One of the biggest problems in
Christianity and religion today is the misunderstanding of bible
scripture. When the bible is not interpreted correctly, it leads to
false teachings and traditions of men. It also leads people astray
and into confusion. Our God is not the God of confusion, but the God
of truth and understanding. The bible should be taught chapter by
chapter and verse by verse in order to understand the whole plan of
God from the beginning. If you do not understand what happened in
the beginning, you will not understand the rest of the bible. That
is why we must study the whole Word of God with discernment and
understanding in it's entirety. With that being said, lets take a
look at what the scriptures say about understanding the bible as
well as why people misunderstand the bible.
What is the Word and where did it
originate? In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the
beginning with God. (John 1:1-2) Before anything else
existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is
Himself God.
What is the bible actually about?
It is a combination of 66 books (39 in the old testament and 27 in
the new testament), that tell the story about one man's family
genealogy from the beginning till the end of this world age and
beyond. The story about the Savior that would come through Adam and
Eve generation after generation. It is the story about Jesus Christ,
the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
What is scripture and what it is given
for? Scripture is the written Word of
God in the bible. All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (II
Timothy 3:16) All scripture is inspired by God. (Don't fall
for those ignorant copouts who say that God didn't write the bible,
man did). The Prophets and disciples of God wrote the scripture as
they were inspired by the "Holy Spirit of God." (II Samuel 23:2,
Romans 15:4, II Peter 1:19-21). All scripture comes form God!
Why study the Word? The Word is a
discerner of thoughts. 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. (Hebrews 4:12) The Word of God is alive and powerful.
It cuts between "soul" (your individual self), and "spirit" (the
intellect of the soul which is your mind). It exposes our innermost
thoughts and desires. This is one reason many do not like to study
or hear the Word of God. It convicts many if they are doing wrong in
God's eyes. They would rather listen to man, who always seems to
smooth things over to make them feel more safe and righteous.
"Here is an example." Have you ever
heard this one from your pastor, priest, teacher, or church member?
"You don't need to understand the book of Revelation." Your going to
be gone! (The rapture theory).
What a cop-out! "Lets see what God says."
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the
time is at hand. (Revelation 1:3) Those who read, understand,
and teach the book of Revelation will be blessed by the Heavenly
Father.
What about prophecy in the Word?
Prophecy is the revelation of God. For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:21)
The
Word is history and prophecy given to man by the "Holy Spirit," which gives us a better understanding
of how things happened in the past, and will happen in the present
as well as the future. Prophecy has proven itself to happen exactly
how it was written for thousands of years. Prophecy will continue to
transpire as it is written till the end times and beyond.
Why is the bible misunderstood by so
many people, as well as teachers of the Word? It amazes me when
I hear people say; "I read the whole bible" and that is about the
extent of their spiritually. They actually believe that is all there
is to it and think they have all the answers about God. I don't
think so! I have been reading and studying the bible for over 40
years now and I still do not believe that I have even scratched the
surface. Every time I open the book I learn something new. Every
study in the scriptures reveals something that I may have not fully
understood before. The Word of God is never ending and full of new
truths and revelations. Now everyone may not have the same appetite
to study the Word as some, but we are to do the best we can with
what the good Lord has given us. Now with that being said, lets take
a look at what the scriptures say about why so many people
misunderstand and misinterpret the bible.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
because thou hast
rejected knowledge,
I will also reject
thee, that thou
shalt be no priest
to me: seeing thou
hast forgotten the
law of thy God, I
will also forget thy
children. (Hosea
4:6) Here we
have the Word of the
Lord speaking to the
priests, pastors and
teachers of the
Word. God blames
them for the lack of
knowledge to the
people because they
themselves do not
know the Lord. They
refuse to know God,
so God will refuse
to recognize them as
His priests. God
would go on to say
in (Hosea 4:8-9),
that the priests
rejoice in the sins
of the people; they
lap it up and lick
their lips for more!
