Preaching: Imperfect Interpreters

Having been born again...through the word of God which lives and abides forever.... Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.—1 Peter 1:23,25

Often our missionaries have told us of difficult times they have had with interpreters. The expression of the missionary may go in one way and come out with a different sense to the hearer, and I think when we expound the Scriptures, we are often guilty of being imperfect interpreters. I shall do the best I can to catch the spirit of the man, Peter, and to determine what God is trying to say to us and reduce the interference to a minimum.

Now, I suppose more people would like me if I were to declare that I preach the Bible and nothing but the Bible. I attempt to do that, but honesty compels me to say that the best I can do is to preach the Bible as I understand it. I trust that through your prayers and the Spirit of Christ my understanding may be right. If you pray and if I yield and trust, perhaps what we get from First Peter will indeed be approximately what Peter would say if he were here in person. We will stay as close as we can to the Word of the Living God. I Call It Heresy!, 17-18.

"Lord, I'm aware that I am an imperfect interpreter. But I'm preaching the Word of God and it is crucial that I get it right and deliver it accurately. Guide me constantly by Your Spirit so that I may be a faithful mouthpiece. Amen."