The study of the Bible

• The Bible is complete
  • - Rev 22 vs 18-19 teaches the impossibility of adding to the Bible.
  • - besides, no addition is necessary. 2 Tim 3 vs 15-17, Acts 20 vs 27, Jude 1 vs 3.
  • - we have to apply the Scriptures to our own situation, but the Scriptures themselves may never be altered, reduced, or added to.

Lesson 1 :- Have nothing to do with groups which teach that the Bible alone is not sufficient.

• The Bible is clear
  • - some things in Scripture are hard to understand, but not the Scriptures themselves. 2 Peter 3 vs 15-16
  • - ordinary people are capable of searching them. Acts 17 vs 11
  • - ordinary  Christians may understand them. Rom 1 vs 7, 1 Cor 1 vs 12.
  • - ordinary parents may teach them. Deut 6 vs 4-9
  • - ordinary believers are expected to obey them. Eph 5 vs 22,25, 6 vs 1,5,9.
  • - ordinary folk may live in the light of them. Psalm 119 vs 105,130.
  • - ordinary Christians have the Holy Spirit to lead them into an understanding of the truth. 1 John 2 vs 20,27

Lesson 2 :- Search the Bible yourself, and check everything you hear !

• The Bible has been preserved
  • - there is only one Bible - the original writings of the authors (in Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek).
  • - it is that alone which has been given "by inspiration of God". 2 Tim 3 vs 16.
  • - copies were made, but did not all err at the same points; so we can work out with virtual certainty what the original manuscripts contained.
  • - the Bible has been preserved like no other ancient book.
  • - this is because of God's special care, and His wonderful providence which rules all history.

Lesson 3 :- Read your Bible with confidence, but remember that it is translation, and not the original.

• The Bible is to interpreted correctly
  • - Roman Catholicism and the cults claim that they alone can properly interpret God's Word.
  • - they deny Psalm 119 vs 105, and call light 'darkness'.
  • - in fact, Scripture interprets itself - if this were not so, our first two points tonight would be untrue.
  • - apparently difficult passages are clarified by other passages.
  • - when we compare Scripture with Scripture, each part becomes clear.
  • - we also see that the Bible speaks with one voice, and not many.
  • - this is why we can dogmatically formulate what it says in confessions and catechisms.

Lesson 4 :- Get to know the whole of the Bible, and keep the whole in mind as you approach each part.

• The Bible rules  OK.
  • - only in the Bible has God spoken infallibly.
  • - only here has He revealed what we are to believe and how we are to behave.
  • - so we do not accept the authority of any individual or council unless they are true to the Word of God. Mark 7 vs 6-7,9,13.
  • - but we value them and submit to them when they do point us to the truth of God's Word'

Lesson 5 :- Do not believe anything, or be pressed into anything, unless you are convinced of it from the very pages of God's Word.