What does that mean to you?

Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:20,21)

All scripture is inspired by God. (2 Tim 3:16)
"inspired" by God - theo pneustos That is literally, God breathed.
God actually breathed the words He wanted to give to us. That is truly amazing! Perhaps that is why scripture tells us "the word of God is living and active." (Heb 4:12) We know that "the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Gen 2:7) This similarity in creative work should give us reason to esteem the scripture carefully.
The men who were His "instruments" were faithful, and none of what was written was of their own interpretation. It was God's interpretation.

And yet...
So much of what is called "bible study" today is a group meeting, reading a passage from scripture, and then asking, "What does that passage mean to you?"
Just in case there is not someone there to volunteer, "Well, I think this means...", groups usually have a "study guide" which will conveniently have the guided question: "Ask each person to tell the group what this passage means to them."

That is not Bible study. It is simply shared ignorance.
Where is the one to proclaim, "thus saith the Lord?"
If there is no one who knows, let them (all) keep silent.
The key to Bible study is asking "What is God saying here?" "What does He mean?" (What does it mean to God?)

Asking, "What is this verse saying to you?" is making it your own personal interpretation, something even the writers dared not consider.

Whatever shall we do? Who will deliver us from our plight?

"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ."(Eph 4:11-15)

Christ has given us the gift of teachers. Actually the gift of pastor teachers.

Please keep that in mind the next time you hear...
"What does that mean to you?"

HUMILITY

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5)

See The American Thinker