Deeper Reflection
We are to “accurately handle the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). But interpreting the Scriptures can be complex. The history of the interpretation of Scripture shows a mysterious reality: We do not attain perfectly correct interpretation of every biblical text even with the Holy Spirit teaching and guiding us (Jn 14:26; 16:13). That Biblical research and writing of Bible commentaries have not ceased testifies to this reality.Verses 25 to 27 is a difficult text. The Hebrew word masiah (vv.25, 26) – literally, “anointed-one” (without the definite article) – “referred to anyone who was anointed to perform a particular ask or service for God”²¹ . Some English translations made a Christological interpretation of the word: “Messiah” (KJV, NKJV, NASB) or “Anointed One” (NIV, NLT, CSB). But others translated it simply as “an anointed one” (NRSV, ESV, REB). Perhaps, we need to be tentative, and not too dogmatic, in our interpretation. Interpretation of Scripture is a community endeavour. In this community are God-given teachers, like scholars and commentators, with whom we consult and interact with in our process of interpretation. Humility and charity are necessary, while we interpret Scripture with integrity.“The Bible has a surface simplicity that children can understand and relish. It is also a book in which scholars find sophistication of technique and subtlety of content. Scholars have shown the immense complexity that lies below the surface, but there is no requirement that we read the Bible at this level in order to understand and enjoy it. The Bible is the most flexible of all books.”²² Nevertheless, we still need to learn and grow to delve deeper “below the surface”.

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²¹ Christopher J. H. Wright, 209 ²² Leland Ryken and Tremper Longman III, editors, A Complete Literary Guide to the Bible (Zondervan, 1993), 34-35