A common feature of cults and false denominations is to attempt to take the Bible out of the hands of the people and claim authority over it for themselves. It is argued that the chaos of the modern world is due to this concept not being followed. Multiple interpretations of Scripture exist, but they ought not, because of course it only has one correct interpretation. Thus, we should not allow everyone to privately interpret Scripture, but should instead submit our interpretations to one authoritative body.
This line of reasoning is highly illogical, for a large number of reasons. The most infuriating of these reasons being the straw man arguments that usually follow it. We are often told that studying on our own is both useless, as we won't find anything no one else has found before us, and chaotic, because if we all Studied scripture and came to our own conclusions, we'd have a greater spiritual anarchy than we do even now. Yet, no honest student of Scripture believes he will find anything that hasn't been found before, nor do we argue that we should simply be allowed to come to our own conclusions. Rather, Scripture is written in coherent language, designed to communicate doctrine from author to reader.
Scripture even says this explicitly. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we read "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Notice first, we read this. Scripture is not an ink blot test. If it was an ink blot test, it would be more open to interpretation, and if there was an intended interpretation, we would need help reaching it. However, because it is a written work, not a drawn work, Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. Paul even tells us that all of this makes the man of God complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work, which completely flies in the face of all who use silly reasoning to argue for their own authority. In their minds, Scripture is insufficient to complete us or thoroughly equip us for every good work. We need their doctrines to complete us, we need to do their good works.
In reality, however, Paul's words to Timothy clearly show us that Scripture is all we need. Complete Scripture = complete faith. This is possible, again, because Scripture uses words. Words are designed to communicate information from author to reader, just as I am doing right now. I am writing, you are reading, and if I have done a good job, you have everything you need to understand what I am saying to you. That doesn't necessarily mean you will, of course. Even if I write a perfect article, you may not be a perfect reader. In the same way, Scripture may well be sufficient, that doesn't mean we are sufficient. Nevertheless, because God inspired the prophets and Apostles to write His thoughts for us, those who read His words have everything they need to obey them.
And that really is the point. It is a poorly drafted law that cannot be understood by those intended to obey it. How can you possibly obey what you cannot interpret? If I asked you right now to "go to this place, do this thing, then say this phrase to that person", would you be able to fulfill that request? Of course not. You don't know where you're going, what you're doing there, what you're supposed to say, or who you're supposed to say it to. But if I now say "go to my kitchen, boil the kettle, then tell my mom I'll be there in 1 minute to make a coffee", you fully understand what I'm asking you to do.
A good law can be understood by all who are intended to obey it. We all know this, as every day, we strive to be good, law abiding citizens of our country. Or maybe we don't. Perhaps there is a law in your country of which you disapprove, and so you lobby against it. Whatever the case, considering the legality of your actions and even the actions of those around you, is a normal part of life. Most of the time, you do this yourself.
Not only do you do this yourself, but it's possible, especially if you're active in politics, that you may even dispute with other people who also do this themselves. Take, for example, the issue of gun rights in the United States of America. The Second Amendment of the United States declares "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." What does this mean?
In 2008, the case of District of Columbia v. Heller established, in a 5-4 decision, that the second amendment preserves the right of individual citizens to own firearms, striking down the Washington D.C. handgun ban. But that 5-4 decision shows that the Supreme Court could have taken a different approach. The dissenting opinion is that the second amendment does not protect the right of the people to keep and bear arms, but rather only the militia. And of course, there are the occasional numpties who claim it only protects the right to own muskets, but we'll ignore those particular clowns.
Now, note first, it was a private citizen who brought the case. Dick Anthony Heller believed his constitutional rights had been violated when the District refused to register his firearm. Thus, he sued. Note, second, how the second amendment is so well phrased that not only did Heller win, we would be justified in disagreeing had he lost. If, rather than a 5-4 decision in favor of individual gun rights, it was a 5-4 decision against, we could say the 5 justices were wrong, and the 4 were right. Why? Because the second amendment doesn't say it applies to the militia (though the Founding Fathers made it quite clear that the people are the militia), it says the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
This is just one example. All who are required to obey a law should be able to interpret it themselves. If they can't, it's a bad law. When it comes to Scripture, everyone is intended to obey. Even children are supposed to be taught the Scriptures (e.g. Deuteronomy 4:10). Thus, it can be assumed, especially as it came from God, that it is better even than the U.S. Constitution. We can understand it, otherwise how could we be expected to obey, much less teach our kids? Furthermore, if indeed there was an organisation to which we are to submit, how would we know which organisation that is? Or when they, in their humanity, go astray?
If there was such a thing as an authoritative Church, private interpretation of the Scriptures would be essential to discovering them. And if such a Church could be found, private interpretation of the Scriptures would again be required to keep them in check. Private interpretation of the Scriptures will always be necessary for all who seek to obey them, and because God is a good Author, the words within Scripture are more than sufficient to communicate to us that which God intends to communicate. Those who try to wrestle the Scriptures from your hands do so not because they have the right to do so, but because they preach and practice that which they have no right to do so, and they absolutely do not want you knowing or preaching that. As Peter says, they "...bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1). Do not join these false teachers in their destruction. Let them walk into it alone. But you who belong to God, search the Scriptures daily to see if your teachers are teaching you the truth (Acts 17:11). If they're not? You know what to do.