Understanding The Bible
What is the best way to understand the 750,000 words, 1189 chapters, or 31,000 verses of the Bible? There is a wonderful plan in the content of the Scriptures and in the way the books of the Bible are arranged. This wonderful plan unfolds God’s will to man chronologically - that is according to time and history.
We come to a true understanding of the Bible when our knowledge shows all the Scripture in a harmonious relationship, and when there are no contradictions between what the Bible says and what we believe and practice. Christianity is a “taught” religion. There are facts to be understood, commands to be obeyed, and promises to receive,
Matthew 28:19-20. “So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. ‘And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.'"
Acts 5:42. “Every day in the temple courtyard and from house to house, they refused to stop teaching and telling the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah."
1st Corinthians 14:19. “Yet, in order to teach others in church, I would rather say five words that can be understood than ten thousand words in another language."
1st Timothy 4:11. “Insist on these things and teach them."
1st Timothy 6:2.-3. “Slaves whose masters also believe should respect their masters even though their masters are even better because those who receive the benefit of their work are believers whom they love."
Colossians 1: 28. “We spread the message about Christ as we instruct and teach everyone with all the wisdom there is. We want to present everyone as mature Christian people."
Colossians 3:16. “Let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you. Use Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct yourselves about God’s kindness."
Galatians 1:6-12. “I’m surprised that you’re so quickly deserting Christ, who called you in his kindness (grace), to follow a different kind of good news. But what some people are calling good news is not really good news at all. They are confusing you. They want to distort the Good News about Christ. Whoever tells you good news that is different from the Good News we gave you should be condemned to hell, even if he is one of us or an angel from heaven. I’m telling you again what we’ve told you in the past: If anyone tells you good news that is different from the Good News you received, that person should be condemned to hell. Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the Good News I have spread is not a human message. I didn’t receive it from any person. I wasn’t taught it, but Jesus Christ revealed it to me."
Ephesians 4 21-23. “You have certainly heard his message and have been taught his ways. The truth is in Jesus. You were taught to change the way you were living. The person you used to be will ruin you through desires that deceive you. However, you were taught to have a new attitude."
The FACTS, COMMANDS, and PROMISES of the gospel were revealed to the apostles by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:7; 1 Corinthians 2:13). This revelation was written down by the inspired men and serve as the full authority of both sinners and the New Testament church in every age. Today, the Bible applies to two classes of people: Sinners or men separated from God, and Christians - those in fellowship with Christ.
The New Testament has four divisions. The first consists of four gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, and shows the life of Christ. This record of his Divine birth, ministry, miracles, death, burial and resurrection, is written that men can believe these facts about his divinity as the Son of God and trust him as the Savior sent of God. However, keep in mind that the entire life of Christ was spent on earth under the religious laws of the Old Testament, and that He served as the Jewish Messiah.
The second division of the New Testament is the book of Acts. This shows the apostles carrying out the commission of Christ to preach the gospel or Good News into the world. It shows what they preached about Christ; the miracles they performed to prove their preaching was from God (Mark 16:17-20; Hebrews 2:1-4). This division tells of the establishment of the Kingdom or church of Christ (Matthew 16:18: Acts 2:36-47). It shows by examples how men became Christians and how they formed local congregations in the various cities. This will be discussed more in the section, God’s Wonderful Plan of this book.
The third division, Romans through Jude, contains the letters of inspired men to various congregations and individuals, revealing to them their responsibilities as children of God.
The fourth division, the Revelation, has been the focal point of much interpretation, speculation and confusion. However, there is one point in which all men can agree and understand: Revelation points out Christ’s final victory over sin and deliverance of the church into heaven.
There are four simple rules to follow in understanding any portion of Scripture: First is the passage a part of the Old Testament or New Testament? The books covering the Old Testament period are Genesis through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The New Testament period began with the book of Acts and concludes with Revelation. Secondly, you need to know who is speaking? God - Prophet - Christ - An Apostle - Heathen - or Sinner? Thirdly, you need to know who is being spoken to. Is the passage directed to one person or many? Is the fact, command or promise applicable to all people in every age? And lastly, do not interpret one passage to contradict another clear passage on the same subject (2 Peter 3:15-16).
