Whose Dumb Idea Was "Let the Bible Interpret Itself"?

Not sure what you are getting at in your initial paragraph, but letting the Holy Bible interpret itself is really not a stupid idea. It includes things like taking textual context into consideration, Scripture interprets Scripture, etc. That is one branch of logical hermeneutics. When that does not occur, then for sure there will be those who "follow false shepherds who weave their own words into 'the Word of God'". That's where a lot of cults come from, because they do not let the Holy Bible interpret itself.

Perhaps more relevant is that any text stands in need of interpretation, even the author must interpret his words. However, as in most things, there are good and bad; bad interpretation does violence to the text all the best, urban

I agree that God interprets His words straight to our heart when we are reading or searching.. or even when we are in prayer, we can sometimes hear that quiet voice, in the quietness... a peaceful 'voice' or thought floating down to us like a feather, and it rings so true or is profound, a real aha moment!:) - I think there are false teachers and leaders, because it is part of human nature, what the bible calls "the flesh" which is the un-born again person. Which of course all believers at one time were! Once a person is born again and the transformation begun of our nature from flawed human nature to being "like Jesus" a rather slow process, as we are well, kind of dense! But the person whose nature is being patterned after God's character and Jesus's nature, does not need attention and to be "somebody". Usually we receive some sort of calling, or passion from God which has to do with spreading the truth in our own small way somehow. - I will tell you, I just 'hate' untruth. When I hear untrue things mixed in with the gospel, or untrue ideas which mar the perfect image of God (as loving Father and 100% GOOD) it makes me just a little 'crazy' so to speak. But of course since Christianity has been passed down through human hands, and made up of humans for 2000 years, it's bound to have lost a little of its glory (not much, but surely some) and is sure to have picked up some 'baggage' along the way.. not the gospel itself of course! but what we humans speak as the gospel, and of course some versions are way out there! Or are harmful! But the good news is that truth will prevail and stand supreme in the 'end' and all untruth will fall and fade. That's very comforting and peaceful when seeing all the untrue ideas upon the planet, and also when coming across folks adamant upon some glaring or even harmful, untruth!! - I love my bibles which are "reference" bibles and have lots of cross references, and using cross references, and sometimes comparing different versions, and sometimes using the concordances which trace words we are using back to the original hebrew or greek the old and new testaments were written in. Or a greek / english lexicon which has a more word for word translation in a column alongside a column of whatever version they are using.. I have one which has the greek, and also the New American Standard Version column and a New International Version column, which works really well as I have a New American Standard Version reference Bible (small print, my favorite Bible) with all the cross references. Then I have a hebrew/greek concordance for that version. I also have the hebrew/greek concordance for the King James, and a reference version of the New King James Version with all the cross references. Of course they all say the same thing, but in slightly different ways. I know some folks believe we should only use the olde King James Version, which isn't bad for someone whose been reading a long time, and interprets all the thees and thous and other various king's englishe phrases, but it's real hard for a new believer used to today's english to read, and I cannot blame them. I've been reading the bible 33 years and the olde englishe goes a bit slow / is a bit tedious! - didn't know I would be quite so chatty!

This is why I love being a Jew. Along with the Good Book , there is a book of commentary about the Bible, The Talmud, and it is good reading. Instead of shunning a new way of looking at the Good Book, it is embraced. The moment I heard about the Talmud I Knew I was home. Why do others just follow others who may be bending the Word to suit them? I guess because they like what they hear!

Here people don`t do that, orthodox christians are following the interpretations left by their ancestors, they don`t start to read the bible thinking they will discover the wheel.So we interpret the bible according with the wisdom of saints. This whole bible study idea is a neoprotestant idea and it looks like a very bad one if we count the number of churches invented by people who thought they have discovered the wheel. There is a big paradox only few people can notice : The biggest enemy in your way of understanding God is your pride.But from the start, the idea that you can understand what is written in the bible without any help makes you a proud person.So you will never make it and most likely you`ll end up joining an obscure church or if you have initiative you will start your own church.It happened over and over during the last centuries.

I don't really understand What you mean but I would like to comment that though the Bible is written into text through men, they are the Words of God and thus the bible should be uphold as the basis of faith and practice. I for one adhere to the phrase, "Let the text interpret the text." What do I mean by that is, what ever the Scripture says, that must be the norm.

Perception is a huge thing where this subject is concerned. The fact that the bible was written by people really makes it tough sometimes to understand what all is actually being said or even taught. When you put perception upon perception..well..that is where it gets tough. I don't even think that the shepherds you speak of realize they are false. I think that makes it even harder for people to identify them.