BIBLE
DESK
HOW TO STUDY YOUR BIBLE
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1-GOD WANTS YOU TO STUDY THE BIBLE
God wants you to study the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word. Without the Word of God, you cannot be saved. We are SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH-ref Eph 2:8. God’s Word also tells us, FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD-Ro 10:17. It is by hearing God’s Word that faith comes. Our faith must be centered on Jesus Christ. We must have faith that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God; that Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is come in the flesh; and that He died on the cross for our sins. It is only through Jesus that we can gain entrance to heaven. Satan will do everything possible to keep a person from their Bible; for through the Word of God comes faith that enables us to stand against Satan.
Many churches
do not preach much of God’s Word.
Many churches today do not encourage their
members to bring their Bibles to church. Some actually discourage people
from bringing their Bibles and even from reading them. These are false
churches. Their leaders are the blind leading the blind. It is recommended
that you run from such a church. As it is written, COME OUT OF HER, MY
PEOPLE-Rev 18:4. These blind leaders of the blind do not understand they
are doing wrong. They are fully convinced they are doing God’s will, even
though their actions contradict the Bible.
3-THE HOLY GHOST, HE SHALL TEACH YOU
Many people have a difficult time understanding the Bible, so they shy away from reading it. This may be, because they do not have God’s Spirit inside them, (they are not converted; they are not born-again). How do we receive the Holy Spirit? We are to believe and have faith in Jesus Christ. Then we are told in Acts 2:38-REPENT (that is, forsake all your sins), AND BE BAPTIZED (by full immersion) EVERY ONE OF YOU…AND YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. Gal 3:27-FOR AS MANY OF YOU AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST. Baptism for babies and baptism by sprinkling are Satan's counterfeits. Before being baptized by immersion, you must believe on the name of Jesus and be willing to forsake all sin (REPENT). When you have difficulty understanding the Bible, ask God to help you and give you understanding. As we read, Jn 16:13-THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH…WILL GUIDE YOU. Jn 14:26-THE HOLY GHOST…HE SHALL TEACH YOU. Lk 24:45-THEN OPENED HE THEIR UNDERSTANDING, THAT THEY MIGHT UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES. Never approach the Scriptures with a “know-it-all” attitude. Approach God with a humble attitude. Become as a little child before God. God hates pride. It is an abomination to Him. How can God reveal things to people who are wise in their own eyes? It is written, Mt 11:25-THOU HAST HID THESE THINGS FROM THE WISE AND PRUDENT, AND HAST REVEALED THEM UNTO BABES. Job 17:4-THOU HAST HID THEIR HEART FROM UNDERSTANDING.
4-THE BIBLE TELLS US TO HEAR THE WORD
The Bible tells us we are to hear and study the Word of God. It is written:
Jos 1:13-REMEMBER THE WORD.
Acts 15:7-HEAR THE WORD.
Isa 1:10-HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD.
Jere 9:20-RECEIVE THE WORD.
Jere 10:1-HEAR YE THE WORD WHICH THE LORD SPEAKETH.
Jos 1:8-THIS BOOK…MEDITATE THEREIN DAY AND NIGHT.
Ezek 6:3-HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD GOD.
Hos 4:1-HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD.
2 Tim 2:15-STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD.
Ja 1:21-RECEIVE…THE…WORD.
Pv 4:4-LET THINE HEART RETAIN MY WORDS.
The Scriptures were
written by about 39 authors, dating from about 1900 B.C. to about 90 A.D., yet
they harmonize perfectly. There is not one contradiction or mistake.
There are about 10,385 prophecies, and every single one has come true up to
this time without one exception. It is written:
2 Pe 1:20,21-KNOWING THIS FIRST, THAT NO
PROPHECY OF THE SCRIPTURE IS OF ANY PRIVATE INTERPRETATION. FOR THE PROPHECY
CAME NOT IN OLD TIME BY THE WILL OF MAN: BUT HOLY MEN OF GOD SPAKE AS THEY WERE
MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST.
2 Tim 3:16-ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS
PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Heb 4:12-THE WORD OF GOD IS QUICK,
AND POWERFUL, AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWOEDGED SWORD, PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVIDING
ASUNDER OF SOUL AND SPIRIT (it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit),
AND OF THE JOINTS AND MARROW, AND IS A DISCERNER OF (it judges) THE THOUGHTS
AND INTENTS OF THE HEART.