And so it is: "Like
priests, like
people," because the
priests are wicked,
the people are too.
(How many people do
you know that
believe anything
their priest or
pastor may tell them
without checking
them out in the
word)? God would say
in the book of Jeremiah:
For my people is foolish, they
have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding:
they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. (Jeremiah 4:22)
God is saying here that My people are a bit sottish (meaning stupid and dull),
who have no understanding. "They are smart enough to do wrong, but for doing
right, they have no talent, non at all." They would rather listen to man! What does God
think of this? In the book of Jeremiah, God warns us by saying; "Cursed be the
man that trusts in man." (Jeremiah 17:5).
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (II Timothy 4:3-4) The time is coming when people will not listen to the truth, but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear. They won't listen to what the bible says, but will follow their own misguided ideas. (That time is here now my friend)! People today want their church to be more like a social club rather than a house of God. They follow the traditions of men and false teachings because it's easy and seems to make them feel so holy and safe. They say to themselves; "our priest or pastor would never lead us the wrong way." Wake up! "Read the letter that God has written to you."
But there were false prophets also among the
people, even as
there shall be false
teachers among you,
who privily shall
bring in damnable
heresies, even
denying the Lord
that bought them,
and bring upon
themselves swift
destruction. (II
Peter 2:1)
There were false
prophets in those
days and there will
be false teachers
among you today.
They cleverly tell
their lies about God
and turn against
Him. But, they will
be brought to
justice.
When the children of Israel went to Egypt to find aid and put their trust in Pharaoh for his protection, God warned them that they would be disappointed. Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits. (Isaiah 30:8-10) They would not hear the Word of the Lord and say to the prophets; "Don't tell us the truth," we want to hear nice things and tell us lies. (Just like today, they don't want to hear the truth, but would rather hear nice things, traditions of men, and a bunch of lies). "It makes them feel so spiritual."
And this is the
condemnation, that
light is come into
the world, and men
loved darkness
rather than light,
because their deeds
were evil. (John
3:19) Their
sentence is based
upon this fact: "The
light from heaven
came to this world,
but they loved the
darkness more then
the light." Jesus
Christ is that light
and Jesus Christ is
the Word, but they
rejected Him then as
they reject Him now.
If you don't know
the truth in the
Word, you do not
know the true
Christ.
Search the
scriptures; for in
them ye think ye
have eternal life:
and they are they
which testify of me.
And ye will not come
to me, that ye might
have life. (John
5:39-40) They
search the
scriptures because
they believe they
will give them
eternal life. "The
scriptures point to
Christ." However,
they won't come to
Christ so that He
can give them this
eternal life.
But the natural man
receiveth not the
things of the Spirit
of God: for they are
foolishness unto
him: neither can he
know them, because
they are spiritually
discerned. (I
Corinthians 2:14)
One who isn't
a true Christian
can't understand and
accept these
thoughts from God,
which the "Holy
Spirit" teaches us.
They only sound
foolish to them,
because only those
who have the "Holy
Spirit" within them
can understand what
the "Holy Spirit"
teaches. Others just
can't take it in and
lack the full
meaning of what is
being taught.
Have ye not read? This question was asked by our Lord on six
different occasions. (Matthew 12:3, 12:5, 19:4, 21:16, 21:42,
22:31-32) This is why many do not understand the truth of the bible.
They do not read, study, or believe the scriptures written by the
prophets and disciples who were inspired of God. "They would rather
listen to man and the ways of the world." (Never listen to this man
or any other man without checking them out in Gods Word first).
How can we better understand the truth of the bible? Now that we
have covered why most people do not understand the bible, lets see
what the scriptures say about understanding the bible. We will start
in the old testament from the book of Isaiah.
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none
else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from
the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet
done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. (Isaiah 46:9-10)
God is say here: "How many times have I told you what is
going to happen in the future." Who else can tell you these things?
