Thoughts on interpreting Scripture, with an example.

Revelation 3:15-16

“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

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Everything we need is actually here for us to interpret this passage correctly. God is stating that the audience of this message is neither cold nor hot, and then states that he desires that they were either cold or hot. This makes it clear that being hot or cold are both positive or desirable qualities for the following reason: if hot and cold were opposites, with one good and one bad, this verse would be saying that God could desire a condition for people that is bad, and this would be contrary to his character. He goes on to say that it is the condition of being lukewarm that disgusts him. We see in the following verses that this lukewarm condition is that they think that they can be followers of Christ while not surrendering their lives to him. Instead of clothing themselves with God’s grace and being sanctified (which, like both hot and cold water, is beneficial and fruitful), they continue in their same course of life and in the same filthy rags of sin (which is compared to the lukewarm water).

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So we can certainly make sense of this simply by looking at the immediate context of the passage as well as what the Bible tells us of God’s character. However, there is undoubtably an added understanding to why this was such a vivid picture for the original audience when one is aware of the aqueduct that brought water to these people from a hot spring 5 miles away, resulting in the water being just lukewarm once it arrived in Laodicea.

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So, here is how I think scripture is best interpreted: we have sufficient information to interpret the Bible within the context of a passage, both in the surrounding verses as well as the overall context of the Bible as a whole. However, historical and cultural information can enhance this understanding, as well as shedding light on why something in particular was said, thereby helping us to more effectively and completely apply it to our lives today.

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Let me know if you have different thoughts on this passage, or my approach in general.