How to Effectively Study and Interpret of the Bible

[amigo de christo]

That is what the so-called 'scholars' want you to believe.

God has and had it all under His Observance and Guidance from Day 1.

SEE here:
Genesis 15:6 - "And Abraham believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness."

SEE how easy that was and remains True to this day and Forward............

Dont even take me at my word , YOU TEST EVERY WORD i say too . WE MUST DO SO
we have far too many decievers and i must admit THAT NO MAN IS INFALLIBLE .
WE must look out for one another and never TRUST in man .
LET GOD BE TRUE but every man a liar . LEARN THAT BIBLE MY FRIEND . WE NEED TO DO SO
and KEEP ON DOING SO daily .

 

[JohnDB]

you bought the deception . IF you think we need to sit under scholars to learn the bible you got a big problem .
THAT is what they want you to think .
MEN want us to think and to beleive we have to heed thier wisdom in order to learn said bible .
BIG mistake that one is . that is a way to only attain the power and control over men .
Them clowns dont fool me .
IF one wants to know the BIBLE , all they truly have to know and heed IS HE WHO INSPIRED said bible .
cause beleive you me , GOD can surely interpret and give the right understanding OF THE VERY WORDS HE INSPIRED .
FOLKS trust way too much in man . WAY TOO MUCH . they gonna get you all my freind .
WE should have and easily could have learned that bible FOR OURSELVES .
GOD IS WITH us . But folks had rather trust in man all mighty , cause man sure has a way
of feeding men exactly what it takes to please their flesh in order to attain the power over men .
Watch OUT pardner .

Not what I intended with my reply.

What's wrong with you that you accuse everyone of evil?

The hand holding only goes as far as learning to accurately read the truncated and compact style of writing and where to go to find accurate resources in order to obtain an originalist viewpoint of what was written.

That's what I intended....
There is too much to know...too much for any one person to consume. No one has ALL Biblical knowledge. Especially not you! (As evidenced by your immediate behavior)

 

[IndianaRob]

BINGO . you spot on right my freind . and even things that might have seemed as they were contrary
will be seen in the rightly divided lens , THAT they were never contrary at all , it was only our own lack of knowlege
that may have made it seem as though it was contrary .
example . many think and beleive that james and paul preached contrary the one to the other
concerning faith . THEY DID NOT . NOT A WORD of it is contrary .
But even many high and mighty scholars do try and teach as though paul and james preached differently
and that perhaps pauls version was for the gentile while james was for the jew . A BIG LIE that one is .
EVERY letter written IS FOR the CHURCH that consists of believing jews and gentiles .
Many great and mighty scholars even try and act and teach like peter and paul
preached TWO DIFFERENT GOSPELS . another lie .
THE GOSPEL was THE SAME , its just as determined by the apostels , paul would mainly stick to the gentiles
and peter and they too the jews . BUT IT WAS THE SAME GOSPEL preached .
Even paul himself entered non stop into jewish synagogues everywhere he went . HIS GOSPEL
was the same to them as it was to the gentile .
EVEN PETER who mainly preached to the jews , PREACHED THE SAME GOSPEL to the HOUSE of cornelious a GENTILE .
YOU ARE SPOT ON RIGHT . HAD WE JUST READ IT FOR OURSELVES and done so daily
IT WILL COME TOGETHER JUST as it should have . ITS MEN that screwed everything up , deceivers
who made desciples to follow them . ITS all a sham too . WE should have simply stuck to the bible .
And now in the end a lie that will again gather all to merge as one is being sold and they are doing
everything by every means to convince us too . I aint buying a bit of it my friend . STAY in the bible .
ITS NOT LIKE todays great and mighty men suddenly found the cure
and now finally in this last hour have the right koine greek to fix
the problems . I aint buying a lick of what they say .
This movment is growing big time and watch WHAT Churches are fixated on it , YOU will see even a lot of false
leaders pushing this YE GOTTA KNOW greek stuff to better know the bible . THAT SPELLS a huge problem to me . A BIG ONE .

I don't know of any biblical doctrine that the corporate church teaches that is right. The bible is clear through parables especially, that the woman (the believer), if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands (Christ) at home.

That means that Christ is our teacher, not the church.

 

[Spyder]

I’m certain if every person came to the Bible with an open mind and no preconceived ideas and believed exactly what was written then we would all agree.

