Dr. John Bergsma

says that no scripture is a matter of one's own personal interpretation.

Here we go.

First of all, Peter says, you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation because no prophecy ever came about by the impulse of man, et cetera.

So, okay, well, if it's not a matter of one's own interpretation, who is the interpreter?

And here I want to make a huge point.

In both the Old and the New Testament, Matt,

God left us a continuing interpretive authority.

In the old covenant, Moses says in Deuteronomy 17, if you have a case that's too difficult for you, some matter of interpretation of the law, and he gives several examples of

One of the examples is a conflict.

In Hebrew, it's din ladin.

That means like one principle of law against another principle of law.

So you're trying to adjudicate between different legal principles.

What are you supposed to do?

Are you just supposed to make your own best guess as an individual Israelite?

No, what Moses says, if any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, it's translated here, one kind of legal right and another, one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns which is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the Lord your God will choose,

and coming to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office, you shall consult them and they shall declare to you the decision."

I'm not gonna read the whole passage, Matt.

But this pertains to Revelation.

But exactly, because he's talking about the interpretation of Deuteronomy.

He's saying, if you get a case that you can't adjudicate from the laws that I have given you, you go up to the central sanctuary and you consult with the Levitical priests and then the judge, who I understand to be kind of like a bailiff figure.