Do Presbyterians always agree on Biblical interpretation?
Disagreement about Biblical interpretation is not a new issue. For two thousand years of Church history, Christians have held different ways of interpreting Scripture. The apostles themselves actually differed over the interpretation of key Scriptural passages. James and Paul held opposing viewpoints on the issue of circumcision; and both strongly defended their respective positions from Scripture. Eventually, at a conference in Jerusalem (not unlike our General Assembly today), they decided to tolerate each other’s viewpoint, remaining in fellowship while agreeing on some points and disagreeing on others. Today, Presbyterians who differ in their interpretations of the Bible often worship alongside one another in the same congregation. We believe in the importance of listening to each other when it comes to interpreting the Bible. No matter how alien a viewpoint may be to us on first exposure to it, we have a responsibility to hear it fully and not reject it out-of-hand. The great stre
