What is the key to Bible Study?

[ByTheSpirit]

Simple question:

What is the most important thing we can while we study the scriptures?

 

[ByTheSpirit]

I think having an open heart and mind is the most important thing a person can bring to bible study.

If we come with our preconceptions and dictate to the text what it is going to say to us instead of allowing our pride to take a back seat for a while, we end up in very dangerous waters indeed.

Quiet space is good and greatly to be desired.

Good study helps are important to an extent I believe.

The translation matters little to me, just let me read!

 

[mark kennedy]

Study material, not that the other things are not important. It's like building a house, your not going to get much done without tools.

 

[Radrook]

Carefully and cautiously chosen study material since they can either mislead or guide us properly.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Quiet space. All else depends on being able to hear Him. If you can't hear Him, you won't know good study materials from bad ones. If you don't have quiet space, you'll never recognize good translation from bad. If you don't have quiet space, your heart can be as open as ever, but you'll never hear Him actually speaking.

 

[Sanoy]

Good study materials, especially when it comes to historical context material.

• First thing to do is "know what the text is saying". If you have good study material like with an interlinear you won't need to worry about Bible translations.
• Second is open your heart. You can't take it in if you don't want too.
• Third is quiet time. You can't take it all in if you have distractions.

 

[JCarp]

Hey,

Let us not forget intent. A lot depends on what you want to achieve; an "open heart" really is important.

Lichtenberg once said "a book is like a mirror; if an ape peers into it, you cannot expect an apostle to look out." All in good jest, my friends.

 

[food4thought]

An open heart to hear what the Spirit wants to speak through the Bible is the most important thing, although the others are important. We must not let preconceived ideas overrule what the Spirit intends for us to understand from our study. Nothing could be more important than that.

 

[5thKingdom]

Simple question:

What is the most important thing we can while we study the scriptures?

1.1 Harmony of Scripture


This is an important part of the Gospel that most Biblical "scholars/teachers" either overlook or don’t understand:
The only measure of Biblical Truth is "Harmony of Scripture". The only way to find Biblical Truth is when our doctrine
harmonizes with all related Scripture. If we can find even ONE VERSE in the Bible that contradicts our doctrine, then we know
that we have not found Biblical Truth... at best we have found some partial-truth. Since the Bible is the “Word of God” and contains
(in the original) no errors or contradictions, this is the First Principle in all Bible study, and the only presupposition of this prophecy.


For example: I could provide several verses that seem to teach that salvation is the result of water baptism.
In fact, that belief is an essential doctrine for some individuals and churches. However, I could also provide Scriptures
teaching there’s NO ACTION a person can perform to attain salvation – that it’s a gift of Sovereign Grace and not of works.
The Biblical Truth about the process of salvation can only be found when we harmonize all Scriptures related to this subject…
anything less would be (at best) some partial-truth. You cannot have error (or heresy) when you have “Harmony of Scripture”.


Throughout history, false Christians (unsaved "tares/goats") normally decide to intentionally ignore all the Scriptures
contradicting (and invalidating) their doctrines. That is the reason there are so many false doctrines in the churches today.
However, one of the "fruits" of real Christians (saved "wheat/sheep") is to gladly modify our doctrines until they harmonize
with ALL related Scriptures. Real Saints SUBMIT to what the Bible says – they do not intentionally ignore what they dislike.


If we can find even ONE VERSE that contradicts our doctrine/gospel then we have proven we have not found Biblical Truth
(we have not found “Harmony of Scripture”) and, at best, we have only found some partial-truth which must be revised
until it harmonizes with ALL Scripture. The only measure of Biblical Truth is harmony of all related Scripture.
And the only confirmation of Biblical Truth is FULFILLMENT of that prophecy in history (aka. “reality”).


It does not matter what our church or preacher teaches… if only ONE VERSE of Scripture contradicts that teaching
then it has already been PROVEN to be un-Biblical (and, therefore, incorrect) because it does not have “Harmony of Scripture”.
The same standard applies now while discussing “unsealed” Biblical mysteries (as the Gospel of early Christians clearly did also).
Throughout history, the Saints have always understood that the only measure of Biblical Truth is complete “Harmony of Scripture”.


It's un-Biblical to teach that all interpretations are equally valid. But it's also incorrect to teach that we cannot find Biblical Truth.
The fact is: Scripture was written so that real Saints (the saved "wheat/sheep") would be able to discern the "Word of God",
within God's timeline for revealing His mysteries… by comparing (and then by harmonizing) Scripture-with-Scripture.




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