Learn The Bible
The Bible, consisting of the two major historical divisions- Old Testament and New Testament- is the compilation of divinely-inspired books/texts describing the One True Triune God (Yahweh; YHWH) and His relationship with His creation. Specifically, it describes:
- The origin of all creation (God made the universe, time, space, stars, earth, living organisms, and humanity).
- God's relationship with mankind (God made mankind in His image and made them essentially perfect, able to fellowship with Him).
- Mankind is unique within God's created order (in that they, by being made in God's image, have dominion, intelligence, creativity, moral judgment, and will).
- Mankind, by sinning, lost their status as being in perfect fellowship with God.
- Mankind needs a Savior (a sinless savior who can reunite sinful mankind with God again)
- Join Theos! For a more in-depth treatment of this subject, subscribe and watch the entire course video. "Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15)
Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus, the eternal Son of God and Second Person of the Trinity, is that very Savior for whom humanity had been waiting. Born around the year 4 BC, Jesus of Nazareth was born to Mary, a virgin betrothed to Joseph of Nazareth. His miraculous birth from a virgin is due to Him being conceived by the Holy Spirit within the womb of Mary.
Jesus is the "Christ," a term which is translated from the Greek term for christos. This term is translated as "the anointed one," and is meant to be a translation of the Hebrew term for messiah (meaning "the anointed one"). Jesus, by being the Christ/Messiah, is the incarnation of God. He is truly God and truly man, with neither nature being "confused nor mixed, divided nor separated." This is to say that Jesus, as a person of the Trinity, has the fullness of deity in His divine nature/substance. Yet also, by understanding His human nature into which He was clothed (as mentioned previously in the conception by the Holy Spirit), we can say that Jesus Christ is fully man.
As such, He was born without sin or any sin nature- one which all other humans have since the Fall. By being fully human, Jesus lived a full life from the beginning of infancy to adulthood and experienced all of the difficulties and temptations that we all experience; yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). He lived His earthly life without sin, was wrongfully condemned as a blasphemer by religious leaders of His day, willingly took the punishment of extreme torture and crucifixion, and do so so that He may take the wrath of God which sinful humanity deserved. He then died, was buried, and after three days, rose again. His resurrected body appeared to a variety of different eye-witnesses:
"3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to [Paul]." (1 Cor. 15:3-8, ESV)
Jesus, following His resurrection, has since ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father (the First Person of the Trinity). He rules over the Earth and continues to intercede on behalf of Christians. By simply believing and having a living faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Savior, God the Son, one may have eternal life and be in perfect fellowship with God forever!
How Do You Study the Bible?
The Bible, as a set of ancient documents from over forty authors spanning more than 1500 years of history, is an incredible resource for Christians! However, its age and cultural differences are often as much a source of confusion as they are a source of awe. As a result, it is important to be able to understand the Bible in terms of its various contexts. Without accounting for the context, it can prove very difficult to understand the exact meaning of a passage. There exists a variety of these contexts that we ought to consider:
- Historical Context: This context asks "What relevant events/movements were happening in world history around the time of this verse/chapter/book?"
- Localized Context: This context asks "What passages surround the text we are currently reading?" (often the verse/chapter right before or right after the verse/chapter being read)
- Whole Biblical Context: This context asks "How does this verse/chapter fit into the entire Biblical narrative, including how it compares to (or draws from) other Biblical texts?"
Often, those studying the Bible find it rather difficult to truly understand the meaning of a passage because they fail to recognize the relevant contexts! For instance, let's consider some verses which would seem to be problematic if ripped out of their context:
4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, tour forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,” (Romans 4:1-3)
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:22-24)
[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 2:22–24.]
If one were to read these two verses out of context, then it would seem as though the Bible teaches a blatant contradiction! After all, one is teaching that it is one's faith alone which justifies the individual while the other teaches that it is one's faith and works which justify the individual. What could help reconcile this apparent contradiction? Well, it is quite simple. Context!
By considering the local context of each of these passages, we can more fully understand what is being said. In the case of the passage in Romans, Paul is describing how one is justified before God for salvation. He does not focus necessarily on how others perceive Abraham, but only on how God perceived Abraham as righteous. This justification is focused on God's view, and as such, describes how one can be saved.
However, the local context of James' letter shows a very different focus. James constantly mentions the phrases "you see" and "show":
Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? (James 2:18b-20)
As we can see, there is a sense in which James is focusing on demonstration; that is, James desires to show how people can differentiate between someone who is justified before God and someone who is not. The one who truly has faith is justified before God, and you can tell that they have faith by their works.
With this simple example, we can see that there is no contradiction at all! Further, this was able to be understood with just a small consideration of the local context surrounding these two New Testament letters. Isn't it amazing what a little bit of context can do?
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 2:18–20.
How Will Studying the Bible Help Me?
Studying the Bible is an excellent way by which we believers may come to a full understanding of the Scripture and what our Christian faith entails. Scripture itself gives a few reminders of why it is important to study the Bible:
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
(Psalms 119:9-12)
Studying the Scripture can help us to know what God desires, and it even provides us with powerful reminders of how we can grow in purity as we are being sanctified!
12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2, ESV)
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 6:16–18, Ro 12:1-2.
How Do I Interpret God's Word?
