Lately I've been involved in a couple of conversations that discussed the role of the Holy Spirit in the understanding of the Biblical text. The common theme has been that while reading the Bible, all the believer has to do is be Spirit-filled and pray when they come upon a difficult passage and the Holy Spirit will enlighten them as to what the meaning is. I submit to you that this is a false interpretation as to what the Spirit's role really is. In looking deeper into this, I will show what the Bible actually says about the Spirit actually does in regards to the Scriptures.
1. The Spirit inspires the Scriptures. (2 Tim. 3:16) I don't think any believer has any problem with this, but for clarification this means that the Scriptures are originated from the breath of God, or "God-breathed." 2 Peter 1:20-21 is also helpful here, it clarifies for us the role of the human author, that the message they proclaimed did not start with them, however God did choose to use them to convey His message and did so utilizing their personalities, circumstances, educational background, etc.
2. The Spirit had a role in the canonization of the Scriptures. Canon can also be understood as "rule" as it relates to measurement. Gal 6:16 uses this word rule as we would use it when speaking of the Scriptures. Since what we have today flows seamlessly and has no contradictions, it would be safe for us to assume that the Holy Spirit oversaw and guided the early church leaders in the canonization of the Scriptures. It is worth noting however that the church did not make these 66 books the Word of God, they just properly recognized them as the Word of God.
3. When is comes to interpretation of the Scriptures, this is where some disagreement takes place, even among people more intelligent than myself. However, I think a beneficial starting point would be to ask the question can a lost person understand the Scriptures? I submit that he can. The disconnect take place in the significance. Another way of putting it is that the unbeliever can know what the text is saying, and correctly interpret it, the problem is that it means nothing to him and therefore there is no application of what he knows. A good verse to support this is 2 Cor. 2:14 "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to know, because it is evaluated spiritually." The word used here for "receive" means to accept willingly and with pleasure. Paul is saying that apart from the Spirit, a person cannot receive the message of Scripture with joy, gladness, and willingness. The receiving here does not mean it excludes a correct mental grasp. In fact it requires it and leads to a willful rejection of the message of Scripture. The phrase "Spiritual things are foolishness" does not mean that they are like some unknown language, but rather they are grasped and rendered foolish.
I say all this to suggest that it is a common misunderstanding to believe that the Holy Spirit aids in the correct understanding of the Scriptures. What the Holy Spirit does is bring conviction to the regenerated and applies the Scriptural truths to the individual life. I don't say all this to discourage individual Bible study, on the contrary, I say this to help in the arena of individual Bible study. I suggest good commentaries and a continued look back on how the church has historically viewed whichever passage is being studied. And then to apply that meaning, with the aid of the Spirit, to your life. What do you think?
