HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

Search the scriptures [John 5:39] “They received the word with readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed” [Acts 17:11-12].

1. We should study the scriptures with delight. The writers, though endowed with inspiration themselves, used to take delight in studying the written word. Thus, Paul, “I delight in the law of God” [Romans 7:22] and the Psalmist, “How sweet are your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” [Psalm 119:97-103]. “Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of Yehovah.” [Psalm 1:2] And the lord Jesus himself read the Holy Scriptures; it was “his custom” [Luke 4:16] Why then do we not delight in the study of the scriptures? It is recommended to us as an “able” word, “able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in the anointed one Jesus  … able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified – set apart.” [2 Timothy 3:16; Acts 20:32] All through life it is a lamp to our feet and a guide to our steps, “You shall guide me by your council, and afterward receive me into glory.” [Psalm 73:24]

In our younger years, it comes to us with timely exhortation, “Remember now your Creator, in the days of your youth.” [Ecclesiastes 12:1] In the hot battle of life it gives many a cooling sip of “precious promises,” and, like a ministering angel, in the dying hour it softly whispers, “underneath are the everlasting arms… Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for your rod and your staff they comfort me.”

That the Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed on mankind is generally acknowledged by all who have taken the time to acquaint themselves with the value and worth of it. I once heard a young Christian says, “The more I study the Bible, the more I want to study it.” A celebrated scholar and linguist said, “I have regularly and attentively studied the scriptures, and am of the opinion that they contain an echo and greatness of spirit, exquisite beauty, pure morality, important history, and fine strains of poetry and eloquence, that could be collected from all other books.” In what light we read the scriptures, whether, in reference to revelation, or history, or morality, it is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue. These are just a few seed-thoughts on its preciousness.

2. We should study the scriptures with a child-like submission to its dictates. The scriptures are the sovereign test of all matters of faith and practice. “To the law and the testimony; if they speak not according to this word – revelation it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 820] “Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good.” [1 Thessalonians 5:1] An authoritative message has been sent from the throne of Yehovah, and therefore the formation of what we are to understand is no longer left to the imagination, or the speculations of philosophy, but it is to be deduced fairly and honestly from the written revelation alone. The apostles performed miracles in confirmation of what they said; and yet the Bereans examined their teaching by the test of scripture, they “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed.” And they were commended as “noble,” for their conduct. How much more is it necessary for us to examine what we hear, and have a “Thus says the Lord” or a “Thus it is written” for every article of our faith and practice!*

*The scriptures contain all things necessary for salvation; so that whatever is not read therein, nor maybe proved thereby, is not to be required by any man, that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary for salvation.

Many believers pride themselves on the witness of their own heart, or teaching of the spirit within them, as they call it. They ought to remember that the Spirit of God in the heart would not in one jot or title contradict the Spirit of God in the scriptures, for the Spirit of God nowhere contradicts the word of God. When Paul said, “The Spirit bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” he was speaking of himself and those early disciples who, like him, had believed the gospel – the good news of the kingdom, and also had been immersed – baptized “for the remission of sins.” We know that the feeling of the heart cannot be trusted when they conflict with the written word, for “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” [Jeremiah 17:9] “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts.” [Matthew 15:19] The scripture also says: “He that trusts his own heart is a fool.” [Proverbs 28:6] Saul and others thought that they were doing God’s service when they were “making havoc of the called-out Assembly” by their cruel persecutions, but did their sincerity turn their crime into a virtue? [John 16:2; Acts 16:0-11] Sincerity will not render harmless the believing of error any more than the drinking of poison. The modern theory of sincerity is not found in the scriptures. Its advocates tell us that even idolaters will be saved if they live up to the light they have. But, the scriptures declare that “idolaters will have their place in the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” [Revelation 21:8] It speaks of the philosophical idolaters of Ephesus [Acts 19:35] as “without the anointed one, having no hope, and without God in the world… being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that was in them.” [Ephesians 2:12; 4:18] Paul faithfully declared to them “the gospel – the good news of the kingdom,” as the lord Jesus had commanded. [Matthew 24:14; Acts 10:25]

We see the absolute necessity of submitting entirely and without reservation to the dictates of the word of God, “He has magnified above all His name – Yehovah.” [Psalm 138:2] His word enlightens, “The entrance of your word gives light” [Psalm 119:130]: corrects, “Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” [Psalm 119:104]: converts, “The law of Yehovah is perfect converting the whole being of man,” [Psalm 19:7]: and shields from sin, “Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” [Psalm 119:11]

