First, God gave the Bible to be understood in common language by common people. Its meaning is not restricted to priests, church authorities, or any other elite group. Even though we may need scholars to help us grasp the Bible’s hard parts, its meaning is usually quite clear if we approach it honestly. Second, the Bible’s understandability does not mean it can be interpreted any way we choose. We have no excuse for sloppy or lazy thinking to make it say whatever supports our preferences. Our interpretation