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KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE (Part 2)

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“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away.” Luke 8:18 NLT

 

Understanding the Bible requires much more than intellectual effort or ability because the Bible is sacred. All Scripture is God-breathed or inspired by God’s Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16). Therefore, a natural man without the Holy Spirit can’t understand God’s Word (1 Cor. 2:14).

In Part 1, we began to understand the right mindsets or attitudes that are a must for understanding the Bible.

First, Pray for Spiritual Understanding before Reading the Bible.

Second, Approach the Bible with an Open, Humble, and Willing Mind to Obey its Injunctions.

Third, Plan time for Regular Reading and Studying of the Bible.

Fourth, Read the Whole Bible and Study Topics.

In this Part 2, we shall further examine the right mindsets or attitudes that are a must for understanding the Bible.

Fifth, Compare Different Translations of the Bible:

The Bible was written in ancient languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic), which are different from our modern languages and settings.

However, your understanding of the Bible can be enhanced by taking advantage of the work of scholars who have studied culture, language, history, and archaeology as they relate to biblical events and characters.

The most helpful tool for Bible study is several Bible versions or translations. More than 60 English versions of the Bible are available today. However, it would help if you remembered that scholars sometimes differ on how certain verses should be translated today.

While a literal rendering is often preferred, a thought-for-thought translation or paraphrase is sometimes better at capturing the intent of ancient figures of speech.

Sixth, Use Bible Study Aids Properly:

Many Bible study aids are helpful. They can provide valuable historical background or point to other scriptures that clarify your reading.

Bible aids include concordances, lexicons, dictionaries, maps, and commentaries. However, remember that these resources are not the Bible itself.

Moreover, always remember that nothing interprets the Bible as the Bible itself. So, let the Bible interpret or explain itself to you.

Be careful not to read meaning into the Bible text (eisegesis) but derive meaning from the text (exegesis). Always consider the scripture in its proper context and look at all the scriptures on a subject for a more precise and more profound understanding (Isa. 28:10, Acts 17:11).

Lastly, Ask Questions and seek Help from your Pastor or mature believers:

It is always best to seek help from qualified people in any field. God has ordained and placed His shepherds in the Church to feed His sheep with spiritual knowledge and guide them into a fuller or more profound understanding of His Word.

Jeremiah 3:15 – NJKV

15 I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Therefore, if you have questions while reading or studying the Bible, please ask a Spirit-filled servant of God or a spiritually mature believer for clarification and more profound understanding (Neh. 8:8, Acts 8:30-31; 18:26).

Beloved, obedience is vital for continued and progressive spiritual understanding of God’s Word. To understand God’s Word better and more profoundly, you must heed, obey, follow, or practice what you have read, learned, and understood.

Luke 8:18 – NLT

18 So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away.

Above all, while reading and studying the Bible, you must bear in mind that the cardinal theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the primary key to understanding the Bible!

All the Scriptures testify of Jesus, bear witness to Jesus, and point to Jesus. Jesus rebuked the unbelieving Jews, saying, “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” (John 5:39 NLT).


Prayer:

This New Year, I receive the help of the Holy Spirit to understand and obey God’s Word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our mandate is to preserve the faith of the Apostolic Generation.

Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.

AWH, Blogs.

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