Important
Things to Remember as we Study the Bible
1. Every class and private home study
should be prefaced by following the instructions found in:
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of
God, that gives to all men liberally, and reproaches not; and it will be given him. (James
1:5)
2. After asking for wisdom and understanding
from God we should study His Word with a mind that is willing to receive and believe
whatever we find there, even if we find some things we didn’t believe before, and
don’t find some things we thought were true all of our lives.
To the law and to the testimony: if they
speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:20)
3. We know that God’s Word can not
contradict itself. When we find something that seems like a contradiction we must
carefully search for the clue that will harmonize the apparent contradiction. We will
always find this if we follow the Scriptures.
Come now, and let us reason together, says
the LORD (Isaiah 1:18)
Comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(1 Corinthians 2:13)
Rightly dividing the word of truth. (2
Timothy 2:15)
4. We must note with special care (1) who
the passage was written to, (2) who the passage was written by, and (3) what period of
time the passage refers to. A lot of confusion is caused by a failure to note these
distinctions.
5. We must distinguish between plain
statements and figurative sayings, parables, types, and symbols.
6. When we want proof we must compare
Scripture with Scripture, instead of comparing Scripture with the traditions of men.
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