We come to a true understanding of the Bible when our knowledge shows all the Scripture in a harmonious relationship, and when there are no contradictions between what the Bible says and what we believe and practice. Christianity is a “taught” religion. There are facts to be understood, commands to be obeyed, and promises to receive,
Matthew 28:19-20. “So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. ‘And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.'"
Acts 5:42. “Every day in the temple courtyard and from house to house, they refused to stop teaching and telling the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah."
1st Corinthians 14:19. “Yet, in order to teach others in church, I would rather say five words that can be understood than ten thousand words in another language."
1st Timothy 4:11. “Insist on these things and teach them."
1st Timothy 6:2.-3. “Slaves whose masters also believe should respect their masters even though their masters are even better because those who receive the benefit of their work are believers whom they love."
Colossians 1: 28. “We spread the message about Christ as we instruct and teach everyone with all the wisdom there is. We want to present everyone as mature Christian people."
Colossians 3:16. “Let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you. Use Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct yourselves about God’s kindness."
Galatians 1:6-12. “I’m surprised that you’re so quickly deserting Christ, who called you in his kindness (grace), to follow a different kind of good news. But what some people are calling good news is not really good news at all. They are confusing you. They want to distort the Good News about Christ. Whoever tells you good news that is different from the Good News we gave you should be condemned to hell, even if he is one of us or an angel from heaven. I’m telling you again what we’ve told you in the past: If anyone tells you good news that is different from the Good News you received, that person should be condemned to hell. Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the Good News I have spread is not a human message. I didn’t receive it from any person. I wasn’t taught it, but Jesus Christ revealed it to me."
Ephesians 4 21-23. “You have certainly heard his message and have been taught his ways. The truth is in Jesus. You were taught to change the way you were living. The person you used to be will ruin you through desires that deceive you. However, you were taught to have a new attitude."
The FACTS, COMMANDS, and PROMISES of the gospel were revealed to the apostles by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:7; 1 Corinthians 2:13). This revelation was written down by the inspired men and serve as the full authority of both sinners and the New Testament church in every age. Today, the Bible applies to two classes of people: Sinners or men separated from God, and Christians - those in fellowship with Christ.
The New Testament has four divisions. The first consists of four gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, and shows the life of Christ. This record of his Divine birth, ministry, miracles, death, burial and resurrection, is written that men can believe these facts about his divinity as the Son of God and trust him as the Savior sent of God. However, keep in mind that the entire life of Christ was spent on earth under the religious laws of the Old Testament, and that He served as the Jewish Messiah.
The second division of the New Testament is the book of Acts. This shows the apostles carrying out the commission of Christ to preach the gospel or Good News into the world. It shows what they preached about Christ; the miracles they performed to prove their preaching was from God (Mark 16:17-20; Hebrews 2:1-4). This division tells of the establishment of the Kingdom or church of Christ (Matthew 16:18: Acts 2:36-47). It shows by examples how men became Christians and how they formed local congregations in the various cities. This will be discussed more in the section, God’s Wonderful Plan of this book.
The third division, Romans through Jude, contains the letters of inspired men to various congregations and individuals, revealing to them their responsibilities as children of God.
The fourth division, the Revelation, has been the focal point of much interpretation, speculation and confusion. However, there is one point in which all men can agree and understand: Revelation points out Christ’s final victory over sin and deliverance of the church into heaven.
There are four simple rules to follow in understanding any portion of Scripture: First is the passage a part of the Old Testament or New Testament? The books covering the Old Testament period are Genesis through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The New Testament period began with the book of Acts and concludes with Revelation. Secondly, you need to know who is speaking? God - Prophet - Christ - An Apostle - Heathen - or Sinner? Thirdly, you need to know who is being spoken to. Is the passage directed to one person or many? Is the fact, command or promise applicable to all people in every age? And lastly, do not interpret one passage to contradict another clear passage on the same subject (2 Peter 3:15-16).