By Randy Kea
How can we better understand the Bible? I’s been asked this question
many times. We should realize that God intends for us to understand His
Word.: “Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is”
(Ephesians 5:17). In Chapter 3 of Ephesians Paul said: “How that by revelation
he made know unto me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words,
wherby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of
Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as
it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Ephesians
3:3-5) Following are some simple, yet indispensable
principles: 1. Ask yourself “Who is speaking?” Sometimes the Bible
records the words of liars (1 Kings 13). Of course the Bible is recording
the truth about the fact of the lie. We should determine if the Bible is
recording what God said or what the Devil said. Was the statement made
by an inspired man or uninspired man? For example, the statement made in
John 9:31 is no doubt true (based upon Proverbs 28:9), but it is made by
and uninspired man. 2. Ask yourself “To whom is the statement addressed?”
A good illustration is
found by comparing Acts 2:38 with Acts 8:22. In the first text the
people commanded to “repent and be baptized.” In the second text
a man is commanded to “repent and pray.” In the first situation non- Christians
were asking what to do to be saved (Acts 2:36-38). In the second, a man
who was already a Christian (Acts
8:12-13) was being told what to do as a Christian who had sinned.
3. Ask yourself “When was the statement
made?” For example, under the Old Testament Law the Jews were commanded
to keep the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8). However, the Old Testament was
revealed as a binding law when Jesus died on the cross (Colossians 2:14-16;
Galatians 3:19-26), and today Christians worship on the first day of the
week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians
16:1-2). 4. Clearly, there are passages that are very difficult,
such as portions of the book of Revelation. however, the things essential
to gain and maintain a right relationship with God are set out in clear
and plain language. 5. David said, “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalms 119:11). “Thy Word is
a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). 6. Read
your Bible daily
(Psalm 1:1-3; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:15-17).
—Forest Park, GA