whilst others think 'y', this in turn led to the question, how can we know what scripture means if there are different opinions?

 I guess this is a question that many of us might ask, hoping for someone to give us a simple definitive answer, yet scripture sometimes does not afford us that luxury.

Rightly Handle the Word.

As Christians we are exhorted to 'rightly handle the word of truth' (2 Timothy 2:15), by doing so diligently we will clarify what we believe, and why we believe it, this in turn helps us recognize how Christianity is different from other worldviews and religions. 

As adherents to a 'faith' we need to acknowledge what we believe about scripture shapes who we are and how we act, so it's important that we study and develop those beliefs rightly. God has not presented scripture as a computer programme for us to upload in order  to run our lives like automatons. God's plan is for a relationship, built around an ongoing and developing dialogue. Scripture facilitates and informs this dialogue, true understanding and right interpretation of scripture is in turn revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. 

Iron Sharpens Iron

The opinions and interpretations of theologians

have a role to play in helping us develop a broad view of scripture but the final arbiter of truth is God. Theologians help us 'as iron sharpens iron', they challenge our thinking in order to sharpen it, but ultimately we need to allow God to speak to our hearts through his Spirit and his word to reveal the truth contained within. There is no substitute for our ongoing relationship with God, theology as an academic pursute must never replace this relationship, however pursued properly theology is used by God to enhance and deepen our relationship.

Scripture Interprets Scripture

It is important that we understand where in scripture different views exist, we need then to turn again to scripture to seek to allow it to reveal and interpret the contentious passage wherever possible. We also need to learn to meditate on and to pray through the scriptures and to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth the passage contains. Sometimes this is simple, at other times we are drawn into deep and complex areas where scriptures do not easily give up an answer, where the matter remains mystery for us to wrestle with.  

A Deeper Relationship

Allowing scripture to interpret scripture is a remarkably effective method, which often brings complex passages into clear focus. Many of those scriptures with apparently conflicting passages are resolved and made clear by this one method. Whether the answers are simple or complex the one thing we can remain assured of is that God intends for them to do us good and to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him.