Ro 15:4-FOR WHATSOEVER THINGS WERE WRITTEN
AFORETIME WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING.
We are to receive God’s Word in meekness
with a humble spirit.
As Ja 1:21 exhorts us, RECEIVE WITH
MEEKNESS THE ENGRAFTED WORD, WHICH IS ABLE TO SAVE YOUR SOULS.
Satan will try to keep you from the Word
by using things like cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, pleasures
of this world, lusts of other things, persecutions, and temptations. Turn
off the music. Put down the newspaper. Read your Bible. Forget
the party, the date, the movie, or visiting with relatives. Put God’s
Word first in your life.
As Col 3:16 says-LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM.
Do you study for school? Do you study for college? Do you study for your job? Can these save your soul? When do you study God’s Word? If you think these things are more important than God’s Word, then you are deceived. Anything that comes before God’s Word is an idol
God tells us in
Jos 1:8-THIS BOOK OF THE LAW SHALL NOT DEPART OUT OF THY MOUTH; BUT THOU SHALT
MEDITATE THEREIN DAY AND NIGHT.
Do you meditate in God’s Word day and night?
Are you obeying God’s Word?
We are to Pv 4:4,5-LET THINE HEART RETAIN
MY WORDS: KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, AND LIVE. GET WISDOM, GET UNDERSTANDING:
FORGET IT NOT; NEITHER DECLINE (or swerve) FROM THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH.
Get into the Bible. Get understanding, and
do not shrink back from God’s Word.
As Pv 4:20-22 says, MY SON, ATTEND TO MY
WORDS; INCLINE THINE EAR UNTO MY SAYINGS. LET THEM NOT DEPART
FROM THINE EYES; KEEP THEM IN THE MIDST OF THINE HEART. FOR THEY ARE LIFE.
5-THE WORD IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP
In Acts 20:32 we read, BRETHREN, I COMMEND YOU TO GOD, AND TO THE WORD OF HIS GRACE, WHICH IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP. If you are born-again, you should have a thirst for God’s Word. If that thirst is not there, perhaps you should examine yourself to see why.
6-NEWBORN BABES DESIRE THE WORD
As 1 Pe 2:2 tells
us, AS NEWBORN BABES (a newly born-again person, a newly converted person),
DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY.
Verse 3-IF SO BE YE HAVE TASTED THAT THE
LORD IS GRACIOUS.
If you have truly been born-again, you do
desire God’s Word. If you have tasted (if you have the Holy Spirit) you
will desire to read the Bible, for you can only grow through God’s Word.
If that desire is lacking, you need to examine yourself in light of God’s Word
to find out why. If God is not the most important thing in your life,
then you need to examine yourself to see if you are really in the faith.
We read further in
Jn 8:31-THEN SAID JESUS TO THOSE JEWS WHICH BELIEVED ON HIM (Note: Jesus is
talking to true Christians), IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, THEN ARE YE MY
DISCIPLES INDEED.
Every true Christian is a disciple (disciple
means pupil). If you are not a pupil of Jesus, you are not born-again.
You are not saved.
Jesus says here, IF YE CONTINUE IN MY
WORD, then you are My sheep, My pupils, My brethren, My disciples.
His Word continues, verse 32-AND YE SHALL
KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.
If you have not continued in God’s Word,
then how can you stand on God’s Word to say you are saved? If you do not
desire the sincere milk of the Word, how can you say you are born-again? Let
God be true and every man a liar-ref Ro 3:4.
This is further substantiated in Jn
12:48-HE THAT REJECTETH ME, AND RECEIVETH NOT MY WORDS (note what it
says), HE THAT…RECEIVETH NOT MY WORDS, HATH ONE THAT JUDGETH HIM: THE WORD
THAT I HAVE SPOKEN, THE SAME SHALL JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY. If
you reject God’s Word (the Bible), you are rejecting Jesus. You are not
saved.
8-MAN
SHALL LIVE BY GOD’S WORD
(ALSO STUDY)
Jesus said in
Mt 4:4-MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD (or food) ALONE, BUT BY EVERY
WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD. Are you? You say,
“Am I what?” Are you living by the Word of God, by the Bible?
God’s Word says Lk 6:46-AND WHY CALL YE ME,
LORD, LORD, AND DO NOT THE THINGS WHICH I SAY? You are to live by the
Word of God. How can you live by the Word of God when you don't study
it?