3. Heeding the “sure word of prophecy.” In order that our faith be “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus the anointed one himself being the chief cornerstone” we should study the scriptures, the whole Bible, the old and new testament. The same God speaks to us through both the old and New Testament. His Spirit inspired the prophets and the Spirit power He gave to his anointed one when He gave him to be over all things inspired the apostles. [1 Peter 1:11; Ephesians 2:20] These two classes of testimony; prophetic and apostolic; may be called two sources from which “as newborn babes” we derive “the sincere milk of the word” in our earliest perceptions of the saving truth. [1 Peter 2:1] They may be compared to the two wings on which in growing strength we mount up as eagles. [Isaiah 40:31] We may liken them to the two edges of that “sword of the Spirit which is the word of God,” and which “a good soldier of Jesus the anointed one,” wields to the conviction and conversion of others. [Ephesians 6:17; 2 Timothy 2:3]

When the Savior said, “Search the Scriptures,” the New Testament had not been written. So, neglecting the study of the prophets would be neglecting this command of the lord Jesus. The apostles likewise require us “to be mindful, regard attentively the words which were spoken by the prophets,” and they declare that in taking heed to the word of prophecy we “do well.” It is a “light” which we dare not hid under a bushel. [2 Peter 1:19; 3:2] Take warning by the Israel of old, and the things that “happened to them for examples; and are written for our admonition. [1 Corinthians 10:11] Why, was Israel made “a curse, astonishment, a hissing and a reproach among the nations? “Because, they hearkened not unto the words of Yehovah, which I sent to them by my servants the prophets.” [Jeremiah 29:17-19] Behold the value Jesus placed on the prophets, and to the convincing power of their testimony. “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.” [Luke 16:31] And again, “All things must be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moses, in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me. [Luke 24:44] Their great themes ought to command the full attention of everyone who truly loves the lord Jesus, they speak of “the suffering of the anointed one and the glory that should follow,” or, more accurately translated, “the sufferings destined for the anointed one and the glories after these.” [1 Peter 1:11] The glories include his resurrection, his being seated at the right hand of Yehovah who has given him rule over all things, his glorious future return “with power and great glory” to take his seat “on the throne of his glory – the throne of David” [Matthew 24:30; 25;31] to “reign in Mount Zion, in Jerusalem, before the ancients gloriously” [Isaiah 23:24].*

*Prophecy serves as the basis of our hope in the things yet to come, in the final triumph of truth and righteousness on earth, the universal establishment of the kingdom of Yehovah through His son Jesus, and the reward of age upon age lasting life to those that are his as his second coming.

Why would anyone object to the study of unfulfilled prophecy? By believing and heeding what was as yet unfulfilled prophecy, Noah, “prepared an Ark to the saving of his family; by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of righteousness, by his faith.” [Hebrews 11:7] If he had ignored that prophecy would he not have perished along with the rest? As did the sons-in-law of Lot for neglecting unfulfilled prophecy. [Genesis 19:14] Perhaps they regarded Lot as an alarmist. After all, everything was going on as usual.

A true worshipper should like Paul, believe not only the fulfilled prophecies but “all the things that are written in the law and in the prophets” [Acts 24:14] All the precious promises of the gospel of the kingdom which holds out to us the hope of the second coming of God’s anointed one Jesus, the resurrection, and all the joys of an endless life are yet unfulfilled prophecies, which give us hope the desire to hold fast to the end. To cast aside these unfulfilled prophecies would blow the light out of the believer’s animating hope, and leave us in the deadly darkness of utter despair. We are command to hear God’s anointed one Jesus “in all things whatsoever.” [Act 3:22], in one of his longest recorded discourses is a series of prophecies, which, to be clearly understood, must be compared to other prophecies. [Matthew 24 and 25] The last book of the Bible is a Christian prophecy, and was sent to the early called-out Assemblies with a blessing twice pronounced on those who read, hear, and keep “those things that are written therein.” [Revelation 1:3; 22:7] Was this blessing pronounced because it had become a fulfilled prophesy No, but because it was unfulfilled. The reason is given in these words, “The time is at hand.” [Revelation 1:3] This promise of a blessing ought to be a sufficient inducement of that prophecy and that study opens the door to the study of Daniel, Zechariah, and Ezekiel, all of them serving, when compared, to more clearly explain one another.

4. Compare scripture with scripture. All the plain texts from Genesis to Revelation, relating to any particular subject, must be taken together and impartially compared, and the expressions of one of them restricted by those of another and explained in mutual consistency. Then the revelation fairly deduced from them all in conjunction will be the revelation of scripture on that particular subject. Usually, the first time a word appears in the scripture defines that word.

We should not expect the whole circle of Christian faith explained in one place. [Isaiah 28:10]

These three following truths which, as great first principles, every person in the world ought to be acquainted with are clearly taught in the scriptures.

