Ditch Your Baggage Before Reading the Bible: Recognizing Our Presuppositions When It Comes to Biblical Interpretation
In a few weeks, I will teach a graduate course called “The Foundations of Theology” at the Addis Ababa Graduate School of Theology (Ethiopia). One of my lectures deals with presuppositions (philosophical, cultural, and theological). Here is the basic gist of my lecture: when we approach Scripture, we all bring certain background assumptions and beliefs that shape how we understand the Bible. But what role should presuppositions play in biblical interpretation? How do we make sure they clarify biblical truth rather than obstruct it?
What Are Presuppositions?
Presuppositions are pre-existing perspectives, beliefs, and assumptions that we subconsciously bring to the interpretive process. For example, an atheist and a Christian would likely read the Bible quite differently based on their divergent core beliefs about God's existence.
Similarly, our denominational affiliation can impact interpretation. Lutherans may emphasize God's grace, while Baptists focus on human decisions. Pentecostals, like me, often read Scripture through a Spirit-empowered lens. Cultural background also influences presuppositions. An American reading of rugged individualism in the Bible says more about their culture than the text itself.
I highly recommend two books that help us become aware of our presuppositions:
Misreading the Bible Through Western Eyes (Richards & O’Brien)
Misreading the Bible Through Individualistic Eyes (Richards & James)
Positives of Presuppositions
Interpretive presuppositions aren't necessarily bad—they can provide a beneficial framework. Believing Scripture is God's inspired Word leads to careful study with an eye towards divine intent and meaning. As 2 Timothy 3:16 states, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."
Likewise, sound theological doctrines derived from biblical studies, such as God's sovereignty, salvation by grace through faith, and Jesus's resurrection, rightly direct how we approach new passages.
Negatives of Unexamined Presuppositions
The problem comes when presuppositions remain unarticulated and unexamined. We may unconsciously impose our assumptions rather than develop interpretations grounded in authorial intent and context.
For example, a complementarian view of gender roles may cause someone to miss Scripture's egalitarian message (Galatians 3:28). Focusing on individual salvation can downplay the Bible's community-centered emphasis.
Likewise, Enlightenment-era Western biases toward rationalism may miss Scripture's supernatural testimonies. Modern individualism contrasts with the Bible's communal orientation.
Checking Our Presuppositions
So, how can we harness the positives of presuppositions while avoiding their potential pitfalls? A few suggestions:
Articulate and examine your core theological beliefs upfront so you know about ingrained perspectives that may influence interpretation.
Consult commentaries and resources outside your denominational tradition to highlight different interpretive approaches.
Pay attention to your emotional reactions to certain passages or interpretations. Strong feelings may point to assumptions in need of evaluation.
Hold your presuppositions lightly, acknowledging you could be mistaken. Be willing to challenge and revise them.
Focus on deriving meaning from context and the overarching biblical message rather than imposing an external framework.
Root interpretations in scholarly consensus as much as possible. Beware of views solely from your own narrow perspective.
Test new interpretations against the full counsel of Scripture and core orthodox Christian doctrine. If out of sync, that indicates a problematic assumption.
With self-awareness and humility, our presuppositions can help illuminate God's Word. But we must remain vigilant against imposing meaning rather than uncovering it. Careful examination of our assumptions allows Scripture to shape us more than we shape Scripture.
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