As 2 Tim 2:15 tells us, STUDY TO SHOW
THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY
DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH. God is talking directly to you—STUDY TO SHOW
THYSELF APPROVED. Friend, are you in obedience to God’s Word? As
it is written, Eph 5:17-BE YE NOT UNWISE, BUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WILL OF
THE LORD IS. Isn’t it time you put God first?
In Deut 6:5 we read-THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD
THY GOD WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIGHT.
Verse 6-AND THESE WORDS, WHICH I COMMAND
THEE THIS DAY, SHALL BE IN THINE HEART. God is commanding you this
day to love Him and study His Word, to meditate therein day and night.
Please heed God’s Word in Heb 5:9-HE (Jesus)
BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION UNTO ALL THEM THAT OBEY HIM.
Also in Ps 119:11,42,47,48,105,114,133,147-THY
WORD HAVE I HID IN MINE HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST THEE.
(Can you say that?)
FOR I TRUST IN THY WORD.
I WILL DELIGHT MYSELF IN THY COMMANDMENTS,
WHICH I HAVE LOVED.
I WILL MEDITATE IN THY STATUTES.
THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND
A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.
I HOPE IN THY WORD.
ORDER MY STEPS IN THY WORD: AND LET
NOT ANY INIQUITY HAVE DOMINION OVER ME.
I HOPED IN THY WORD.
Are Jeremiah’s words referring to you, in
chapter 8:5,6,9?—WHY THEN IS THIS PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM SLIDDEN BACK BY A PERPETUAL
BACKSLIDING? THEY HOLD FAST DECEIT, THEY REFUSE TO RETURN. NO MAN
REPENTED HIM OF HIS WICKEDNESS, SAYING, WHAT HAVE I DONE? THEY HAVE REJECTED
THE WORD OF THE LORD.
Verse 20-THE HARVEST IS PAST, THE SUMMER
IS ENDED, AND WE ARE NOT SAVED. It is time to receive God’s Word and to
study your Bible.
9-TIPS ON STUDYING THE BIBLE: HOW TO BEGIN
Here are some
tips on reading your Bible. Begin reading the Gospel of John. Read
it through completely, three times. Never read less than five chapters
per day. More would be preferable.
Next go to the book of Matthew at the beginning
of the New Testament. Begin reading from there, all the way through to
the end of the New Testament, including the Revelation. Read the New Testament
through completely, three times.
Once you have read the New Testament through
three times, then go to the beginning of the Bible and read the entire Bible
through completely, from Genesis 1:1 to the end of the Revelation. Remember,
read at least five chapters or more per day, which will be at least thirty-five
chapters per week. More than this is better.
It is extremely important for a Christian
to have a good overall understanding of the Bible. Many people wrongly
study the Bible, a little here and a little there. As a result, they never
really have a clear, overall view of the entire Bible. They lack a good,
biblical understanding of God, of God’s judgments, and of how Satan deceives.
This gives a place for the devil to deceive them. It is highly recommended
that a person read the entire Bible through at least once every year.
If the previous program is followed, these are the results at the rate of five chapters per day:
The Gospel of John read 3 times = | 1.8 weeks |
The New Testament read 3 times = | 22.3 weeks |
The entire Bible read 1 time = | 34 weeks |
Thus, in just 58 weeks a person will have read the Gospel of John a total of 7 times, the New Testament a total of 4 times, and the entire Bible 1 time.
10-READING YOUR BIBLE AFTER THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM HAS BEEN COMPLETED
From this point on,
a person should continue to read through the entire Bible at least once a year.
Reading 5 or more chapters per day is essential for the born-again Christian
that wants to follow Jesus (the Word of God).
Other types of specialized reading and study
are definitely not recommended until the previous program is accomplished.
11-VARIOUS TYPES OF BIBLE STUDIES: A STUDY OF ALL SUBJECTS
Studies such as these
are not recommended until after the beginning program of reading John, the New
Testament, and the entire Bible has been accomplished.
The Bible can be broken down into
subjects. Key subjects that should be considered, include doctrines as
outlined in Hebrews 6:1,2, such as: believing on Jesus, faith toward God, grace,
repentance from dead works, baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of
the dead, and eternal judgments. Other more specific topics may include:
sin, pride, humility, childlikeness, the tongue, witnessing verses, forsaking
everything, serving God, fasting, fruits, a born-again attitude, fear, how Satan
deceives, denying self, making excuses, idols, the Trinity, being content, doubt,
prayer, warnings to take heed and beware, how to fight the good fight of faith,
marriage, what God expects of a husband or wife, the role of women in the church,
elders, and many others.
