Q&A: Hermeneutics — advice for a new Bible student afraid of misinterpretation

Winger argues that not studying guarantees error — fear of misinterpretation is not a reason to avoid study. He advises: be patient, don't rush to conclusions, evaluate multiple interpretive options with their pros and cons, and use the test of whether your interpretation has been reached by others in church history. If you're the first to arrive at an interpretation, you probably invented it.