-
How To Study The Bible
Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 29, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: A couple of needful points if you are to properly study the Word.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
First, you must believe that it is the inspired verbal-plenary Word of God. Verbal-plenary means that every word and fullness of meaning was inspired or God-breathed making the final authority for man.
Do not use a method such as mystical or spiritualizing aka reading between the lines. God wrote it for His people to understand.
You need to use a sound hermeneutic or means of interpretation. You use a literal and historical-grammatical interpretation which means using the definition of the word at the time it was written as well as keeping the passage in context.
“Where the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense seek no other sense therefore take every word in its primary, ordinary, literal meaning unless the facts of the context clearly indicate otherwise.” - Unknown
Scripture should always be viewed from the Theocentric or God centered perspective and not anthropocentric or man centered perspective. It is, after all, God’s book and should be viewed as the Author wrote it.