Most pastors skip 1 Peter 3:18-22 in their sermon series.

The passage connects Noah's flood, imprisoned spirits, baptism, and Jesus' victory over rebellious powers. It reads like theological chaos to modern minds.

But here's what those pastors miss: **if it's weird, it's important.**

The strangest biblical passages often unlock the most profound theological truths. They signal depth beneath the surface, inviting us into the supernatural worldview of ancient authors rather than our sanitized modern interpretations.

This principle reveals something crucial about biblical interpretation. We approach Scripture expecting comfort and confirmation. The text has other plans.

The Problem With Spiritual Diapers

When churches consistently avoid difficult passages, congregations remain in what one scholar calls "spiritual diapers."

They receive only familiar teachings and comfortable applications. Biblical literacy declines. Thinking believers grow frustrated with repetitive, shallow content.

*The cost runs deeper than boredom.*

Avoiding challenging texts undermines confidence in Scripture itself. It creates the impression that parts of the Bible are too problematic to explore safely.

This approach stunts spiritual growth and limits the congregation's capacity to handle theological challenges. They become ill-equipped for the "solid food" of mature faith.

The church risks fostering content intolerance and avoidance of hard truths. This ultimately weakens both witness and effectiveness.

Beyond Information to Transformation

Biblical interpretation serves a purpose beyond intellectual understanding.

Scripture aims to transform readers into Christlikeness through what researchers call spiritual transformation that "impacts our deepest inner orientations and trust structures."

This transformation often requires breaking down old patterns and reshaping character. The process can feel like spiritual surgery.

*It leaves you limping forward.*

The phrase captures something profound about deep biblical engagement. Wrestling with challenging passages creates lasting change. You emerge different, sometimes wounded, but more authentic.

This limping represents the imperfect, sometimes painful progress of spiritual growth. You're healed yet marked by the journey.

The Wrestling Process

Mature biblical interpretation requires a specific methodology that balances scholarly analysis with spiritual receptivity.

The Historical-Grammatical Method emphasizes understanding Scripture in its original linguistic and historical context. This approach maintains that each text has one intended meaning by its human author.

**The process begins with honest recognition.**

When encountering challenging passages, mature interpreters first acknowledge the confrontation honestly. They approach with humility, admitting their initial understanding may need adjustment.

They prioritize discovering what the biblical author originally intended to communicate. This means resisting the urge to reinterpret passages to make them more palatable.

*Context becomes crucial at multiple levels.*

Mature interpreters carefully consider historical, cultural, and literary context. They recognize genre differences and interpret accordingly.

Prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit guard against rationalization. The process requires vulnerability and openness to being changed, not just acquiring knowledge.

When Scripture Confronts Personal Desires

The real test comes when a passage directly challenges something you want to believe or do.

The internal struggle feels like sudden confrontation with truth you're not ready to face. There's initial discomfort, resistance, even frustration.

Part of you wants to dismiss or reinterpret the passage to avoid personal cost. You feel vulnerable and exposed as loyalty to tradition gets tested against Scripture's authority.

**The wrestling becomes deeply emotional.**

It involves tension between faithfulness to God's Word and natural human desire for comfort. The process requires consciously setting aside preconceptions and deciding to "let the Bible be what it is."

This takes time. Months of wrestling, reading, and meditating before meaning becomes clear and personally transformative.

Community engagement helps avoid isolation or distorted interpretations. Trusted mentors and peers provide challenge and encouragement.

*Ultimately, you accept that spiritual growth involves discomfort.*

The passage reshapes beliefs and actions in unexpected ways. This wrestling leads to deeper, more authentic faith not dependent on easy answers or comfortable beliefs.

The Difference Transformation Makes

Two people can approach the same biblical passage with completely different expectations.

One comes expecting to be changed. They bring openness, humility, and submission. They're ready to allow Scripture to challenge, convict, and transform their life.

The other approaches primarily for academic exercise or devotional comfort. They focus on understanding facts or seeking personal encouragement and reassurance.

**The outcomes differ dramatically.**

Those expecting transformation engage actively and prayerfully. They wrestle with difficult passages and allow the Word to expose sin and reshape character.

They embrace discomfort and uncertainty as part of growth. The result is genuine transformation of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

Those seeking comfort or academic knowledge often engage passively or selectively. They focus on familiar passages and avoid challenging texts.

*This approach limits life change.*

It can lead to knowledge accumulation or emotional uplift without significant transformation. The person treats Scripture as text to study or source of comfort, sometimes disconnected from personal relationship with God.

The Eisegesis Trap

The greatest danger in biblical interpretation is eisegesis, reading personal biases into the text rather than extracting the author's intended meaning.

Throughout church history, eisegesis has been "the root of virtually every major heresy and dangerous false teaching."

It happens when interpreters inject their own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever they want. The consequences are severe because it leads to false teachings that aren't actually biblical.

**Mature interpreters resist this temptation.**

They maintain loyalty to the gospel and biblical authority. They don't question Scripture's moral relevance but deepen their awe and respect for God's Word.

They uphold core truths and resist cultural pressures to dilute or alter biblical teachings. This requires courage and conviction.

Spiritual maturity involves developing discernment to distinguish good from evil, truth from error. This capacity emerges through wrestling with difficult passages rather than avoiding them.

Practical Steps Forward

Biblical interpretation that leads to transformation requires specific practices.

**Start with the weird passages.** They often contain the most significant theological insights waiting to be unlocked.

Approach with humility and prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit for illumination and courage to accept uncomfortable truths.

Study historical and cultural context carefully. Use commentaries, lexicons, and historical background to understand original intent.

*Engage with community.* Seek conversations with trusted mentors and peers who can challenge and encourage you.

Allow time for the process. Transformation doesn't happen quickly. It requires months of wrestling, reading, and meditating.

Accept that growth involves discomfort. Be willing to limp forward as Scripture reshapes your beliefs and actions.

Remember that the goal isn't just information but transformation. Let Scripture do its surgical work in your heart.

**The weird passages aren't obstacles to avoid.**

They're invitations to deeper understanding and authentic spiritual growth. They signal that something important lies beneath the surface, waiting to transform those brave enough to wrestle.