BIBLE STUDY

Bible StudyBy Crossfire

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 )

     That verse is pretty straight forward. It says to study. It does not say, only study if you are going to Bible College or Seminary, it simply states study. The verse goes on to say that it is God’s approval we should be seeking. It really does not matter if man approves or not, seek God’s approval. We should be studying in such a way that God is pleased, He approves.

     If we are God’s children and we ask Him for understanding of His word, He will give it to us, as we study His Word comparing scripture with scripture. The Bible is the best commentary on the Bible and God’s Holy Spirit is the best teacher. We should pray and ask God to revel to us what He would have us to know. If we are prayerfully studying God’s Word, we become workmen that do not need to be ashamed and with God’s help we will gain a correct understanding of His Word.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5) Also see Luke 11:11-13.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
(Proverbs 3:5)

     If we lean on our own understanding and / or just accept whatever the TV preachers and others say, without checking it out for ourselves, we will not have a correct understanding of God’s Word. Does studying God’s Word make us “want-a-be Bible Scholars ? No! It makes us obedient to God and like those in Berea.

“. . . they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11)

     Too many people, in the Church today, want to leave all the Bible study to their Preacher and their Sunday School Teacher. They often also want to leave all the praying and visiting the sick to them. The point is, We are not to just leave it to someone else to do our studying, praying for us, we have been instructed to do it ourselves.

     We are not only to study enough that we need not be ashamed and for God’s approval, but we should seek a good understanding of truth. A wise old man once said: “It ain’t what we don’t know that is hurting us as much as it is knowing so much that just ain’t so!” If our study is just a repeat of what we have heard someone else say or is set within certain parameters and definitions, we will study wrong and end up with error and a misunderstanding of scripture. What good is our study if we insert and include definitions of words that are not what they mean in the Bible or misapply who a scripture is written about or to? There are lots of people who believe that they know a lot about the Bible and yet still stumble over simple terms and words. They are just repeating what they have heard over and over again. That is not honest Bible Study. I don’t care how many degrees a person has, if they do not know the Author and His Word, all those degrees will not even make them a good thermometer. Repeating error does not get God’s approval and it is not rightly dividing the Word of truth.

     In each book that I have written, I have encouraged the reader to Study their Bible. That is what I am doing now. Compare scripture with scripture, find out what the words mean in that scripture, and forget all the assumptions and speculation. Many Bible study classes today, rather than comparing scripture with scripture, will speculate about “Jewish custom” or “Jewish law” and try to fit their understanding within those parameters. The phrases “Jewish custom” and “Jewish law” are NOT in the Bible, but are regularly used in classes. These are not the only phrases that are used, but they serve as an example. If we start out a Bible study with incorrect definitions, terms or phrases, if we set parameters that will force incorrect conclusions, we are wasting our time and studying error.

     Let us be like the Bereans and search out the scriptures to see if something is so or not, let us be workmen that need not to be ashamed and have God’s approval. Let us love truth, let us love God and His Word.. #