The Bible can perhaps be broken down
into well over 600 subjects. One might begin this type of Bible study
by making a list of all the subjects they want to include. List one subject
for each sheet of paper. Put the papers in alphabetical order.
Then begin reading the New Testament.
As you come to a verse that deals with that subject, write it out on the paper
that has that subject listed. Three by five inch index cards are especially
useful. Write just one verse on each card. These can be made into
a card file. It may take some years to break down the entire Bible into
subjects this way, but the result can be very rewarding.
If you have a
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, choose a particular word.
Then turn to it in the concordance and find all the Bible verses listed under
that word. Write them down on paper or index cards as described in the
previous heading A Study of All Subjects.
The best way to study a certain topic
in the Bible is to consider every verse in the entire Bible dealing with that
topic. For example, if you want to study “water baptism,” research every
verse on it in the Bible. This should hopefully give you a fuller and
more accurate understanding.
13-LABELING GROUPS OF SUBJECTS IN YOUR BIBLE
This involves
beginning at Mt 1:1 and reading to determine what verses to group together.
For example, Mt 1:1 to 1:17 might be labeled “The Genealogy of Jesus Christ.”
Mt 1:18 to 1:25 might be labeled, “The Birth of Jesus,” and Mt 2:1 to 2:12 might
be labeled, “The Wise Men.” In the Revelation, the following titles might
be used, Rev 1:1 and Rev 1:2, “Introduction to the Revelation of Jesus Christ,”
verse 3, “Blessed Is He That Hears and Keeps These Things,” and verses 4 to
8, “Grace to the Seven Churches.”
Once you have done the entire New Testament
this way in your Bible, then go on the Old Testament. As you do such studies,
your wisdom and knowledge should continue to grow. As each group of verses
are labeled in your Bible, you may want to separate them with a colored pencil
line.
Colored pencils usually work very well. If a regular pencil is used, use a number 2 ½ lead. This seems to hold up best. It is better not to use ink, as it can smear. Over a period of time, it also tends to “bleed through,” spoiling your pages.
This Bible study involves labeling your Bible and grouping the same verses from the 4 Gospels together in the order they happened. It even includes dating the verses as to the approximate time the events took place. This sort of Bible study of the entire New Testament can be extremely rewarding in knowledge.
Try to read a book of the Bible through quickly in one sitting. You might make some notes for yourself of what seems to be the central theme. The next day read one chapter quickly. Again, make some notes as to what the central theme of this chapter seems to be. Now, the same day, read the same chapter again slowly and underline key words in each verse. Try coloring in key verses. Consider placing an “X” by the side of special verses. Put a few key words from that verse in the side margin to help you easily locate it later on. Post reference verses in the side margin. Some such verses might be Jn 1:1 and 1:14, which go nicely together; also Jn 3:3, 3:16, and 3:17. Try to study a minimum of a chapter a day in this fashion. This includes speed reading it, followed by careful consideration of each word in every verse of that chapter. Don’t get too carried away in coloring in so many verses that you can’t locate the most important ones. You might like to keep notes in a loose leaf notebook. You may consider keeping a note pad and list (by writing them out) of the key verses for witnessing. Some good examples are: Jn 3:16; Jn 3:36; Acts 2:38; Ro 10:9-13; and 1 Jn 1:9. Once you have finished reading and studying the book of John, go to the book of Matthew. Do this Gospel the same way. As you read it, watch for recurring words. You might like to underline them. An example is 1 Jn chapters 3, 4, and the beginning of chapter 5. Color in the words: YE KNOW or WE KNOW, each time they appear. Now study what God is trying to tell you. Go book by book through the entire New Testament. Do not shy away from the Revelation. Do this one the same way. In reading the Old Testament, try to speed read it all, before doing an in-depth study of each book. These are some tips that may help you.
17-“PHRASE” OR “GROUP OF WORDS” BIBLE STUDY
This type of Bible
study involves starting at the beginning of the New Testament or Old Testament.
As you begin to read, put a slash or colored pencil mark after each group of
words. Do the whole verse. Then study each group of words intensely.
Mt 1:1,2 and 2:1 are marked here as an example.
In doing this, your study should carefully
examine every single part of every single verse. Your knowledge should
grow. Hallelujah!