The process of interpreting God's word is a difficult matter which requires careful evaluation, deeper understanding, and a consideration of the context and God's nature. We call that process of interpreting Scripture "hermeneutics." The best steps for interpretation would be:
- Biblical Consistency (interpret the Scripture in a way that is consistent with what Scripture teaches elsewhere)
- Local Consistency (interpret specific passages/verses in a way that makes sense given their local context)
- Theological Consistency (interpret Scripture in a way that makes sense given God's nature)
How Can I Study God's Word Effectively?
The best tip for studying God's Word effectively is this: do not study the bible alone. Why? Because God did not make us to be alone! While this is often said regarding the nature of man relationally, the same goes for studying the Scripture. It is the case that nearly every command given in the New Testament epistles is plural! Let us consider the command we see in Ephesians 5,
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:18-20, ESV)
While we modern Christians often read the New Testament letters as if they were directly written to us (individually), it is of prime importance that we remember Paul's original audience. In the case of Paul's letters, it should be known that his audiences were usually entire congregations! As a result, the original Greek in these epistles often implies "you all" rather than simply "you." It wasn't merely Paul saying "You (the one person reading this) should not get drunk with wine;" but rather "All of you should not get drunk with wine." Paul desired that individuals work together in the process of spiritual maturity! The very same goes for the reading and studying of Scripture.
It is also rather intuitive as to why one should study the Scripture with others! While it is important to take time to read the Scriptures daily in one's own space, it is also very dangerous to only ever study the Scripture by oneself:
- If you are lacking in prior experience with Bible Study, you can struggle with understanding more difficult passages!
- If you are experienced with Bible Study, your past assessments and prior interpretations could prevent you from seeing new (and potentially more accurate) insights into the Scripture.
Both experienced and inexperienced students of the Scripture can benefit from group Bible study with others! While having a consistent period set aside to independently read (and re-read) Scripture is important, it is always a blessing to join fellow brothers and sisters in Christ for reading God's Word!
What Are Some Tips for Bible Study?
Bible study, be it with an electronic copy of the Scripture or a classic, leather-bound copy, is an important process that should be a constant in the life of a Christian. No matter what stage in a Christian's journey, the process of sincere Bible study can and will be fruitful. As stated before, proper Bible study ought to be done in some sort of group setting. Given this fact, here is a list of some helpful tips for Christians!
1. Begin your Bible study with prayer
Without a proper understanding of our reliance on God for wisdom and understanding, we will not be properly mentally and spiritually focused on the task before us. Furthermore, the Scripture shows that God desires to bless with wisdom those who so request it.
2. Choose a topic that is relevant to you.
Choosing a topic that is meaningful to yourself and those in your group can be helpful! While it is not (nor should it be) necessary that a topic of a Bible study appear relevant to yourself, it can be a helpful way to stay interested as a participant. After all, those who enjoy a topic and see it as relevant are more likely to remain consistent in their Bible study.
3. Take notes.
Notes are universally necessary for remembering information. All humans in all cultures throughout all human history have taken notes to memorize information; we are no different! Taking notes improves our memory, forces us to reread the passage multiple times, and gives us a way to test how well we remembered the reading! Taking notes, no matter what method you utilize (images, words-only, mixed) is a must.
4. Research what you don't understand.
This is an excellent step to follow after a particularly difficult Bible study. This is also why taking notes is so important. Researching what we don't understand requires that we have some record of what confused us; notes, for this exact reason, are a must-have. There is also a vast variety of Christian resources for any given question, so I always recommend searching for articles or teachers who give lessons on that topic.
5. Don't get discouraged.
Bible study is not easy. It can take time, research, and a great deal of re-reading. However, like anything worth doing, this extra work is worth the improved wisdom and understanding that God will give you!
Why is it Important to Learn the Bible?
It Guards You Against False Teachings
Jude in his own New Testament letter speaks about how dangerous and wicked false teachers are. Peter, in his letters to the many churches, does the same. One must know the Scripture, both in context and in meaning, to call out false teaching.
Increases Your Level of Discernment
As the Scripture says, God gives wisdom/discernment freely:
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-8)
Makes You Wise Unto Salvation
Scripture, in 2 Timothy, describes the importance of Scripture in the life of the believer:
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:14-17)
Keeps You From Wrongly Dividing the Word
Just as we discussed before, it is by rightly dividing the Word of God (which we can only know if the Word of God is studied) that we can know how we ought NOT to divide the Word.
It Will Bless You When Its Principles are Kept and Applied
As King David explains in his very own Psalms, the blessings of Godly wisdom flow naturally from the kind of heart which wants to do what God says is right and good and in accordance with His nature:
Aleph.
How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.
How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
They also do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.
You have ordained Your precepts,
That we should keep them diligently.
Oh that my ways may be established
To keep Your statutes!
Then I shall not be ashamed
When I look upon all Your commandments. (Psalms 119:1-6)
Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Psalm/119/type/nasb
How Signing Up for TheosU.ca Will Empower You
As you have come to notice during your time reading this article, TheosU.ca is a MUST-HAVE resource for all who are wondering about Christianity! Be they Christian, an adherent of a different religion, or even atheists, everyone should have the opportunity to have their questions answered.
As we discussed today, Bible study is a complex but valuable asset that rises to the point of necessity for a Christian's maturity! I pray that you will take seriously our advice regarding context, consistency, and community studies. By doing so, you will be greatly blessed by the reading of God's perfectly-inspired Scripture!
