So, How Do Presbyterians Interpret the Bible?
To interpret the Scriptures responsibly, Presbyterians have always stressed the importance of scholarship; and this means that, before we use any particular statements of Scripture as a guide in life, more is required than simply the ability to read. All the way back to John Calvin, Presbyterians have maintains that an understanding of the Bible should not rest on the words of novices whose Biblical knowledge is only surface deep, but on the most thorough and scholarly search for truth of which we are capable. In seeking to address any issue from a Biblical perspective, Presbyterians believe that, guided by the Holy Spirit, we are to return to the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, and to ask penetrating questions. To whom was a Scriptural injunction directed? Who wrote it, and why? What is the context? For what time period is it applicable? Are there Scripturally justifiable exceptions to the rule? How was the statement understood in its own time? Do Presbyterians Always Agree on