Mt 1:1-2
1-The book /of the generation of Jesus
Christ,/ the son of David,/ the son of Abraham.
2-Abraham begat Isaac;/ and Isaac begat Jacob;/
and Jacob begat Judas/ and his brethren;
Mt 2:1
1-Now when Jesus was born/ in Bethlehem/
of Judaea/ in the days of Herod/ the king,/ behold, there came wise men/ from
the east/ to
Jerusalem,/
18-SEEK GOD AS TO WHAT AND HOW HE WOULD HAVE YOU STUDY THE BIBLE
There are other
ways to study also. It is recommended that you seek God earnestly in prayer,
as to what He would have you do regarding studying.
Nevertheless, we recommend that you continue
to read through the entire Bible at least once each year. In addition
to your reading, do various Bible studies as God directs.
The closer you get to God, the more humble
you should be and the more childlike to God’s correction you should become.
Any sort of pride is a good indicator that you are getting further from God,
not closer to God. Consider carefully.
19-LISTENING TO AUDIO CASSETTES
If you have a cassette player, listening to God’s Word on cassette can be very edifying; however, just listening to God’s Word is not a substitute for STUDY.
Memorizing can be
very helpful to a person in witnessing; however, straight reading through the
Bible and Bible study should never be forsaken for the sake of memorizing.
Reading through the entire Bible as outlined in the first part of this message
is essential. A person NEEDS a good knowledge of the ENTIRE Bible.
Thereafter, Bible study should be added to
straight reading. Studying God’s Word is also needful. Thirdly,
if a person has the time, memorizing can be added to straight reading and study;
however, straight reading and study should not be given up for the sake of memorizing.
Some people have a very good ability to memorize.
Others have a more difficult time. Some can study a verse for a few minutes
and memorize it. Others may have to take several days of going over it
and over it in order to memorize it.
Some teach to memorize single verses.
Some teach to memorize whole chapters or books. Both approaches can be
very helpful.
Select chapters that contain many verses
that are very useful in teaching.
Some such chapters are: John chapter 3; Romans
chapter 6; Matthew chapters 7, 18, 24, 25; Mark chapter 4; Luke chapters 12,
14, and 16; John chapter 15; Romans chapters 8 and 12; Eph 6; 1 Thes 5; 2 Thes
2; all of James; all of 1 John; Rev chapter 3; and others. Verses relating
to a certain topic can also be combined and then memorized.
A person should write the chapter he is memorizing
on a large paper. Try memorizing one verse a day if it is difficult, or
two if it is easy. Each day thereafter, go over the verses you have memorized,
and each day add another verse. After perhaps two months of going over
these verses every day, reciting without looking, it should be well-embedded
in your memory. Thereafter, continue to go over them once every two days,
gradually decreasing how often you practice, down to once every two weeks.
After a long period of time, you may
have memorized many chapters. It may take a lot of time to quote them.
As you continue, you should find you can quote a chapter very quickly, which
is helpful if you have many to cover. On Monday, you may quote 5 chapters
when going over them. On Tuesday, five others, and so on. Should
you not continue to go over the chapters on a continual basis, you begin to
lose them. It’s not recommended that you begin memorizing on a large scale,
until after you have spent a considerable period of time building a solid foundation
by reading and meditating upon God’s Word, perhaps two or more years.
Remember, when reading, studying,
and memorizing God’s Word, Satan can be expected to fight you in many unexpected
ways to try to stop you.
21-LOTS
OF BIBLE STUDY HELPS:
OTHER BOOKS AND COMMENTARY BIBLES ARE NOT RECOMMENDED
One Bible study
aid you might like to acquire is a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of
the Bible. That is all.
Some people like to learn from all kinds
of books about the Bible. They may buy all kinds of study helps.
It seems in this generation, most people are more familiar with other people’s
opinions than they are with what the Bible actually says. It is far better
to read your Bible, and let God’s Holy Spirit speak to you. When a person
does not follow this advice, often-times much confusion sets in. Satan
gets a foothold. Beware. You cannot say you did not know.
It is the same with regard to listening to
many other preachers. This is the generation of deception. You can
listen to one preacher on the radio, and he will say that the Rapture comes
during the middle of the Tribulation. Another may say at the end.
Another may say after the Tribulation. Another may say, there will be
no Rapture at all. God forbid! People that listen to lots of preaching
on the radio or television, may become very confused. God is not the author
of confusion.