It’s not like the Bible can be interpreted, the Bible just says what it says. The only leeway we have as far as interpretation goes is whether a topic is spiritual or literal and when we can establish a doctrine with zero contradictions then we know we’ve done it right.

I like the things you posted here, and I wish it were that simple. People have a major problem with dumping their preconceived ideas as well as their previously taught doctrines.

Sadly, we cannot and must not "believe exactly what was written," because translators "interpret" the words in the source document thinking that they are helping our understanding - and altering the message.

In this forum, in case people haven't noticed, we supposedly are not permitted to present "contradictions" to certain doctrines here.

The actual leeway we have is to use all our resources - including the texts that describe the way that the ancient customs and understandings of the Hebrew people were thousands of years ago. Our biggest drawback to understanding scripture is that our eyes see words with our western mindset, so we falsely assume meanings to passages. We really should "study to show ourselves approved," but we don't. We just assume we got it right and everyone else doesn't understand.

I truly applaud anyone whose desire to understand causes them to reread passages with an informed and open mind.

 

[Spyder]

After all these years, I find the best way to study scripture is to have a small group of people who love and respect each other use all available resources to understand the Hebrew mindset and dictionaries that are NOT simply compiled by using previous uses as definitions. In an open forum with time is not treated as a limited resource and all views are discussed, then the group allows God to give the correct understanding. After trying lectures, sermons, and pontifical demands, I know that none of those is an effective tool for understanding. The only true teacher is the Father, through His Son.

 

[IndianaRob]

I like the things you posted here, and I wish it were that simple. People have a major problem with dumping their preconceived ideas as well as their previously taught doctrines.

Sadly, we cannot and must not "believe exactly what was written," because translators "interpret" the words in the source document thinking that they are helping our understanding - and altering the message.

In this forum, in case people haven't noticed, we supposedly are not permitted to present "contradictions" to certain doctrines here.

The actual leeway we have is to use all our resources - including the texts that describe the way that the ancient customs and understandings of the Hebrew people were thousands of years ago. Our biggest drawback to understanding scripture is that our eyes see words with our western mindset, so we falsely assume meanings to passages. We really should "study to show ourselves approved," but we don't. We just assume we got it right and everyone else doesn't understand.

I truly applaud anyone whose desire to understand causes them to reread passages with an informed and open mind.

I think what people call errors in the Bible is actually part of the error correction system built into the Bible. I know that doesn’t make any sense but here’s an example.

1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not

This supposed contradiction is an error correction device. For people who twist either of those verse to make it say anything other than what it actually says, they will totally miss Gods intended purpose for that supposed contradiction.

This type of error correction system is found from cover to cover in the Bible.

 

[David in NJ]

I think what people call errors in the Bible is actually part of the error correction system built into the Bible. I know that doesn’t make any sense but here’s an example.

1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not

This supposed contradiction is an error correction device. For people who twist either of those verse to make it say anything other than what it actually says, they will totally miss Gods intended purpose for that supposed contradiction.

This type of error correction system is found from cover to cover in the Bible.

Spot on!

 

[David in NJ]

I think what people call errors in the Bible is actually part of the error correction system built into the Bible. I know that doesn’t make any sense but here’s an example.

1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not

This supposed contradiction is an error correction device. For people who twist either of those verse to make it say anything other than what it actually says, they will totally miss Gods intended purpose for that supposed contradiction.

This type of error correction system is found from cover to cover in the Bible.

Contrast in Scripture is not an 'error'.
It is designed by our Heavenly FATHER to challange us to 'think',

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter."
Proverbs 25:2

 

[Spyder]

I think what people call errors in the Bible is actually part of the error correction system built into the Bible. I know that doesn’t make any sense but here’s an example.

1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not

This supposed contradiction is an error correction device. For people who twist either of those verse to make it say anything other than what it actually says, they will totally miss Gods intended purpose for that supposed contradiction.

This type of error correction system is found from cover to cover in the Bible.

True. My viewpoint is that the source documents for our translations are the best that we have. A study of our bibles, while acknowledging that there is no error in the original, any apparent contradiction is not to be take alone. All verses together establish truth, If we wee contradiction, it is simply an indicator that we have not yet been given the bottom line by God. In short, the truth is not yet known. Two verses in scripture cannot contradict; they can only help clarify. It is also the best reason to use outside sources to gain understanding, because the things we don't know are the things that make "contradictions" appear to exist.

 

[Johann]

And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die." 15 Then Nathan departed to his house.

