"HOW TO
UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE: Part 1" - THERE MUST BE A BEGINNING as published in Toms River Church of Christ bulletin
As in any study,
there must be a beginning. In mathematics we begin with a simple set
of axioms. An axiom is a commonly accepted truth. In our study of
understanding the Bible, we begin by outlining some principles.
Little time is spent to prove these simple facts. However they must
be firmly fixed in our minds before we can begin to understand the
Bible. 1. God Has Spoken. The entire Bible is
based on this truth. Common sense tells us that the God who made us
would also talk to us and we would want to know what He has said.
Hebrews 1:1-2. 2. The Bible Is a Revelation of
His Will. This is God's effort to reach down to man, not man's
effort to reach up to God. 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 14:37. 3. The Bible Has Been Accurately Translated. The
Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek languages must be translated into the
language we know and speak. We can be assured that the Bible we read
today is faithful to that which the Lord had recorded through
inspired men. 4. The Bible Is Infallible. The
Scriptures as they were originally written by inspired men were free
of error. Archaeology has provided evidence supporting and
illuminating the text of the Bible. Psalm 19:7. 5. The
Bible Is Complete and Final. Study the entire Bible content.
Notice the grand theme of the divine-human relationship.
Completeness in every divine plan: God's complete record for your
life, Jude 3. 6. The Bible Is Intelligible. The
Bible is first, last, and always a message. That which is necessary
for man's well being is open and plain to man. 7. The
Bible Rightly Understood Is Authoritative. The truth is always
there for those who seek it. Any form of prejudice impairs our
understanding and weakens the authoritative voice of God. 2 Peter
3:16; Matthew 13:14-15. 8. The Authority of the Bible
demands submission. There's no other conclusion! As we hold the
Bible in our hands, we stand before God. Faith and obedience
accompany the process of learning. Romans 2:6-9; Matthew 5:8. To be continued next week
These articles were published in
the weekly bulletin of the Toms River Church of Christ.
Permission is granted to publish these items as long as proper
credit is given and that a request by email is granted. IF
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