That much is obvious. But it has a very important implication, which is that we shall need to think hard about what the text says before trying to decide which interpretation makes most sense of it. Now this is sometimes easier said than done, since all of us bring preconceived ideas to the understanding of any text. Yet experience shows that problems in interpreting a passage often spring from failing to see exactly what the text says because we are impatient to get at the meaning.
