Bible Basics - What Does the Bible Really Say About "It"

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June 2, 2022

A Word of Caution

Bible Study is not what someone else tells you about God and His word. Bible Study is the reading and considering of the Word of God. It is an individual study time in which the Holy Spirit will guide you. And this guiding may be a direct illumination of the Word or a guiding to a help source to find the meaning. In either case it is you and God. Even in the setting of corporate study, it is still an individual study.

First, for a proper study, you need to have a good copy of the Bible. That doesn’t mean a new one or a hard copy or a large print. It means a correct copy of the Bible, one not sullied by man’s thoughts. How do you know if you have that? You look at the backside of the title page. If you find a limited copyright regarding added marginal notes and footnotes, examine the wording for propriety. But if you find a copyright on the total content, no matter which edition, it is the word of man. One cannot copyright another’s words.

A real Bible is the preserved Word of God, Psalm 12, and may not be copyrighted under any circumstance, by man.

Next, commentaries, reference works, transliterations, etc., are secondary helps to independent personal study. The first and leading assistance is that of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit does lead if allowed, John 16:13.

No person has or will find all the answers to the many mysteries of God. That which we know, mysteries we have solved, allows us to accept the unknown mysteries as is. But we still have an obligation to “search out” the mysteries of scripture, Proverb 25:2; 2nd Timothy 2:15; 2nd Timothy 3:16-17. One of the best helps, outside of the Holy Spirit, is a Spirit minded person. But, again, the Holy Spirit will guide you there. Be discerning in this area.

Everyone needs to find a theologian, mentor or writer they can believe with an amount of certainty, with whom they might study or be available for questions. They need not be around today. I have at least a half dozen, Proverb 15:22, none of which is alive today. These will probably never agree 100% with each other so I do compare each for correctness, Proverb 27:17.

If you find one with whom you do agree and follow 100%, you should rethink your position. You are on dangerous ground. Bible Study is what you do with the Bible independently under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not what someone said or written. This includes direction or input from others, family, friends and church leadership.

And this last is very important. If we ever get to my study of 1st Corinthians, you will find that, in all the issues covered, the leadership was the base problem, being faulty and having a “new way” of looking at things. Paul made extensive notes and comments regarding this in most of his writings.

So “A Word of Caution.”

Study should always be preceded by prayer followed by the reading of the text. Then context should be established. When an understanding is not found, one could consult their references for support or alternate meaning. But, though the “support” used may disagree among themselves, it may not disagree with, and thereby violate, a single word of a proper Bible.

There has been nothing new from God in a long time, Ecclesiastes 1:9. There are no “new” truths of scripture, no “new” insight of the Bible. What we find as “new” today is but a present day “truth which is a twisted version of scripture” compiled to meet the wants of errant groups. What we find here is this “new stuff,” which doesn’t belong in the Church, has covered up the truth which proper study will bring to light once again. Nehemiah tossed Tobiah and “stuff” out of the Temple, Nehemiah 13:8. This is a lesson for today.

I see another applicable comparison in these new versions with that “book” Hilkiah found “under rubble and such” in 2nd Kings 22. The real truth has always been there, just covered up and hidden by “another truth” which is not truth at all, but a corrupt version of the “book.”

Most times agreement between personal study and commentaries is found. Sometimes there is no agreement. Sometimes the commentary, more likely the Holy Spirit, sends one in a different direction. The individual has an obligation to seek and follow the truth, not develop unscriptural support for personal or doctrinal positions, Galatians 1:6-7.

We are obligated to use the Bible to examine everything that comes from any teacher including from the pulpit. The preacher is a major support reference, but, again, one is personally responsible to God, not to a teacher/preacher. Listen intently to what is said, examine closely what it written in those “new” Bible study guides that have taken over Church Bible study programs, then compare it to what is found in the Bible.

Support people and reference material will not replace your responsibility to know the Word of God. People and books will not answer for the believer at the time of judgement. We will stand alone before the Lord. Listen closely, study intently and choose wisely.

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