August 27. On this date in 1998, the Universal House of Justice wrote "In the light of the Teachings which are well known to you, and given the repeated statements of the House of Justice on this subject, it is not correct to insist that the House of Justice has an interpretative function....The meanings of the terms “elucidation” and “interpretation,” as they are used with regard to the functions of Bahá’í institutions, should not of course be confused with each other. The elucidations of the Universal House of Justice stem from its legislative function, and as such differ from interpretation."

 

August 27. On this date in 1998, the Universal House of Justice wrote "In the light of the Teachings which are well known to you, and given the repeated statements of the House of Justice on this subject, it is not correct to insist that the House of Justice has an interpretative function....The meanings of the terms “elucidation” and “interpretation,” as they are used with regard to the functions of Bahá’í institutions, should not of course be confused with each other. The elucidations of the Universal House of Justice stem from its legislative function, and as such differ from interpretation."

Please also see the Universal House of Justice's letter dated October 25, 1984 which clarifies the qualitative difference between the Guardian's prerogative of interpretation and the power of elucidation of the Universal House of Justice.