All I say will come to pass, because I do what I want! "Remember the
former things of old." (He has told us all things through the
prophets).
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but
try the spirits whether they are from God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world. (I John 4:1) In other
words, don't believe everything you hear just because someone says
it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is.
Check it out with the Word first. You will come across many false
priests, pastors and teachers in
today's world.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman
that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of
truth. (II Timothy
2:15) Work
hard so God can say
to you, "Well done."
Then you will not be
ashamed when God
examines your work.
"Know what His Word
says and means."
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they
received the word
with all readiness
of mind, and
searched the
scriptures daily,
whether those things
were so. (Acts
17:11) Search
and study the
scriptures daily to
see if what you are
being taught is the
truth in the Word.
(Check your teachers
out in the
scriptures).
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (I Thessalonians 5:21) Test everything that is said to be sure it is true, and if it is, then accept it. If it doesn't line up with God's Word, reject it!
Remember what we learned in I Corinthians
2:14 about the
natural man not
having the spirit of
God, which is the
"Holy Spirit."
Now we have
received, not the
spirit of the world,
but the spirit which
is of God; that we
might know the
things that are
freely given to us
of God. (I
Corinthians 2:12)
God has
actually given us
"His Spirit" (The
Holy Spirit), not
the world's spirit.
The "Holy Spirit"
tells us about the
wonderful free gifts
of grace and
blessing that God
has given us. Again,
only those who have
the "Holy Spirit"
within them can tell
what the "Holy
Spirit" means. (I
Corinthians 2:14).
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he
himself is judged of
no man. (I
Corinthians 2:15)
The spiritual
man has insight to
everything, and that
bothers and baffles
the man of the
world, who can't
understand him at
all.
As Jesus was teaching in the temple one day, many of the Jewish leaders
who heard Him began
to believe Him to be
the Messiah.
Then said Jesus to
those Jews which
believed on him, If
ye continue in my
word, then are ye my
disciples indeed;
And ye shall know
the truth, and the
truth shall make you
free. (John 8:31-32)
Jesus was explaining
to them that, "if
they were truly His
disciples and lived
as He told them to,
they would know the
truth, and the truth
would set them
free." In other
words, don't be a
slave to sin. Live
as Christ did to the
best of your ability
and the "truth will
set you free."
To sum up this study (especially for those who teach the Word), we will end in the book of II Timothy where it
states. I charge thee therefore before God, and
the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his
appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season,
out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and
doctrine.
(II Timothy 4:1-2) Preach the Word
urgently, boldly, and truthfully at all times. Never be afraid to
tell it like it is, but do it with love and understanding. Don't
always use
scripture to break someone down. (The Word will do the convicting when needed). Let the scriptures be used to build
people up so that they will see the "truth and light" in the Word.
The love, wisdom, and understanding that Jesus brought to the people
when He walked among us. For He is the "Living Word" and true "light
of the world."
Tools to help you study, interpret, enjoy, and teach the bible:
Below are seven study
tool suggestions that I use, that will help you with your bible
studies.
1.) The original King James bible by Thomas Nelson Inc. that dates
back to at least 1972.
2.) The King James Companion bible (Authorized version of 1611)
which contains the Structures and Critical, Explanatory, and
Suggestive Notes and with 198 Appendixes. (Kregel Publications). If
you have problems finding this study bible, it is available at "The
Shepherds Chapel." (Excellent translation bible).
3.) The Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the bible by James
Strong, S.T.D., LL.D. (©1986 by Abingdon Press). "This is a must for
the serious bible student." (Excellent translation concordance
dictionary).
4.) e-Sword bible study
software (King Kames bible version with Strong's Concordance).
5.) The Tyndale Living
Bible (1971 edition) by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton,
Illinois. (This is a Paraphrased bible for easy reading, not for
full translation).
6.) Smith's bible
dictionary by William Smith, L.L.D. (Hendrickson Publishers).
7.) Older version of a
Twentieth Century Webster's Dictionary.
