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How To Read The Bible For Proper Understanding (a Thread) by damilola4162(m): 3:57am On Oct 09, 2023 |
The Bible just as any other books has a center message and other things like storys and proverbs surrounding or pointing at that same message. In this thread I will be delving into how to properly read the Bible and understand. How to Read the Bible 2 Timothy 3:15 KJV And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. One would think since the Bible is written in letters, then it should be easy to understand. That is half-true. Yet, we would wonder if it is that easy, why do different people have different views about the Bible and hold different emphasis about the holy Book? While there are many things to say, this devotional will be addressing how to read the Bible with an emphasis on what to focus on and look out for. In the personal epistle of Paul to Timothy, we see the mention of how the many should hold on the things he has learned since he was a child. He says the wisdom of the scriptures is about salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Hence, to understand the wisdom of the scriptures is to be scripturally wise. It is to have the intelligence that the scriptures offer. This is true wisdom. The wisdom of the scriptures mature men from spiritual infancy (knowledge-wise) into maturity. This wisdom grew Timothy from a child. Here is what Paul as a Jew explained to be the focal point of the Jewish scriptures (Genesis to Malachi)—salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. So, the Jewish scriptures and the premise of the truth therein serve as the foundation to the epistles and new testament writings. The Bible, although contains bits of history, facts about countries, men, etc, the goal is to reveal salvation in Christ. And we see men in the Bible teach and use the book (although Genesis to Malachi) that way. Acts 28:23 KJV And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. In Luke's narrative about the ministry of Apostle Paul, we see how he (Paul) worked hard to convince people concerning Jesus as the Messiah from Moses' writings and all the other prophets. Peter, 1 Peter 1:10-11 KJV Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: [11] Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. In talking about the prophetic scriptures, Peter noted that the scriptures of old were inspired to tell about the grace (salvation) that would come to every one through the sufferings of Christ and the glory that will follow. Hence, we see that the authors of some of the books of the Bible have given us a slant of what to hold as most important thing to look out for. If we do not want to miss the point of the scriptures, then we should follow the recommendation of these authors, because they were followers of Jesus and also more trustworthy as Jews presenting what God had promised their religious patriarchs. Not just these, we see Jesus also say something similar Luke 24:25-27 KJV Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: [26] Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? [27] And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Like Peter, Jesus expounded the scriptures concerning Himself to show his suffering and glory. He even called this disciples fools (ignorant ones, being scripturally unintelligent). The opposite is what Paul says in our text, that the wisdom of the scriptures are salvation through faith. What did the prophets say about the sufferings and the glory of Jesus? When we begin to ask this question, then we have our hearts in the right direction concerning the handling of the scriptures. The reason for the compilations of the book is the pilot to drive our the reading of the Bible. Yet, it does not mean we begin to reason every text of the scriptures to look out for whether it might suggest or not the sufferings and the glory of Christ for our salvation through faith. The authors of the Bible have done that already. They have explained what we need to know about faith. The things that talk about the Christ have been linked and explain within the context of each text or by the reference of another author within the same Bible. Hence, what is written leads us to see what is important, not by using our head to figure out things. Ultimately, knowing the purpose of the book of the Bible is the beginning to understanding its content. Since it is a multi lingual, multi-cultural book with multiple authors too. Will you silence all distractions and views just to focus on what matters in the Bible? 1 Like
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Re: How To Read The Bible For Proper Understanding (a Thread) by damilola4162(m): 3:58am On Oct 09, 2023 |
How to Read the Bible 2 2 Timothy 3:15 KJV And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Timothy had the diligence to have learned the Hebrew scriptures from infancy. But before the verse above, Paul had said Timothy should continue in the things he has learned, having full assurance in the same. So, what Timothy learned was the wisdom of the scriptures which has its impact unto making one wise unto salvation through faith in Christ. "From a child" refers to spiritual infancy. Although some had argued that it was because Timothy had learned from his parents. The argument is considerable, only that even as a Pastor, Timothy was still a young man (1Timothy 4:12 -thy youth). The verse 14 of chapter 3 showed Timothy's learning. 