Rules for Interpreting the Bible 12/27/2009
About two years ago I searched for the Bible study below but couldn't locate in my files, boxes or books. I figured that it got misplaced or thrown out in one of my family's many moves since living Brazil. About a week ago I stumbled across it by accident as I was searching for a different missing item. This is a lesson on how to study the Bible. I wrote it in late 1996 for a roommate who happened to be from Brazil. I had not yet been to Brazil (that would happen in the following year) and couldn't speak a world of Portuguese, but his English was passable and he wanted to be baptized into Christ. I wrote this study as a means for making certain that he would approach the Scriptures "reasonably," rather than as a grab bag of assorted verses to be applied out of context as a sort of quick medication. This study is presented essentially as it was written by an earlier rendition of myself. When you look at any passage of Scripture, ask yourself four questions:
First, who is speaking? the Bible is God's Word, but He chose to use men to convey His message. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual with spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:12,13). So, although Paul or Like or someone else wrote the words, even using the style of language and writing that was then common, the origin of the words and message was God.
It is true that the Bible is God's Word to humanity in general, but not all of it applies the same way to everyone. For example, let's look at 1st John 1:8-10. "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." Who wrote this passage? Most likely the apostle John, inspired by the Spirit of God. Who was he writing to, saying these words? The context indicates that Christians received this letter from John. People who have already submitted to the Lordship of Christ Jesus, and are now Sons of God. Since this writer is writing to Christians, then verses 8-10 apply to Christians only. If an immersed believer in Christ sins, he or she can confess that sin to God and be forgiven. This verse does not apply to non-Christians. If someone who has not believed in Christ and submitted to Him desires forgiveness, then that person should follow Acts 2:38; "Repent, and let each of you be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." In the above quoted passage, the apostle Peter is speaking to those who have been unbelievers, and not baptized. In contrast, 1 John 1:8-10 is speaking to baptized Christians.
For example, the Book of Colossians was written by Paul and Timothy (1:1) to the Christians in the city of Colossae (1:2). They wrote to Colossae because the church there had been influenced by teachers of false religions. Some were teaching that gentiles had to become Jewish before they could become truly Christian. Others were teaching that Christians should embrace certain practices of eastern religions. Both categories of teachers were wrong, and the apostle wrote to correct the problem. One of my favorite passages from Colossians says: "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ"(Colossians 2:8).Fourth and finally, "for what age (covenant)" was an particular passage written? God has made a few covenants (binding agreements) in history. The two most prominent covenants are the Old Covenant (made to the Hebrew nation through Moses) and the New Covenant (made to all the world through Christ Jesus). The Old Covenant was inaugurated at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20-23), and the New Covenant began in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and in the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Church (Luke 23, 24; Acts 2:1-4). The conditions of one covenant must not be confused with those of another. For example, Exodus 20:8 says: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." Which covenant was this written for, the Old or the New? Obviously, for the Old Covenant. The Sabbath was to be the seventh day of the week, a day of rest and religious devotion for the nation of Israel. However, it was not and is not for the Church. The day of assembly for Christians is the first day of the week, not the seventh. "And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread..."(Acts 20:7). "On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come" (1 Corinthians 16:2). Sunday is the "Lord's day"(Revelation 1:10), but not a sabbath day. The Christian's sabbath rest is in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 2), not in any special day.So there you have it. Four good rules or principles to use when studying the Bible, along with some essential Christian doctrine. May God bless the reading of His Word.Scripture Passages Quoted: 1) 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 2) 1 John 1:8-10; Acts 2:38 3) Colossians 2:8 4) Exodus 20:8; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10 Click here for the PDF Version of this study Add Comment | 
Adam Gonnerman - Former missionary, ESL teacher, customer service rep, social media manager and web producer; currently employed as a project manager in New York and volunteering through HOPE worldwide.
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