I am asked many times how to or how do I study the Bible. There are what I believe to be some fixed rules in doing so that must be followed to have assurance of a correct interpretation.
One of the first rules that must be implemented is that it takes work, time and effort must be expended. As the Scripture says:
Ecclesiastes 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
As wearisome as it may be, we are all commanded to study God’s word.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Take note that the injunction is toward individuals, thyself, workman, both are singular meaning that the unstated subject is ‘thou” meaning you as an individual. We are all commanded to study to be able to rightly divide the word of truth.
There is another caveat to the Lord granting you light. It concerns what you do with the understanding you already have; “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” If you are not applying what you have learned there is no reason for the Lord to grant you more.
Our attitude toward the word of God is another major factor in understanding the Bible. One of the first essentials to comprehending the Scriptures is believing them.
Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
God has determined that divine things should enter through the heart into the mind, and not through the mind into the heart. In divine things, therefore, it is necessary to love them in order to know them.
Blaise Pascal 1623-1662; Christian; French Mathematician, Physicist
If you do not believe God, why would he enlighten your understanding. One of the renown New Testaments “Scholar” of our day is an atheist. Do you really think that you can depend on his understanding of the Bible he rejects as truth?
In divine things, therefore,
it is necessary to love them
in order to know them.
The greater the love and desire to know the word of truth, the greater the chance God will bless with understanding.
Views: 2
