Personal Development as part of Bible Interpretation

I have the idea that the scriptures were written by folks at different stages of spiritual developmental and written to communities at different spiritual developmental stages. If my hypothesis is anywhere near true, then it is important to interpret scriptures (the study of hermeneutics) based on stages/phases/types of spiritual development of both the authors and the community of recipients. This means that I do not interpret all scriptures as of equal significance. I interpret Jesus’ teaching and life, as recorded in the Gospels, as the most developed and significant. The other scriptures I interpret in terms of their situation as well as what I believe to have been their spiritual development stage. For example, I recently heard of a conversation between a young child and her aunt at a funeral. The young child has not developed to the time when she has the capability of abstract thinking. When she heard the Preacher say that one day we will see uncle again, she replied, “You mean Uncle will become un-dead?” That is perfect logic for a young child with concrete thinking. Later in her life, her brain will have developed the capability of doing abstract thinking and, when that happens, she might have a different interpretation of what that Preacher said at her uncle’s funeral.