Opinions and Interpretations

Giles Lytton Strachey changed the way history was read and written. Born in London in 1880, he gained attention through the fresh style of his literary criticism. His breakthrough came in 1918, with the publication of his book, Eminent Victorians. Instead of dryly repeating events, he selected key moments and facts in the lives of his subjects. His aim was to cast “a sudden revealing searchlight into obscure recesses.”

However, there was a tradeoff. As Encarta Encyclopedia comments, “he occasionally sacrificed truth.” Yet his writings attracted many readers with a style that was “polished, malicious, and lively.” Strachey wrote, “The first duty of a great historian is to be an artist: misinterpreted truth is as useless as buried gold, and art is the great interpreter.”

This model of interpreted writing has been adopted by many others who’ve decided they have the right to present “truth” in their own, subjective way—offering their personal interpretations as fact.
We can wonder if this is what happened to the story of Joseph. Even though he single-handedly saved Egypt from a great crisis, in later generations his life and accomplishments seem to have been forgotten or erased from the public records.

Today, think about this when you read newspapers, visit websites, watch movies and TV programs, and hear the opinions of others. No matter how authoritative others may seem, each person has biases and prejudices. Even “experts” might be reporting “interpreted truth” rather than the real Truth.

Remember: Only God’s Word is fully true. He is the Creator, and His Word is eternally true. Make sure to base your life on the Bible and not the fallible opinions of people.