The Third Commandment stems from the second, and is like unto it: Thou Shalt let the Bible interpret the Bible. (Scriptura sui ipso interpres, one of Luther's main contributions to theology.) Let's look at that word ``interpret'' for a minute.
To ``interpret'' means to explain the meaning of a statement. (Such as, for instance, ``I saw a one-legged man begging on the street, so I gave him a good sock.'') Some statements need no interpretation: ``You Thief!'' has an obvious meaning, but ``He's a good man'' means different things depending on whether a wife, a boss, a neighbor, or a theologian is talking, and needs interpretation to be clear. Another example: ``I'm sure the next pastor won't be as good as you are.'' Meaning: ``Every pastor we've had here has been worse than the previous one.''
Some people insert their own interpretations into Scripture, as for instance the Jewish socialist whose interpretation of several stories from Genesis was ``You can never trust an employer.''
Likewise, there are some Bible passages that need no interpreting. They interpret themselves. They are so crystal clear that it is impossible to twist them into meaning something else. now, when I say ``clear,'' I do not mean ``easy to understand.'' I mean `` impossible to mis-understand.'' All the ``interpretation necessary is to say: ``It means what it says.'' For example, ``No man, nor an angel from heaven, knows when the Son of Man will return.'' Only the height of theological arrogance could have led someone to write a book like ``88 Reasons why the World will End in 1988.'' Even Christ Himself, without using His divine nature, did not know when the world would come to an end, but Jehovah's Witnesses have predicted the end four different times.
On the other hand, many passages are not so clear. They can be explained in two or more ways. My third Commandment just says that a related clear passage is the only thing that can decide which of several meanings an unclear passage can have, by ruling out wrong interpretations.
Unfortunately, most Christians reject this Commandment. The Roman Catholic equivalent -- ignoring 2 Pt. 1:21, which tells us that ``No Scripture is of any private interpretation,'' (KJV) -- would be, ``Thou shalt let the Pope interpret the Bible.'' This deserves much attention, so permit an excursus.
Years ago the Wall Street Journal condensed the career of the typical great man into a single sentence: He creates an original concept and devotes his life to working out its implications into the furthest nooks and crannies of his area of influence.
Very well. I'm certainly not a great man -- too erratic -- but can do greater work than otherwise by emulating great men. And here in my midlife I discovered the original concept that is helping the Ukrainian Lutheran Church become one of the fastest growing Lutheran missions in this century.
Of course all I can offer is a slight improvement on a single one of Luther's great concepts. But I think it is indeed an improvement on Luther, at least in our situation; and I think he would have applauded and used it himself had it applied to his situation.
Luther said ``Scriptura sui ipso interpres,'' which is just the Latin original for ``You shall interpret Scripture by Scripture itself.'' And by Scripture alone!
I could not have improved on that as long as I lived in the West.
But coming to Eastern Europe, one of the first things you notice is that the pope doesn't cut near as much ice here as he does in the West. Here, you hear more about the Patriarch. (The fact that there are several lesser patriarchs doesn't change the equation. They essentially speak with one voice, and the Patriarch of Istanbul is only first among equals.)