NKJV​

When King David had realised what his "primary" sin was, he immediately repented of his turning away from God some seven or so years beforehand, and God forgave him, but the consequences of his manifested sins that came out of his turning away from God, King David still had to face.

The other part of this story is who was the "traveller" who had visited King David and why did Nathan the prophet say that David had given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme? Who was the "traveller?" The traveller was "Satan." Do we focus on this aspect of this story.

In 2 Samuel 12, Nathan the prophet confronts King David with a parable involving a rich man, a poor man, and a traveler. The Hebrew word used for "traveller" in this passage is "הָלַךְ" (hālakh), which generally means "one who goes, walks, or travels." In the parable, the traveler is a symbolic figure, representing the temptation or desire that led David to commit his sins—primarily his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah.

The idea that this traveler could represent Satan, or an evil influence, is a theological interpretation rather than a direct statement from the text. The traveler can be seen as a metaphor for the intrusion of sinful desire into David's heart, tempting him to commit the acts that led to his downfall.

Nathan's statement that David had given "great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme" refers to the fact that David's actions, as the anointed king of Israel and a representative of God's covenant people, had brought disgrace upon God's name. His sin gave the surrounding nations, who were often hostile to Israel and its God, a reason to mock or question the righteousness and justice of the God of Israel.

In this way, the traveler could be understood as not just a personification of temptation or desire, but as an embodiment of the forces that oppose God—whether these are internal, like sinful impulses, or external, like Satan or the enemies of God.

However, the text does not explicitly identify the traveler as Satan; this interpretation relies on a broader theological understanding of the nature of temptation and sin.

 

[IndianaRob]

True. My viewpoint is that the source documents for our translations are the best that we have. A study of our bibles, while acknowledging that there is no error in the original, any apparent contradiction is not to be take alone. All verses together establish truth, If we wee contradiction, it is simply an indicator that we have not yet been given the bottom line by God. In short, the truth is not yet known. Two verses in scripture cannot contradict; they can only help clarify. It is also the best reason to use outside sources to gain understanding, because the things we don't know are the things that make "contradictions" appear to exist.

I believe that God inspired the originals but I also believe he can and does inspire a translator to faithful translate his word. I know everyone doesn’t agree with that but that’s what I have found over the years.

 

[AW Bowman]

I take a few days off and the thread blossoms.

First, I want to thank all the new posters who have joined us here. If you haven't, I urge you to go back and review this thread from the very beginning.

The attached PDF file develops the concept of context. It is not a definitive discussion of the topic. It is offered only as an assistant in your studies.

 

[Behold]

I believe that God inspired the originals

For those of you who care to know the facts.

The Only "originals", are the original LETTERS written by the APOSTLES, and we dont have any of those.

What we have are copies of copies.., and that has led to about 30 "extant".. Completed NT's in Greek.
The "scholars" have concluded that about 3-5, are good, and not corrupted.

None of these is an "original"........not one.

So, when someone who wants to become your authority, tells you that they are using the 'originals', then they are playing a "scholars nonsense" game with you, to try to cause you to elevate THEM, above the bible.

Avoid these people.

 

[AW Bowman]

Contrast in Scripture is not an 'error'.
It is designed by our Heavenly FATHER to challange us to 'think',

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter."
Proverbs 25:2

Thank you. First, the two quoted verses are not a "contradiction", rather they are the same message presented from two different points of view. This is a common Hebrew style of writing for emphases. The same message is repeated two or more times, either expanding the message or making it more focused. In this case it is an expansion.

 

[AW Bowman]

For those of you who care to know the facts.

The Only "originals", are the original LETTERS written by the APOSTLES, and we dont have any of those.

What we have are copies of copies.., and that has led to about 30 "extant".. Completed NT's in Greek.
The "scholars" have concluded that about 3-5, are good, and not corrupted.

None of these is an "original"........not one.

So, when someone who wants to become your authority, tells you that they are using the 'originals', then they are playing a "scholars nonsense" game with you, to try to cause you to elevate THEM, above the bible.

Avoid these people.

Excellent advice.

A general comment: Rather than most folks meaning to imply that they are using the "original autographic manuscripts", most are referring to using original language manuscripts. And yes, there and many original language manuscripts available, and most of these do not agree in every detail. Yet, the original language manuscripts are the best sources for in depth study. However, that does NOT mean that everyone should become experts in the Greek and Hebrew languages! Recommendations: Find an English translation that you are conferable with, and use that as your primary reading and study Bible. Save the other translations and resource publications for study.

