Know your Bible!

[Budge]

My minister preached on how important it is to know the Bible today at church. If anything for Christians to be protected from false doctrines. He told us that the Bible interprets itself? He explained a little bit on that and told us about verses that explain themselves. Anyone want to tell me how that works even more?

I do think that since so many people dont know the Bible this is why they fall into false doctrine. I know for a fact knowing and learning the Bible led me to being saved. It is a book of untold riches. I feel sorry for those in churches (all kinds) where they are told to listen to the church they are in instead of reading Gods Word.

I am noticing patterns in the Bible--self interpretations and even wondering if the numbers of the verses have a pattern to them? A lot of the same subjects seem to share numbers. Anyone notice what I mean here.

KNOW YOUR BIBLE and WEAR THE ARMOUR OF GOD's WORD!

[Wileyzmuse]

Wonderful post, Budge!!

Thank you for the reminder. Lots of times I have not tried to read God's Word in a front-to-back way...instead I have usually skipped around to different topics and tried to study specific happenings, etc. This past week I read the book of Acts from beginning to end, and it is amazing how it came to life.

You are so right, and it's interesting how much repetition there is in the Bible. I didn't notice the numerical connection, but will be looking from now on.

Another thing a friend of mine taught me is to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to teach me and give me understanding of the scriptures. This helps too!

YSIC,
Patricia

[pilgrimian]

Quite true!

Yes, we need to be in the Word so as to not fall into false doctrine. So, so, so, so true!

And though I agree that the Bible interprets itself, there are some things we need to understand alongside reading. Scripture was written by the Jews (Romans 3:2), and as a Gentile I don't know the idioms and such that are used in much of Scripture. There are certain things that I need to have pointed out to me. That's one reason I enjoy Dr. Fruchtenbaum so much. He's Jewish, knows Hebrew and Greek, and He's known Jesus a lot longer than me. I'm not saying that people can't understand the Bible without other study helps, but I think they are most helpful.

This is also helpful:

"When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise." (http://www.ariel.org/ffruit.html)

God's blessings in our Passover Lamb,
Matthew

[aboundingjoy]

I started reading the OT a couple weeks ago and have a goal to read straight through the Bible, front to back. I have read straight through the NT at least once, and I have read Matthew, John, and Ephesians through from beginning to end more than once.

I am starting to get a new insight into the awesome power and mercy of Almighty God.

I would welcome any suggestions you all have to make this more benefical--I feel like I need to read it all through without stopping to deeply study, and then going back to do thorough study. I need a crash course, because I need to progress in my walk. I have a desire to come to a deeper understanding and commitment to the Lord.

I am in 2 Chr right now and said to my husband the other night I think I am starting to get this.

Anyway, I anticipate this being a life-changing experience.

I actually got the idea to read straight through form a thread here on RR.

[aboundingjoy]

Just real quick--I also wanted to say to Budge, that yes, I have noticed patterns and numbers and there is just so much there that you can dig and dig and still turn up new nuggets of knowledge.

So much of the OT foreshadows Jesus that it is pretty awesome to me.

God is good to have given us such an intricate and beautiful guide.

It's like a kalediscope or a prism--many things to see depending on how you view it.

Thanks for letting me go on and on.

[paw]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pilgrimian
[B]Quite true!

[URL=http://www.ariel.org/ffruit.html][B]"When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise."

Great advise Matthew,
It helps me to personalize the scriptures, especially the NT. Doing so makes it as though the author is talking directly to me.

Pat

[Budge]

Thanks Everyone!

Just real quick--I also wanted to say to Budge, that yes, I have noticed patterns and numbers and there is just so much there that you can dig and dig and still turn up new nuggets of knowledge.

Hmm very interesting. I may ask my minister about this!

[Timothy]

What a better topic than the word of God!! :)

It is the source of our faith:

Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

It is all written *for* us.

II Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"

Romans 15:4 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

But it is not all written *to* us. It needs to be "rightly divided."

II Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

One hint is when studying, read the meaning of the verse "backwards." It this case it may seem basic, but it does help. If scripture is supposed to be "rightly divided," that means it can be wrongly divided. Paul repetitively mentions "sound doctrine," so there must be unsound doctrine.

When we read the word of God, it reads us! It is living, and discerns our thoughts.

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

The battle is for knownledge - our minds, and literally every thought.

II Corinthians 10:5 "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"

Which why Paul instructs us:

Colossian 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

A second hint is when you don't understand a verse, look for another verse that explains it. This example came to mind first. In Romans talks about they mystery, which was kept secret. What was the mystery?

Romans 16:25-26 "...the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest..."

Ephesians 3:4 "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ...That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel."

In Ephesians, he explains that the mystery is that the gentiles are fellowheirs, that Jews and Gentiles are in one body (i.e. the body of Christ). This, I believe, is what your minister is saying when the Bible explains itself. :)

[Welcome Back]

Right you are, Budge! I will confess here that I was having some problems with Paul until God opened His word for me tonight.

I just kept thinking "Why didn't somebody tell me?!?!"

I too have been thinking about reading straight through. Let's all hope I get the attention span for it. :sigh