1. The “THE GOSPEL – GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM” is what Jesus preached throughout Israel during his ministry. The proof is too clear to be denied. “Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in the synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.” [Matthew 4:23; 9:35] “He went through every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.” [Luke 8:1] And in the sacred interval between his resurrection and rising up to take his place at the right hand of Yehovah he conversed with his disciples, “being seen of them forty days, and speaking of things pertaining to the kingdom of God;” the earliest and the latest theme of his teaching on the earth. [Acts 3:1]    

2.     “THIS GOSPEL – GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM” is what the apostles went forth and preached in the entire world after he ascended to take his place at the right hand of God. They did this by express direction of their Messiah who towards the close of his own ministry said to them, by way of prediction and command, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the entire world.” [Matthew 24:14] By whom would this good news be preached? It was preached by the apostles whom Jesus commissioned for that work, “Go you into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature.” [Mark 16:15] “You shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.” [Acts 1:8] And though dead we may say they are still preaching the good news message in their writings, where ever the New Testament is read. So we know that the gospel was preached in Corinth, Rome, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, Thessalonica, and in every other place where Paul or any other apostle went./

3. After Paul had been a long time engaged in preaching “the gospel of the kingdom of God” he wrote to some who heard it, saying, “though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than what we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so now I say again if any man preach any other gospel unto you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” [Galatians 1:8, 9]

These three great truths may be expressed in the following short and easy sentence, the lord Jesus and his disciples preached THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD; and a double curse has been pronounced against man or angel who shall dare preach any other gospel.

Now, in the face of these facts, is it not surprising to find some persons taking an isolated text [1 Corinthians 15:3,4] and, contrary to sound criticism and right interpretation, endeavor to prove from it that Paul did not preach the kingdom, but preached only the death, burial and resurrection of the lord Jesus? In that text the words ‘en protois’ translated ‘first of all,” are defined by Liddel and Scott Lexicon (1849) to be “like the Latin ‘in primis, among the first.” The phrase might be accurately rendered “among primaries.” Campbell’s edition (1832) says, “Among first things.” Whitby’s paraphrase says, “Among the principle of faith.” Thus we see that the death, burial and resurrection although essential things are not the only things preached at Corinth but were comprised “among” certain things elsewhere called, “the things concerning the kingdom of God.” [Acts 19:8]

We can also take note that to say that the death, burial, and resurrection of the lord Jesus was not believed in or preached at Ephesus because these events are not mentioned in the text would show Paul was derelict in his duties which he was not. He preached the full gospel of the kingdom and the things about Jesus which would obviously include his death, burial and resurrection. So to conclude the fact that the teaching of the gospel of the kingdom is not mentioned in some of Paul’s letters or the other apostles as well does not mean that they did not preach that teaching during their respective ministries. It was the message that Jesus gave them to preach to the nations and to not do so would be to disobey their master. There are a number of conversions where the gospel of the kingdom is mentioned. [Acts 8:12; 19:8, 20; 20:25; 28:23, 31] So to not preach the gospel – the good news of the kingdom of God is to disobey the lord Jesus in what he has commanded us to do. Why do people need to hear the gospel message Jesus preached?

Notice: Luke 8:11-12: the seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Now we see in Matthew 13:19:  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. So Matthew defines “the seed” “the word of God” as the “word about the kingdom of God”. Now what Luke says is extremely important. He says that if one does not believe the word of God that person cannot be saved! That is why the apostles were to preach everywhere about the kingdom of God. “This gospel shall be preached in all the world.” [Matthew 24:14]

Note: Jesus is God anointed one. He has been anointed for three offices: Prophet, to teach; Priest, to intercede and King, to reign. The “great salvation” is comprised in the performance of these three offices.

We are by nature ignorant, guilty, and enslaved. To remove ignorance is the office of a prophet; to remove guilt, the office of a Priest; and to liberate and lead to victory and to protect in a safe home and country is the office of a King. Jesus prophetic office was foretold in Isaiah 61:1-3; “Yehovah has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek,” etc. His priestly office in Daniel 9:26: “After threescore and two weeks the Messiah – anointed one shall be cut off, but not for himself;” which means the “he died for our sins.” His Kingly office in Psalm 1:2: “The rulers take counsel against Yehovah and against His anointed one…. Yet I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion… I shall give you the heather for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.” Here the territory and royal city of the King are specified with the utmost clearness.