Satan can be expected to move in to try to
cause confusion. Do not give any place to the devil. Stay in the
Bible, and stay away from others that might confuse you with misleading information
put forth in their books or broadcasts. Satan wants to compromise the
truth. He did so with Eve. If you give Satan the opportunity, you
can expect he will also do it to you.
Commentary Bibles are not recommended.
The reason is there are certain passages in all of them that have been misunderstood.
If you get drawn into deception on a certain verse because of a commentary,
it is often very difficult for the Spirit of God to correct you, as you have
preconceived thoughts. Always approach God’s Word with an attitude of,
“Lord, I don’t know. Teach me.” Remember, studying God’s Word begins
on your knees in humbleness.
If you turn to God for understanding and
knowledge, you will come out much further ahead. Be careful of those that
try to tell you certain verses don’t mean what they say, or that only certain
parts of the Bible are for today. Take God’s Word literally. Consider
acquiring a good King James Version (KJV) Bible. Remember, Ja 1:22-BE
YE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, DECEIVING YOUR OWN SELVES.
There are many
different English translations of the Bible. Though many of these often
provide for easier reading, no translation has been found to be more
accurate than the King James Version (KJV). While the KJV may seem
old-fashioned and more difficult at first, after spending time with it, it becomes
as familiar and easy to understand as any translation.
When it comes to ease of reading versus accuracy,
the accuracy of the text is far more important. This is why the KJV Bible
is recommended above the others, when studying subjects such as Bible prophecy.
Other popular translations include the New
King James, the New American Standard Bible, the New International
Version, and the Complete Jewish Bible.
23-BE WARNED: NOT ALL TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE ARE TRANSLATIONS
Some Bibles are not translations, but interpretations or paraphrased versions of the Bible. Such Bibles include the Good News for Modern Man and The Living Bible, and others. These are not recommended at all.
24-BEWARE OF THOSE THAT SAY IT DOESN'T MEAN WHAT IT SAYS
Some that have studied Greek or Hebrew at Bible college may state that certain words in the Bible mean something other than what is written. Though they may have good intentions, this can sow doubt and confusion in the minds of those listening or reading their materials. One may say a certain word does not mean what it says in the Greek or Hebrew; two or three others may come along that have also studied Greek and Hebrew, and say that it means something else entirely. In some cases, such things have overthrown the faith of others. Beware of any one that continually does this. Occasionally referring to the Greek or Hebrew may be helpful when offering a simple clarification or perhaps a deeper insight into a verse, but it should not greatly alter the meaning or harmony in which the Scriptures were written. Remember, the Bible was written so that even a child could understand.
25-REGARDING PEOPLE THAT CANNOT READ AND WRITE
They have a very big
disadvantage. If they want to follow Jesus, they should make every attempt
to learn to read. They have NEED to read the Bible.
With the exceedingly deceptive preaching
that goes on in most churches, it is nearly impossible for such a person to
stand firm in the faith in this generation. Two hundred years ago, the
Bible teaching in the good churches had much more Scripture. Thus, an
illiterate person would at least hear lots of God’s pure Word when they attended
church. It is not this way today in this latter day generation.
How can such a one turn to God’s Word and learn what God’s will is for their
life or look up verses on how Satan deceives or on other subjects? How
can they study to show themselves approved?
The Scriptures on cassette tape are a wonderful
asset. A person, whether they read or not, can listen to the pure Word
of God day after day. These are highly recommended. Alexander Scourby’s
are probably the most popular.
The conclusion
of the whole matter is, 2 Tim 2:15-STUDY TO
SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY
DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
1 Tim 5:17-LET THE ELDERS THAT RULE WELL
BE COUNTED WORTHY OF DOUBLE HONOUR, ESPECIALLY THEY WHO LABOUR IN THE
WORD AND DOCTRINE.
A BAD MISTAKE—PUTTING TEACHING BEFORE LEARNING.
ARE YOU WANTING GOD TO WALK WITH YOU, OR ARE YOU WILLING TO WALK WITH GOD?
DO YOU EXPECT GOD TO FOLLOW YOU, OR ARE YOU WILLING TO FOLLOW GOD?
DO YOU WANT GOD TO DO YOUR WILL, OR ARE YOU WILLING TO DO GOD’S WILL?
WHEN YOU PRAY, DO YOU WANT GOD TO CONFORM TO WHAT YOU WANT, OR ARE YOU WILLING TO CONFORM TO WHAT “HE” WANTS?
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