Question:

65.6—Why are there so many churches/denominations that believe different interpretations of the Bible? We’re all worshipping the same God, and using the same Book—the Bible is so straightforward—we should all have the same beliefs on issues such as salvation. We all belong to the church of Christ. All the different denominations seem foolish!

65.6—One reason there are different denominations or gatherings of the Lord’s people is that people interpret the Bible differently. The Bible is indeed straightforward and we should all have the same beliefs, but there are many reasons for the different interpretations. I will list three of them:

1) There are different interpretations of the Bible because what God is telling us in the Bible cannot be understood by human reasoning. “As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God…which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:9,10,13).

God “reveals” His mind through faith for, “Through faith we understand” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith accepts the “words” that God says in the Bible as true and the Spirit of God uses those “words” to “guide…into all truth” (John 16:13).

2) There are different interpretations of the Bible because God holds the key to opening up His treasures of truth, which is not merely information but is a message for us to obey. Jesus promised:  “If any man will do [God’s] will, he shall know of the doctrine” (John 7:17). Not only must a person want to know God’s will, but must want to do His will, whatever that may be, for God to reveal it.

3) Another reason there are many interpretations is because there are many translations of the Bible today, and some say different things. It is absolutely essential if we are going to know what God is telling us in the Bible that we use a “verbal translation” of the Holy Scriptures, which is a translation of the Hebrew and Greek words to English. Paraphrases are nice to read, but they are a translation of phrases instead of the inspired “words” God gave in the manuscripts. The translation of whole phrases allows human reason to interpret the passage, which can but hinder the Interpreter God has provided, even the Spirit of God who indwells him, from revealing God’s mind so he can “know all things” (1 John 2:20).

It is a dishonor to Christ and therefore foolish indeed, as is stated in the question, to not gather as He plainly instructs His people to gather, which He says is “unto My name” (Matthew 18:20). Gathering unto His name includes owning (by obeying His Word) that Christ is Head of His body, the church. This also includes seeking to represent no other body than “the one body” of believers (1 Corinthians 10:16,17) to which the Lord adds every person when he is saved (Acts 2:47). In view of soon being with our Saviour in eternity, may God work in each of us both the desire and ability to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13).