Welcome!

Join me as we study Biblical subjects.  I want to start with a few scriptures on how to understand the Bible.

I'm going to use the NIV [New International Version] of the Bible, unless otherwise noted.   Join me in whatever version you may have available to use.

The greatest question ever asked is:  "What is truth?"  Where can we find truth?  God's Word, the Bible, is the source of truth.

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”  John 17:17

Correct study is essential to right understanding.  How should we study the Bible?  Paul tells us to rightly divide (compare, interpret) the word of truth.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

Comparing scripture with scripture puts truth together like a puzzle--line upon line, here a little and there a little -- to form a comprehensive picture of God's truth.

 “Who is it he is trying to teach?    To whom is he explaining his message?  To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast?  For it is:  Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there.”   Isaiah 28:9, 10

We are to study for ourselves, testing all human teachers and teachings by the Bible.  How do we test teachings by the Word?

• We search the Bible individually for ourselves.
• We ask God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:13, 14.
• We build on the study of godly Christian preachers and teachers -- going to the Bible to compare their teachings with God's Word. (cf. Acts 8:30, 31, 33) 

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”  Acts 17:11

This is the litmus test to discern error.  Any teaching that does not harmonize with God's Word -- the law and the testimony -- is error and contains no light. 

 “Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.”  Isaiah 8:20

All Scripture is given by God's inspiration and is profitable for our study.  The Old Testament (the "Scripture" of Paul's day) as well as the New Testament is God's inspired Word.

“and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:15-17

The experiences recorded in the Bible have personal application to our lives. They are written for our admonition.

“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.”  1 Corinthians 10:11

Jesus endorses the accuracy and the inspiration of the Old Testament.  (The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms were the three divisions of the Old Testament in His day.)

“He said to them, 'This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.'  Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”  Luke 24:44, 45

Brilliant men with high IQ's did not think up these wonderful Spirit-designed truths.  They originated with the moving of the Holy Spirit upon the hearts and minds of holy men of God.  The Bible is its own best interpreter.  

“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  2 Peter 1:19-21

To be a Bible "whiz" is not enough.  We can search the Bible to accumulate knowledge, but unless we come to know the Christ of the Bible it is of little value.  (cf. Luke 11:28; John 7:17).

“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”  John 5:39-40

Joy results from following God's Word.

“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.” Jeremiah 15:16

See you in a day or two for our next topic on The Origin of Sin!  Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Thanks,
Kathy