Studying the Scriptures

[JimfromOhio]

I posted this in my journal and in one thread.

It's a fairly common perspective that handling the Scripture accurately is not always an easy thing. Good men disagree. A lot of Bible teachers disagree. Preachers disagree. Writers disagree. If it's so important that we handle it accurately and if it's a matter of shame when we don't, why is it that there is so much disagreement?

There are some matters of scripture we just don't have a lot of information on and we have to take what we have and do the best we can with it. We want to interpret the Word of God as its always been interpreted by faithful, godly interpreters. We want to be in line with the main flow of truth of true understanding of Scripture. There are some things for which little information is given and therefore we really can't understand an exact interpretation. You understand much about the culture of the Bible, you understand much about the geography of the Bible, and then you're going to get to understanding the history, the plot itself.

How to get the most out of our Bible? We belong to Him, we all have this desire, this diligence, this holiness, this commitment to obedience and prayerfully approach the Word of God. It's such a thick book, such a long book, in fact 66 books make up this one book. There are so many details and since every word, therefore every phrase and every sentence and every paragraph, every chapter, every book itself is of such vital importance.

Almost everyone says: "Well it's everybody's own interpretation, that's obvious because there are so many views."

Many types of denominations have come up with all kinds of very strange doctrines because of misinterpretations. In fact, bizarre kinds of things have occurred in the life of the church because of a misinterpretation of the Word of God. Because of misinterpretations, Cults have risen throughout history because of misinterpretation.

As Christians , we are to read Scripture, we allow the Holy Spirit to interpret the Word of God. Reading the scriptures begins to unfold itself because these consistent truths are repeated again and again and the Bible becomes its own best source of explanation, one scripture explaining another. And you'll be amazed as you begin to absorb the Word of God.

Reading the Scriptures is not difficult really to interpret, but needs careful understanding if we are to apply it living in the time in which we live. The Holy Spirit is doing a great work. Illuminating the Word; bringing you in to intimacy with God; showing you the glory of Jesus Christ, the goal of your life; guiding you into God's will; strengthening you for spiritual ministry and service and battle. He does all that. He is a powerful Spirit.

Along with Bible Study, I also use commentaries and good books from reliable theologists and Bible scholars that help me "understand" the Scriptures. When I say reliable, I use scholars who are very respectable by other scholars from various denominations. They all have common agreement in various doctrines.

So, do I take my Bible literally from EVERY word? No, I take my Bible literally from all 66 books in the Bible.

"The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian." Author: Tozer, A.W.

"Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like trying to eat without swallowing." Anonymous

"For some years now I have read through the Bible twice every year. If you picture the Bible to be a mighty tree and every word a little branch, I have shaken every one of these branches because I wanted to know what it was and what it meant." Martin Luther

"The Bible was written not to satisfy your curiosity but to help you conform to Christ's image. Not to make you a smarter sinner but to make you like the Saviour. Not to fill your head with a collection of biblical facts but to transform your life." Howard G. Hendricks

"Here is the great evangelical disaster - the failure of the evangelical world to stand for truth as truth. There is only one word for this - namely ACCOMMODATION. The evangelical church has accommodated to the world spirit of the age. First, there has been accommodation on Scripture, so that many who call themselves evangelicals hold a weakened view of the Bible and no longer affirm the truth of all the Bible teaches. . . .This accommodation has been costly, first in destroying the power of the Scriptures to confront the spirit of our age; second, in allowing the further slide of our culture."
Francis Shaeffer

 

[awildflowerlady]

As Christians , we are to read Scripture, we allow the Holy Spirit to interpret the Word of God.

Thank you for stating this! So very often those relying heavily on tradition allows this effort to be passed off to a church entity with the final outcome of interpretation announced by the church and then followed. I find that effort troubling.

If GOD can change an individual's heart, life and mind to follow Christ, He certainly can speak to that changed individual heart on matters of scripture. I believe that then taking those individual thoughts encouraged by the Holy Spirit and discussing it within a church setting of other individually changed and spoken to hearts can further help to clarify the matter.

 

[StAnselm]

I fear, however, that one of the effects of postmodernism in the church has been to relativise the interpretation - "I think it means this, you think it means that, and there's no way to tell who's right." Well, there is a way to tell who's right. We don't need to agree to disagree, we can agree to agree by studying Scripture together.

I have noticed a few threads on CF which largely consist of people sharing their ignorance...

So, do I take my Bible literally from EVERY word? No, I take my Bible literally from all 66 books in the Bible.

I'm afraid I don't know what you mean here.

 

[ghs1994]

I believe as I think you do here Jim. There will be scripture that is not clear cut and dry. The Holy Spirit will enlighten us to certain things. I know I have personal convictions about things, but I can only take from what God's Word says. I can interpret and others can interpret, but who cares what I think or anyone thinks. What does God's Word say. I do believe however, to understand scripture, we need to understand His character, which is so vast, God can do what He wants is what I've come to understand of Him. Romans 11:33-35 are remarkable concerning us trying to understand His ways. All we have to go on are His examples and teachings. We do what we can with what has been given to us.

 

[James1979]

God gives us the answer how to understand and learn from his word

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

This means that when we are trying to understand a verse out of the bible or even a parable, we're suppose to compare scripture with scripture throughout the bible to get a clear understanding and have harmony so that we won't end up with the wrong conclusion.

 

[ghs1994]

Amen brother.

 

[butterflyinchrist]

Thank you all. it's so nice to hear it said outloud (in a manner of speaking) for once.