The Bible is not univocal. Univocal means “having only one possible meaning” (Oxford English Dictionary).
One Great Mistake
One of the great mistakes in reading and interpreting the Bible is treating it as one book with one author. It is not. It is a library of books from over 40 very different authors writing in very different circumstances during a large time span.
Lost and Distorted
By reading the Bible as one book by one author a lot of nuances are lost. Differences are overlooked, downplayed, or simply ignored. The context is ignored, the individual writer’s intent is ignored, and therefore the message is lost or distorted.
Contradictions
It also means the contradictions and discrepancies are denied. It means that we are not handling the test honestly. We are not letting it speak for itself. The result is eisegesis instead of exegesis. Instead of drawing out the meaning of the text, we are reading into the text our own meaning.
Before Interpreting
Before interpreting a text we should understand who the author is, their particular situation, and the reason they are writing it. Textual criticism is also important, for many texts have variant readings that effect its interpretation.