Reading And Understanding The Bible

Reading And Understanding The Bible

The Bible claims it can be understood.• Ephesians 3:3-5• Ephesians 5:17

Some basic principles to help us in reading and understanding the Bible:

Reading And Understanding The Bible

• Read It As It Is– 1 Thessalonians 2:13– Not as the word of men, but the word of God.

• Galatians 1:11-12• 1 Corinthians 11:23• 2 Timothy 3:16• 1 Corinthians 2:13; Galatians 3:16

Reading And Understanding The Bible

• Read It With A Prepared Heart– James 1:21– Heart = soil / the word = seed (Lk. 8:5-11)– Ezra 7:10– Have a heart prepared to do what God’s word

says (Jas. 1:22; Jn. 7:17).

Reading And Understanding The Bible

• Read It Recognizing Its Divisions– 2 Timothy 2:15– Divided into 2 Testaments: Old & New.– Divided into 3 Dispensations and 14 Periods

of History.

Reading And Understanding The Bible

• Read Everything It Says On A Subject– Psalm 119:160; 139:17– A partial view is often an inaccurate view.– Justification, an example:

• Romans 5:1• James 2:24

Reading And Understanding The Bible

• Consider The Context Of A Passage– First rule of grammar: No word is a part of

speech until it first appears in context.– Error is taught by stringing verses together

out of context (Mt. 27:5; Lk. 10:37; Jn. 13:27).– Note some examples:

• John 6:44• Romans 10:13• 1 Corinthians 1:14

Reading And Understanding The Bible

• Consider Who Is Speaking And Who Is Being Spoken To– Who is speaking (Gen. 3:4; Job)– Who is being spoken to (Jn. 14:26; Gal. 6:10)

Reading And Understanding The Bible

• Recognize Figurative Language– Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah and Revelation are

examples of books with figurative language.– Understand figurative passages figuratively

and literal passages literally.

Reading And Understanding The Bible

• Realize One Verse Can Only Teach What Another Verse Will Allow It– Truth is consistent (Jn. 17:17).– Note some examples:

• Romans 10:13; Matthew 7:21• Romans 5:1; James 2:24• Romans 14; 2 John 9-11

Reading And Understanding The Bible