2 Timothy 3:14-15 KJV But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; [15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Having learned, he is to continue. In verse 15, what was connected to his "childhood" was not age number but the knowing of the scriptures and its wisdom. That was typical of Peter's usage of "new born babes" and the "milk of the word" in 1Peter 2:2. Hence, from a child, means Timothy has grown now. He has grown spiritually. He has grown by learning the wisdom of the scriptures. Hence, there is a way to learn (read) the scriptures for spiritual growth. Taking clue from our text again, 2 Timothy 3:15-16 KJV And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: What matured Timothy was the knowledge of the gospel in the scriptures. The awareness of salvation which comes by faith in Christ Jesus made Timothy a spiritually conscious man. The growth was the impact of the word to work doctrine, reproof, correction, and instructions, all of which are in righteousness. So how do we read the Bible to discover the wisdom of the gospel for spiritual growth?. If anyone is not learning salvation through faith in Christ, they are not growing spiritually; they may only be gathering factual knowledge about the Bible. The accumulation of all kind of information about the content of the Bible, in or out of the Bible as a book does not grow a person. What grows a person is the definite knowledge of salvation by Jesus, what He came to do and the impact in our lives. Although Cleopas and his colleague were familiar with the Hebrew scriptures, Jesus said they were yet ignorant. Luke 24:19-21 KJV And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: [20] And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. [21] BUT WE TRUSTED THAT IT HAD BEEN HE WHICH SHOULD HAVE REDEEMED ISRAEL: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. In speaking to a man, unbeknownst to him was the Christ, Cleopas said they had trusted (believed) that Jesus was the Christ. This was not a belief by sense or thinking with the mind. It was a judgement from their perception of the scriptures. They had known something about the scriptures. They thought it tallied with the being and personality of Jesus. However, when Jesus died, they stopped believing he was the Messiah. And in HIS resurrection, he called these guys 'fools'. They had an incomplete knowledge of the messiah, they thought he would be accomplish supernatural victory, liberty and redemption for Israel through human politics, physical war with their human enemies, etc., hence, His judgment, suffering and physical death seems to be contrary to their understanding of who the messiah is to be and do. The term "fool" is the Greek word, 'anoētos' and it means to not understand/ to be unintelligible/not understanding/ unwise, foolish. Something was lacking in them and Jesus said they were ignorant. Why were they foolish? Luke 24:25 KJV Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: They were foolish for not believing what the prophets have said concerning Christ. They were foolish for being unbelieving. What we make out of the scripture, or the impact that occur to us in our engagement with Word shows if we are still foolish or wise, only the understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done through proper engagement of the writings of the prophets makes wise. And again, if we compare this with what Paul said to Timothy... Timothy was wise for knowing the scriptures in such a way that he became grounded and solid in his understanding of salvation through faith in the messiah. Hence, we can say spiritual growth is to abound in the knowledge of Christ and to abound in faith all the same. Faith concerning the work of Jesus according to the scripture is the beginning true wisdom and spiritual growth. Cleopas and his friend were still ignorant because even though they knew the scriptures about a coming Messiah, but have failed to see its fulfilment in their master. Hence, reading the Bible for spiritual growth, happens when we understand Christ as its focal message, and it is to elicit a response of faith from us. 1 Like |
Re: How To Read The Bible For Proper Understanding (a Thread) by damilola4162(m): 3:59am On Oct 09, 2023 |
How to Read the Bible 3 2 Timothy 3:15 KJV And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Timothy is being addressed as one who has gone beyond being a child. "From a child..." suggests the young man has left the stage of 'infancy' as being regarded in this context. We said yesterday that the proof of growth is in the statement following the quoted one, "thou has learned..." which was the learning of the scriptures to discover the wisdom within. Timothy has grown by learning. Timothy learned to read the (Jewish TaNaKh) Bible to focus on Salvation by faith through Christ Jesus. Hence, if you ever want to grow spiritually, focus on Jesus's salvation and all that surrounds it. Since the scriptures Timothy had were Genesis to Malachi, allegedly called old testament books in today's world, then these books are able to make one wise spiritually. They are able to grow a reader or listener. However, there is a problem for many of us today unlike the direct audience of the OT books. The ancient audience are familiar with the styles, lifestyle, culture, and history that many of the authors of those books wrote. They are high context audience. For people who live thousands of years after them, the world has changed, culture, civilisation, and there's even a huge language gap. Hence, we do not have enough cultural awareness and setting to plainly delve into the OT books. We often have to rely on the new testament writings to see how those who are more familiar with the ancient world, culture, and religion (Judaism) had interpreted their scriptures (the message). (To accurately understand the things in the Bible we still need the cultural and historical awareness.) We then use their writing, which can be seen as the revelation of the truth contained in the scriptures