Now it might be asked, “How did the Messiah perform the office of Prophet? The answer is by teaching men the will of God, personally when on this earth and afterward giving them an understanding of the scriptures. [Luke 24:45] How did he perform the office of Priest? By once offering himself as a sin-offering sacrifice and making intercession for us before the throne of His God and our God, His Father and our Father. How will he perform the office of King? He will perform the office of King when Yehovah sends him down to this earth to sit on the throne of David and set up a theocratic government that will rule over all the nations of the world. He will do so will all those who have been resurrected to join him to co-rule and co-inherit all things with him as an immortal being.

So we see the title of Jesus being God’s anointed one, who He made lord and Messiah. That this includes the teaching of the kingdom can be seen by comparing verse 5 and verse 12 of Acts 8, for while one verse tells us that Philip preached “the Messiah” the other explains that he preached “the other things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus the anointed one – Messiah. So we see that the apostles preached the good news – gospel of the kingdom and the early Christians believe that gospel as a result of the apostles preaching it to them in order that they could be saved upon accepting it. So we see there is only one true gospel, one faith, and one hope, for all times and places and people, from the apostolic age until now. [Ephesians 4:4; Jude 3]

Now we can see the importance of comparing scripture with scripture. Our lord left us an example of this: “Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself [Luke 24:27] we should note that when he did this the only scriptures available at that time was what we refer to as the Old Testament. The first chapter of Hebrews contains many quotations, culled from a wide variety of scripture, on the subject of the superiority of the Messiah to angels. Notice in the speech Peter gave at the feast of Pentecost where he says that God had sworn an oath to David “that the fruit of his flesh he would raise up the Messiah to sit on his throne.” [Acts 2:30] From Acts 2:30, the reference takes us to 2 Samuel 7:12, 13, where we find the covenant with David, containing the oath Peter refers to. Then to Psalm 132:11, where the same oath is referred to in almost the exact word of Peter, “Yehovah has sworn to David, He will not turn from it, of the fruit of your body will I sit on your throne.” Then in Luke 1:32, 33, where the angel Gabriel declares that the Messiah shall obtain the throne of his father David, and “that kingdom shall have not end.” And now see how the light accumulates and grows brighter, as we progress in our research! For here the reference is Daniel 2:44; 7:14, 27, where we learn that when the Messiah obtains the throne of David his kingdom will rule over the entire earth; also it will be an everlasting kingdom and will be under the whole heaven and therefore on this earth.

Then we are taken to Obadiah 21, and they're told that the kingdom shall be Yehovah’s, that is, it is the kingdom of God, spoken of in the gospel. Then we are referred to Revelation 11:15, which informs us that the kingdom will be manifested at the resurrection at the sound of the 7^th Trumpet, which is the last Trumpet. Then on to Revelation 19:6, etc., where we learn that       the lord Jesus will not obtain the kingdoms of this world without opposition, for the rebellious kings of this world and their armies will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them, and bind Satan, and reign triumphantly with his risen ones, members of his body, in the 1,000-year rule, the millennium. [Revelation 18:14; 20]

And now, returning to our verse we take up the other phrase, “the son of Abraham.” The reference here points to Galatians 3:16, which informs us to the Messiah as the “Seed” or son of Abraham, certain great promises have been made. And the reference points to Genesis 12:7, where the promise is made, “Unto your seed, I will give this land,” meaning the land of Caanan on this earth. And the reference here points to Genesis 13:15; 17:8, where we discover that all the land of Caanan has been promised as an everlasting possession to Abraham and his seed, that is, to Abraham and to the “seed” the Messiah as Paul explains it. The argument is perfectly clear that the lord Jesus as the son of Abraham will inherit the land Caanan on this earth, for an eternal possession; and as the son of David will inherit the glorious throne of that land.

Now returning to Galatians 3, we find on verse 17 a reference to Romans 4:13, which gives us an understanding that the full extent of the promise was equal to the promise of “the world” for, as we have shown, when the son of David comes in glory and takes possession of the throne of David his kingdom will fill the whole earth. Then in verse 39 of Galatians 3, we find that all disciples, by virtue of their relationship to the Messiah, are also Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise made to him and his seed. And the reference takes us to Romans 8:17, which says they are joint-heirs with the Messiah.

Behold, then, how these two classes of testimony, the one concerning the son of David, the other concerning the son of Abraham are like two crystal streams that, rising in the first verse of the New Testament, flow through the scriptures, gathering volume from their tributary texts as they go, until they both end and blend.

In that bright paradise restored,

The blissful kingdom of the Lord:

Even in that kingdom which the lord Jesus will establish on the earth at his coming, and in which, through the atoning merits of the precious blood of the Messiah you may obtain endless joy and happiness if you believe and obey the gospel of the kingdom.

Written by Wiley Jones and edited by Bruce Lyon