Being that Im a student of the Bible and enjoy sharing what Ive learned with others, Ive had the opportunity to hear all kinds of ideas about what people believe the Bible says concerning God and His will for humankind.
Nevertheless, as much as I enjoy engaging in such discussions, I am sometimes disturbed by what I hear. What I mean to say here is that there are a lot of people out there who study the Bible without really knowing how to study it! And so without really knowing how to study it, people can either be deceived into believing that certain passages in it are expressing meaning that really isnt being implied at all, or they could very easily miss the purpose for which Bible study is to take place all together.
This, of course, can be avoided simply by applying what I call The Three Cardinal Rules of Bible Study. And at this time I would like to share these rules with you in hope that they might enable you to ascertain a greater depth of meaning for what is written in Gods word, as well as a more profound understanding of the purpose for which it was written.
Please note: These rules are successive.
1. Practice the presence of prayer:
Paul said that we ought to pray without ceasing1Thess. 5:17. And I believe that this concept should also apply to our study of the Bible. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who pray before and at the end of their Bible study, but fail to pray during the interim of it. You see, they ask for Gods guidance at the beginning of the study, and for His blessing at the end of it, but often miss the purpose for which they ought to be studying the word of God to begin with, because they cease to allow God to walk them through it, step by step. And such people are easy to identify because they often say, God doesnt speak to me. Hence, they have very little faith and confidence in the word of God.
But surely we can be confident that God will speak to us while studying the Bible if we would just learn how to listen for His voice. For, He uses the Bible as a means of communicating His will and purpose to humankind, even on an individual basis in some cases. And this is why it is critical that we pray while studying Gods word, because God has a message for each one of us in it; and unless we really allow Him to be our guide during our study of the Bible, we will inevitably fall short of grasping the message for which He has prepared our hearts to receive. And we will walk away believing that God didnt speak to us, when in fact He sought to, but we just couldnt hear Him because we ceased to pray.
But you might ask, How then do I pray in this way? Its simple. While reading a passage or book of the Bible, earnestly ask God the following question: Lord, what are you saying to me here? Now, it may take a moment to receive an answer, and in most cases youll have to reread that passage again a few times before it comes to you; but it will come. You just need to be patient with God, and He will strengthen your heart. Ps. 27:14
And by doing this, you will soon discover that your study of the Bible will be greatly enriched, because the voice of God will become more evident to you, as you pray without ceasing while studying it.
2. Look to the Bible for spiritual support, but not to support your spirituality:
By far too many people study the Bible in hope to find something in it to support what they already believe, rather than using it as a magnifying glass to test their beliefs.
God has given us the Bible for a reason. And that reason is spelled out thus: 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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2Tim. 3:16-17
In other words, God has given us the scriptures for the purpose of disclosing what it means to live a righteous life, but not as a crutch to support some personal belief for which there really is no biblical support.
And if we merely study the Bible in an attempt to find support for what we already believe, then the purpose for which God has given us the scriptures will not come to fruition, because we wont know what it is, or how to identify it.
So then, if we are going to benefit from studying the Bible, we must be willing to open the door of our hearts to God as to a friend, and thus invite Him into our lives, by allowing His message to direct our every thought, and scrutinize our every belief, so that we might come to know the truth.
The following questions ought to be addressed while studying a passage or book from the Bible, to help us to avoid superimposing meaning on the text that the author never intended:
1. Who is the author speaking to?
2. What is he saying?
3. Why is he speaking thus?
By answering these questions honestly, we will be less inclined to think for the author, and more apt to really hear what God is saying through him.
3. Translate the message into something practical
In other words, as James put it, Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22 Merely having the truth isnt good enough; we must actuate it. For, there is a depth of meaning in Gods word that one could never grasp without putting it into action. And if we think for one minute that we are on vantage ground simply because we are aware of what really happens when a person dies, or which day were really supposed to keep holy, or when and how justification takes place, etc., then we are sorely mistaken, and thus deceived.
Personally, I like to think of the Bible as being a love letter from God. In it He informs us of His love and purpose for humankind. In other words, it isnt a book that is to be read as though it were a lifeless novel, but as an instructional manual, which discloses information to us that if applied, will transform our character into something wonderful. And by applying these rules to our study of the Bible, not only will the purpose for which it was written become apparent to us, but it will also become evident to others who hear us when we speak, and see our actions. For then, they will see Jesus in us.
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