in more plain terms. Luke 24:26-27 KJV Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? [27] And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Christ expressly taught things concerning himself. He showed His sufferings and glory that should follow (as at when this passage was happening, he had entered the glory). So, what the disciples here would do is to see the things that have happened, trace them back to the scriptures Jesus referenced and read the whole context to understand it in the face of what the Messiah had/has done. For people like us whose culture, language and timeline is faraway from the scriptures' (OT writings), we have to rely on the explanations provided by the NT writers and trace them back to the scriptures to confirm, read, and get insight on the broader context being referred to. Jesus took the disciples from the events that happened to the things that were written: from the recent to the far-past. He didn't teach them to use their head to figure it out. He taught them from the fulfilment and showed it to them in quoted scriptures. Likewise us. We are not meant to depend on the things written by the new testament authors and neglect the scriptures. The scriptures as prophecies concerning the suffering and the glory of Christ are the validation that we have not believed in a lie. Pauline writings are too little or short to provide us the wholesome counsel of God as detailed in the scriptures. We must always go back to the scriptures. Hence, the best way to read the Bible is not from Genesis to Malachi, neither is it from Matthew to Revelation and then Genesis to Malachi. The best way is to read the scriptures in bulk and familiarize ourselves with them. We would have to go back and forth in the hope to understand what is being said. In Acts 8, we saw a man who had no NT writings; he was reading the scriptures (OT writings). Acts 8:30-31 KJV And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? [31] And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. Philip asked if he understood. The man confessed he didn't. He needed a guide. Like the Eunuch, we all need a guide in learning the Bible. No one knows the scriptures on their own. From the earliest, we saw Moses teach the word of God to the Jews. They had Joshua after him. They had elders and judges who taught the word. They than had priests and prophets who were writers and teachers. They had scribes who were writers and teachers. Around the time of Jesus, we see there, they had the Pharisees who were teachers of the law. The saducees. And John the Baptist, and Jesus, and the disciples and their disciples. God has always used men to orally teach the written word. Philip became the teacher for this Eunuch. He taught him. Acts 8:35-37 KJV Then PHILIP OPENED HIS MOUTH, AND BEGAN AT THE SAME SCRIPTURE, AND PREACHED UNTO HIM JESUS. [36] And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? [37] And PHILIP SAID, IF THOU BELIEVEST WITH ALL THINE HEART, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Philip taught the Christ from where the Eunuch was reading in Isaiah, chaptered 53 today. He taught Christ clearly. The Eunuch was convinced and desired to be baptised (that means he had learned something about baptism and had thought baptism would seal his faith). Philip's response was not particularly about the baptism but if the man had understood the essence of his preaching. So, he says, if YOU BELIEVE WITH YOUR HEART... Faith from the heart is the reality of the scriptures. It was the very thing that Timothy was reminded in our text —how he had learned of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus— a knowledge acquired from the scriptures. Philip used the scriptures to point to the events that have happened as the fulfilment. He was convincing enough by the message. They didn't read from Genesis to Malachi. Luke reported that he had started from this very place in the writing of Isaiah. How to Read the Bible is in the identification of what matters and being able to see it in all portions of the books of the Bible where they are. Whe. You read the Bible, begin and focus on where the work of Jesus from suffering to his resurrection is clear. You may have to go back and forth from book to books to understand what is being said, but seeing Jesus clearly is the way to do it. Hence, in themselves, the scriptures have the message of faith. Of conviction. The faith and conviction become expressed when this truth is orally explained to an individual. A teacher only helps the student to understand the focus of this collection of books. Do you really understand what you read from the Bible? 1 Like |
Re: How To Read The Bible For Proper Understanding (a Thread) by MaxInDHouse(m): 7:33am On Oct 09, 2023 |
Jesus Christ is the word of God and God's way of thinking totally differs from man's {Isaiah 55:8-9} so it's not possible for an imperfect human to read and understand the Bible alone! According to the prophecy given to Isaiah God foretold that before people can understand His word and know how to apply it practically they must come together to STUDY it! Isaiah 2:2 According to the prophecy given to Malachi it's written that when two or three persons come together to deliberate on God's word that's when God will pay attention to them which means the understanding will be given to them. Malachi 3:16 According to what Jesus himself said about the word of God it's when two or three are gathered together in his name not just the name Jesus but the word of God {Revelations 19:13} that the understanding of God's word could be revealed to them because Jesus promised to chairman such gathering! Matthew 18:20 May you have PEACE! ![]() 1 Like |
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