 

[amigo de christo]

I don't know of any biblical doctrine that the corporate church teaches that is right. The bible is clear through parables especially, that the woman (the believer), if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands (Christ) at home.

That means that Christ is our teacher, not the church.

The problem is i cannot find a true pastor hardly anywhere at all
who makes his stand upon scripture and not rather makes their stand upon their own denominiatial view OF SAID scripture .
OH i am sure their are still leaders here and there . But mainstream has TANKED big time for quite some time .
And no matter who does stand to teach , that teacher is gonna have to always be examined every time he does speak .
Just as everyone should be .

 

[IndianaRob]

The problem is i cannot find a true pastor hardly anywhere at all
who makes his stand upon scripture and not rather makes their stand upon their own denominiatial view OF SAID scripture .
OH i am sure their are still leaders here and there . But mainstream has TANKED big time for quite some time .
And no matter who does stand to teach , that teacher is gonna have to always be examined every time he does speak .
Just as everyone should be .

I know what you mean. I listen to a few preachers (very few and infrequent) but I rely totally on the Bible to learn things.

 

[amigo de christo]

For those of you who care to know the facts.

The Only "originals", are the original LETTERS written by the APOSTLES, and we dont have any of those.

What we have are copies of copies.., and that has led to about 30 "extant".. Completed NT's in Greek.
The "scholars" have concluded that about 3-5, are good, and not corrupted.

None of these is an "original"........not one.

So, when someone who wants to become your authority, tells you that they are using the 'originals', then they are playing a "scholars nonsense" game with you, to try to cause you to elevate THEM, above the bible.

Avoid these people.

Then dont heed pope francis or any pope , and beware of much of all of even the protestant realm too .
cause i seems to see me quite a huge mess going on my friend . and saying the word mess aint even giving
it the justice of what is going on . ITS A MADHOUSE within much all of christendom
the teachers , preists , popes , deacons , prophets and etc DECIEVE THIS PEOPLE
and the wicked repents not of his evil for they promise them life . ITS a madhouse my friend . a delusoinhouse .
a house of delusional madness and they call it love and lets unify as one . Under what should be the question
folks be asking themselves .
cause the last time i checked GOD aint in the business of DENYING THE SON
or the business of accepting sins either . sounds like THE DEVIL TO ME my friend . WE gots to do SOMETHING .
and fast .

 

[amigo de christo]

I know what you mean. I listen to a few preachers (very few and infrequent) but I rely totally on the Bible to learn things.

Time for a trivia question .
And believe me most of christendom will despise the answer to it as well .
One amongst ten thousand of men will teach the truth within christendom
but a woman i cannot find one who does so .
WHY DO WE THINK THAT IS .
WHY i have found out of every single female pastor , not a one that actuallly teaches solid truth without error
OR BEING IN ERROR .
why .
cause women AINT TO LEAD THE CHURCH pardner . thus even if one did manage to teach all truth
STILL she would be in error .
Now prepare to watch the rocks sail right at me for just saying that one reminder .

 

[AW Bowman]

Interpretation Questions

So, back to the tool, a methodology for interpreting Scripture. After reviewing the pdf attachment in post # 392, p 20, Context, let's review the questions we should ask when starting our studies.

Please Note: You may not be able to apply all the following questions to every subject you are studying. So please, don’t become discouraged, or even frustrated if you cannot apply an answer to every question in the list, but at least give it a try.

• What did the original author say? (Textual criticism).
• What did the original author main? (Exegesis).
• What did the original author say elsewhere on the same subject? (Parallel passages).
• What do other Bible authors say on the same subject? (Parallel passages).
• How did the original hearers understand the message and respond to it? (historical application)
• How does this truth apply to my day? (Modern application).
• How does this truth apply to my life? (Personal application)
• 
  There are some common literary safeguards that will reduce the frequency of misinterpretation. Primarily the Bible is subject to its immediate and extended context and genre (e.g. poetry, historical, parable, prophetic, etc.).
  
  When formulating your interpretation or listening to a teacher, or reading a denominational tract, a Sunday school quarterly, a Christian magazine, etc., please follow the advice offered in acts 17:11, 12
  
  “These [Jews of Berea] 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. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.”
  
  And….,
  
  Second Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
  
  I pray that the study material I am providing assists in this activity.