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1. Realize that the Bible must be studied and “rightly divided”
(1 Timothy 4:15; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 3:16).
2. Realize that the Bible contains the mind and will of God (2
Peter 1:16-21; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Galatians
1:6-11).
3. Approach the Bible humbly and reverently, desiring to know its
truths (Matthew 5:6; John 8:31-32; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2
Thessalonians 2:10-12).
4. Have a profound faith in ALL IT SAYS. One cannot accept only a
PART of the Bible as being inspired. We MUST accept it all, or none at
all! It isn’t a smorgasbord where we are free to pick and choose! (2
Timothy 3:16) “All Scripture..”
5. Let the Bible speak to you, not you to it! (1 Peter 4:11;
Galatians 1:15-16; Acts 5:29).
6. Study for profit with an earnest desire to know more of
Christ’s will, not just to win an argument or endeavoring to “justify”
yourself. (Song: “More About Jesus..” (Psalms 1:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:16).
7. Be willing and eager to obey implicitly what Christ’s word
commands of you (Matthew 7:13-21, 24-29; Luke 6:46; Matthew 15:1-9).
8. Use common sense as you study God’s word. The same principles
apply as one attempts to understand its message as any other documents!
(2 Timothy 2:15).
9. Observe who is speaking. There are things recorded that Satan
said!
10. Observe to whom each statement is addressed: Whether to alien
sinners, or to unfaithful Christians, or to Old Testament covenant
people, or faithful Christians? This will definitely have a bearing on
the proper interpretation! (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Deuteronomy 18:15-18;
Acts 3:22-23; Hebrews 1:1-2; John 16:12-13; Galatians 5:4).
11. Consider why each book is written. The first four books of the New
Testament were were written to produce faith in Jesus Christ as the Son
of God. The book of Acts records cases of conversion during the
apostolic age as well as some history of the early church. The next 21
letters (epistles) are instructions to churches and to individual
Christians instructing them in “all truth” needed to please Christ. The
book of Revelation was written to encourage first Century Christians
under severe persecution. It was foretelling to them things that were
to “shortly come to pass.” This symbolic book was not written as a
prophetic time table of things in our day or just before the return of
Christ the final time. That which remains to be fulfilled is for Christ
to return for His bride the church, and to execute final judgement. The
book can be very reassuring for present day Christians as well as it
was to those to whom it was addressed. Truth and good will prevail
eventually, and those who “overcome” can “come over and be with Me says
the Lord.” It also warns of “lukewarmness.”
12. Realize that there have been three (3) distinct dispensations of
religion as God dealt with mankind: The Patriarchal (father rule age
from creation to Sinai); The Jewish or Mosaic (From Sinai to the cross)
and The gospel age (From the first Jewish Pentecost after the
resurrection and ascension of Christ back to the Father to sit on
David’s throne at His right hand, until the end of time). The New
Testament of course is our guide for today. The Old is written for “our
learning” and as “examples to us” (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12;
John 12:48; Hebrews 1;1-2; Matthew 17:1- 5).
13. Study the meaning of the very titles of each book!
This gives clues to what the content is about. Examples: (Genesis, the
beginning); (Exodus, the going out of Egyptian bondage of the
Israelites). (Leviticus the priestly tribe of Levi). Numbers, the
taking of a census of the people. (Deuteronomy; a second “giving of the
law”).
14. Though somewhat difficult to keep straight, study the chronology
and history of each book. They aren’t in order in your Bible as they
were written. Some not knowing this become hopelessly confused and give
up on seeking to understand this greatest of all books, the Bible. God
intends for us to understand what He has caused to be written and
preserved for all people of all time (Ephesians 3:1-11, 17; 2 Timothy
2:15; Matthew 15:13; 1 John 4:1-2; 2 John 9-11; 1 Timothy 1:3; John
8:31-32).
15. “..God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..” (1
Corinthians 14:33). Therefore, the laws of hermeneutics
(interpretation) demands that you do not place an interpretation on any
passage of holy writ that makes it at odds with another. Also learn
that when God specifies one thing in any passage, that excludes all
other actions in the same class. “Gopher wood” (Genesis 6:14). Today
for music Christ specified “singing” (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16,
etc.) Noah could use no other wood for the Ark’s construction. We may
use no other music in worship of God today! See?
16. Consider whether or not the language is literal or figurative!
Everything should be taken literal if possible. However, when a literal
interpretation would reduce the meaning to an absurdity, it should be
obvious that a figure of speech is being used and it is not to be taken
literally. Usually the context will show which is the case. Sometimes
when one takes a statement literal it makes it contradict another plain
and simple passage or principle, then one must view it as figurative.
Example: Jesus said once, “labor not for meat which perishes...” (John
6:27). Paul speaking by the holy Spirit said, “He who will not work
neither let him eat” and “..labor working with his hands...to give to
those in need” (2 Thessalonians 3:10; Ephesians 4:28). To take the
statement of Jesus as literal obviously produces a contradiction
between the Son of God and an inspired Apostle! See? There is no
contradiction. Jesus uses a hyperbole (pronounced hy-per-by-lee). Many
metaphors are used in Scripture. Common sense helps here too!
17. Do not read into the text something that isn’t there! Take it for
what it says and nothing more. Do not add your own “two cents worth” to
divine revelation (Revelation 22:18-19; Galatians 1:6-9).
18. Understand obscure passages in the light of those which are so
plain that they cannot be misunderstood.
19. Maintain a proper attitude about this greatest of all books. It is
God speaking to man. Respect how it teaches. Do not invade into the
“silence of the Scriptures” (Hebrews 7:14; 1 Peter 4:11). Nothing is
authorized by what God has NOT SAID! Since faith comes by hearing,
nothing can be an act of faith for which there is no Bible information!
(Romans 10:17; Genesis 4:1-7; Leviticus 10:1-3).
20. Each time you open this sacred volume, study it as if it fell
directly from heaven into your hands alone. Study it as if you had
never seen it or read it before. Lay aside all preconceived ideas or
traditional beliefs and practices and see what God says about each
matter under consideration. Man, unaided by the Holy Spirit, could not
have written this book if he desired to. It teaches things about which
he has no knowledge except as revealed herein. He would not have
written it if he could have, for it condemns the very things he allows
both religiously and morally! It is God’s book and it will never pass
away (1 Peter 1:22-25; Matthew 24:35). It will be present on judgement
day (Revelation 20:12:15).
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