Discussions of biblical interpretation often proceed under one of two assumptions. Readers’ interpretations are primarily formed (1) inductively, according to the Bible's objective content, or (2) through the lens of preformed ideologies and biases. We assessed the influence of these two factors using two survey experiments with undergraduates. In study 1 (N = 214), participants were randomly assigned one of two nearly identical translations of Ephesians 5:22‐28 (a famous passage describing gendered marital submission), with the only difference being that one translation included verse 21 in which Christians are told to “submit to one another.” Participants did not perceive a different message about gendered submission between translations, nor were they more likely to interpret either as misogynistic. However, gender ideology and religious importance did predict interpretation. Study 2 (N = 217) essentially replicated study 1 (using different translations of Ephesians 5:21‐28), but one version replaced all “subjection” language with “commitment” language. Participants were significantly more likely to perceive a complementarian message from the translation that referenced “subjection” and they were also more likely to perceive it as misogynistic. Again, gender ideology and religious characteristics predicted interpretation. Findings suggest bias shapes interpretation, but more extreme content modifications (e.g., removing/changing key terms) can also influence interpretation.

中文翻译：

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圣经告诉我吗？使用调查实验权衡内容与偏见对圣经解释的影响

圣经解释的讨论通常是基于两个假设之一进行的。读者的解释主要是（1）根据圣经的客观内容来归纳地形成的，或者（2）通过预先形成的意识形态和偏见来形成的。我们使用两个针对大学生的调查实验评估了这两个因素的影响。在研究1（N= 214），参与者被随机分配以弗所书5：22-28的两个几乎相同的译文之一（著名的段落描述了性别婚姻的顺服），唯一的区别是其中一个译文包括第21节，基督徒被告知要“顺服”彼此。” 参与者对翻译之间的性别提交没有不同的看法，他们也不太可能将其解释为厌女症。但是，性别意识形态和宗教重要性确实可以预测解释。研究2（N= 217）本质上是重复了研究1（使用了以弗所书5：21-28的不同译本），但是有一个版本用“承诺”语言代替了所有“主观”语言。参与者从翻译中提到“主语”的可能性明显更高，他们也更有可能将其视为厌女症。同样，性别意识形态和宗教特征预示了解释。研究结果表明偏向形状的解释，但更极端的内容修改（例如，删除/更改关键术语）也会影响解释。