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Answers About The
Bible.
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE Part
1
I. SOME PRELIMINARY MATTERS (WHERE DO
WE BEGIN)
A. We should start with the basic
principle that we can understand God's Word.
John 8:32- ""And you shall know
the truth, and the truth shall make you free.""
Ephesians 5:17- "Therefore do not
be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord
is."
B. God has given us all we need in
the Bible to prepare us for life here on earth and eternity with
Him.
2 Timothy 3:16-17- "All Scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
{17} that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work."
2 Peter 1:2-3- "Grace and peace be
multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
{3} as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain
to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him
who called us by glory and virtue,"
C. We must seek diligently in God's
word for the truth, for it will be the measuring stick by which
our lives will be judged.
John 12:47-48 "And if anyone hears
My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not
come to judge the world but to save the world. {48} He who
rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that
which judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him
in the last day."
2 Timothy 2:15- "Be diligent to
present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth."
The Bible is not a book of riddles. It
is meant to be understood by the ordinary person with ordinary
intelligence. When studied properly, it will prepare me for living a
better life here, and a wonderful life with God. In short, the
average person can understand God's word. But, it will take some
effort. We have to work to get its' message. "These were more
fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the
word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find
out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
II. HOW DO WE FIND OUT WHAT THE BIBLE
TEACHES?
A. The Bible teaches by a Direct
statement, or Command. Some examples
Acts 2:38- "Then Peter said to
them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit."
1 Corinthians 6:18- "Flee sexual
immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but
he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own
body."
This is the easiest to understand.
When such statements are given, they are forthright. They are
commands for us to obey.
B. The Bible teaches by Approved
Example.
These are examples of actions by
inspired men in the New Testament which can be determined to be
intended for Christians in general and not for just one time,
place, or situation. It is intended to underpin and facilitate
the carrying out of a specific command.
1 Timothy 5:23- "No longer drink
only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and
your frequent infirmities." This passage is NOT an approved
example for us today because it does not facilitate any direct
command. It was written specifically to one person (Timothy)
concerning a condition that he, not all Christians,
had.
Acts 20:7- "Now on the first day
of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued
his message until midnight." This is an example of and approved
example. It facilitates the taking of a commanded actions (the
Lord's Supper). See Matthew 26 and 1 Corinthians
11.
C. The Bible teaches by
Inference
This method logically looks at
Scripture to infer certain facts.
Genesis 13:1 and 12:10- Lot went
down into Egypt with Abram, even though the text does not
directly state the fact.
Matthew 3:16 - Before he was
baptized Jesus went down into the water, even though it does not
specifically state that he did.
Inference is just as binding when
properly applies. However, we must take care in reaching
inferences. When our inference directly contradicts clear Bible
verses we know that it is incorrect.
D. There is such a thing as Generic
and Specific Authority.
Generic authority is where God
commands us to do something, and does not tell us exactly how to
do it.
Specific authority is where God
clearly shows the exact way He wants something done.
For example, the "Great
Commission" (Matthew 28:18-20) has both specific and general
commands within it. It is specific as to what we are to preach
(the gospel) but is general as to the methods of doing so
(plane, foot, bus, TV, radio, tract,
etc.)
III. SOME OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS TO
REMEMBER.
A. Never change the interpretation
of a clear passage to fit the personal interpretation that you
have of a difficult one.
Remember, always interpret hard
passages in the light of clear ones. For example, much of what
we hear taught from Revelation is based on speculative
interpretations that contradict clear passages
elsewhere.
2 Peter 1:20- "knowing this first,
that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private
interpretation,"
B. Remember the Five W's of Bible
Study.
Who is doing the speaking? Is it
an inspired man, or is it someone like the Devil doing the
speaking.
To Whom are the words addressed?
Noah was commanded to build an ark but we are not.
When were the words spoken? Jesus
commanded his followers to follow Moses and the pharisees in
Matthew 23:1 while after his death he said that he had all
authority (Matthew 28:18-20)
Where are the words found? What is
the context? Look at Romans 3:8.
Why were the words spoken?
Miracles were commanded in the first century, but the reasons
for them were also revealed. See Mark 16:14-20 and Hebrews
2:3-4. Foot washing was commanded, but as a good work and not as
an act of worship. See John 13:14 and 1 Timothy
5:9-10.
C. Remember, the Old Testament has
been removed in place of the New Law.
Colossians 2:14- "having wiped out
the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was
contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having
nailed it to the cross."
Hebrews 9:15-17- "And for this
reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of
death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first
covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of
the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there
must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a
testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power
at all while the testator lives."
The Old Testament is of immense
value. But when it comes to the commands we are to follow today,
we must look to the New Testament.
D. We need to respect the Silence of
the Scriptures.
The Bible does not have to say
"thou shalt not" for every question. The Silence principle
states that there must be authority for all that we
do.
When combined with the principle
of specific authority, it means that something does not have to
be specifically condemned in the Scripture to be wrong. For
example, the Bible authorizes singing (Ephesians 5:19). The New
Testament is silent concerning instrumental music in the
worship. But since it has specified the type of music required,
singing, then instrumental music in the worship is not
authorized.
IV. SOME FINAL THOUGHT
QUESTIONS.
A. Show some examples of specific
and generic commands in God's command to Noah (Genesis
6:13-
Copyright 1999 by
Grady Scott may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost
to others.
MORE ANSWERS:
a. The Bible:
What is The
Bible?
Part
1, Part
2, Part
3,
How to Study the
Bible?
Part
1,
Part
2,
Part
3,
b.
Who is Jesus?
Part
1,
Part
2,
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