Part III. Other Rules for Bible Study -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Consider Other Passages on the Same Subject. Truth on a subject is determined by adding up all pertinent passages. Acts 3:22,23 - Hearken to all things Jesus spoke. Bible study is not like a cafeteria where you take what you want and leave the rest. Matthew 4:4,7 - Live by every word from Gods mouth. For example, Jesus showed that the devil has misused one passage by considering another passage. John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 14:33 - Gods word is truth. He is not the author of confusion. Truth does not contradict itself. Never interpret a passage in a way that contradicts other passages. Conclusions should harmonize with all that God has spoken. [Rev. 22:18,19; Acts 20:20,27; Matt. 28:20; 12:25,26; James 2:10; 2 Tim. 3:16,17; 1 Cor. 1:10,13] Some applications The pattern of worship is not entirely revealed in one passage. We must study many passages and take the whole pattern. Likewise, the steps to salvation are not all revealed in any one passage. Denominations err by taking passages that teach we are saved by faith, ignoring passages about baptism, and concluding we are saved by faith only without baptism. So some members of the Lords church emphasize the command to be baptized, then apparently ignore verses that require a faithful life, attendance, etc. B. Consider Context and Background. Context means the verses surrounding the one being studied, especially verses on the same subject. By background we mean who is speaking, to whom they speak, etc. These are just a particular form of considering all the Bible says (see the last point). Consider some specific benefits of considering context and background: Word meanings: Words may have different meanings in different contexts. We learn the correct meaning by how the word is used. Acts 20:17,28 shows that the elders (v17) are bishops or overseers (v28). Hence, both terms refer to the same work or office. Further explanation: When a verse confuses us, other statements nearby may clarify the meaning. Acts 16:31-34 - Some people claim v31 means we are saved by faith only, so baptism is not needed. But v32-34 shows that only part of the gospel had been taught. When all was taught, baptism was so urgent that the sinner had to do it even in the middle of the night (cf. Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; etc.). Proper application: Often a statement can best be understood by considering how it is applied in context. Romans 7:1-7 - We have been discharged from the law, but what law does this mean? It included, Thou shalt not covet (v7) - one of the Ten Commands. Hence, the law we are freed from includes the Ten Commands. The speaker: Every Bible word is infallible, but sometimes it infallibly records the sins or lies of fallible people. Psalm 14:1 quotes There is no God. But who says this? The fool says it. The Bible accurately records, not that the statement is true, but that foolish people truly do say it. Job 2:9 says Curse God and die. But who says this? Jobs wife said it, and was immediately rebuked by Job. To understand the Bible properly we must realize that sometimes it accurately records the fact that fallible people do or say sinful things. The people addressed, when and where: Not all instructions in the Bible - not even all that God spoke - are intended for us to obey. Genesis 6:13,14 - God told Noah to build an ark. Must we build one? Genesis 22:1,2 - God told Abraham to sacrifice his son. Must we slay ours? Luke 23:39-43 - Jesus said the thief on the cross would be in Paradise, so some conclude we today can be saved without baptism. But the man Jesus addressed lived under the Old Testament before Jesus died to remove it (Heb. 9:16,17; Col. 2:14). This no more applies today than the command to Noah to build the ark or the command to Abraham to slay his son. C. Define the Meaning of the Words. The Bible is verbally inspired - each word is from God (see previous notes). The message is revealed in words, and we understand it only when we understand the words. Words are sometimes used today in ways that completely differ from the meaning in the Bible. Consider such words as the following: saint, church, bishop, Christian, etc. The word baptism is defined today as sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, but in the Bible it means immersion (Rom. 6:4; Acts 8:38,39). Dictionaries may help, but the best way to learn Bible words is to study them by the means already discussed: context and parallel passages.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 22:06:21 +0000
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