1.  We are living in times in which the Bible is being challenged as the one, genuine source of religious truth.

·         the challenge of belief in the inspiration and innerancy of the Bible

·         the questioning of authority--all authority, including that of the Scriptures

·         the challenge to the all-sufficiency of the Bible

·         the challenge of living in a pluralistic society

·         the challenge of a "new hermeneutic," a new way of interpreting the Scriptures to allow broad freedoms          

·         the renewed interest in grace and the belief that grace makes what you believe irrelevant

·         the renewed interest in unity; belief that the churches of Christ are one denomination among many--the question of "who is a Christian?" has become important

·         the challenge of man's methods to God's ways--the arising of church growth dominance

   2.  These challenges are coming not from the religious world outside churches of Christ but are now coming from our own pulpits.

·         some are speaking out about what "they think" or "they believe" or what "they feel"

·         these are bright, intelligent, articulate, educated men who are making these challenges

·         they have forgotten that the only, genuine source of truth we have is in the Word of God

   3.  Our purpose is to examine what is being said and ask "Is this what the Bible teaches?" 

·         Acts 17:11  Bereans considered noble for studying the Bible, checking out Paul and Silas

·         1 Thess. 5:21,22  "examine everything carefully"

·         1 John 4:1  we have responsibility to test the spirits

·         Rev. 2:2  Ephesians commended for testing those who claimed to be apostles and were not

·         Titus 1:9  qualification of an elder is that he hold fast to the faithful word so that he can refute those who contradict the teaching  (see v. 10)

What is Bible Authority?

   1.  Jesus has all authority Matt. 28:18

   2.  Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the apostles to teach them all things and guide them into all truth John 14:26; 16:12,13

   3.  The Scriptures are the writings of the apostles and prophets, who were inspired by the Holy Spirit

·         1 Cor. 14:37  commandment of the Lord

·         1 Thess. 2:13 preached the word of God's message

·         2 Pet. 1:20,21  speaking of his own prophecy, Peter says that He was moved by the Holy Spirit

   4.  The authority of the Bible is in the fact that it comes from God through the Holy Spirit--the Scriptures are not the work of men but of God!

Why the Bible must be our Authority!

   1.  Matt. 7:21-27 because obedience to the teaching of Jesus is what distinguishes the wise man that survives and the foolish man who fails.

·         Some who think they are right with God are not right!

·         it does matter what we believe and how we live

   2.  John 12:47,48 Jesus' teaching is the standard by which we will be judged on the last day--Rev. 20:11-12

   3.  John 8:31,32 we must abide in the teaching of Christ to be true disciples and to be set free

   4.  2 Tim. 2:15 we must handle the word of truth accurately

   5.  1 Tim. 4:16 to insure our salvation and the salvation of those that hear us

   6.  Tit. 1:9,10 elders have a responsibility to guard the flock, hold fast the word of truth, and to refute those who contradict its message

   7.  Gal. 1:6-9 to preach a different gospel from that which is taught is to be condemned--anathema

   8.  2 John 9-11 the Christian is to abide in the teaching of Christ; to do otherwise is to lose our relationship with God; we must not support false teachers

·         to "go too far" or "go beyond" is to add new teachings

·         no one has the right to add new doctrines to the word of God (whether on the deity of Christ or anything else)

Our task is to hear and do God's will, not our own will; we can be sure of the New Testament; we cannot be sure of any other source of authority. When men suggest ideas, we must examine them and ask if their teaching is Scriptural--this is noble (Acts 17:11).

      There are a number of popular beliefs being taught about the Bible that we need to explore--perhaps you have heard people say some of them:

·         The Bible is not meant to be understood.

·         The Bible says different things to different people

·         What is important is not so much what the Bible says but what the Bible says to me.

·         The New Testament addressed the culture of the first century and really doesn't speak to us.

·         It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.

·         You can make the Bible say anything you want it to.

One idea that seems to keep floating around is, “Take a passage of Scripture and read it to a group of people. There will be as many interpretations of that passage as there are people in that room.” Is this really true?

·         Was the Bible meant to be understood?

·         Was the Bible intended to be understood alike?

Men Can See the Bible Alike

The Bible Was Written To Be Understood

      Deut. 30:11-14 the word is not out of reach.

·         31:9-13  to be read to men, women, children every seven years, an enduring process

·         It was to all Israel: smart, dumb, conservatives, liberals

·         those who didn't know it were expected to learn it

      Luke 1:1-4 Luke carefully investigated the life of Jesus that you might know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

      2 Cor. 1:13 Paul wrote no other thing but what you can understand.

      Eph. 3:3-4 Paul wrote so that “you can understand when you read.”

      1 John 2:21 John said Christians can know the truth and can distinguish a lie.

God Intended For Men to Understand the Bible Alike

      Gal. 1:6-9 There is one gospel and no other. Eph. 4:4-5 There is one faith--system of belief. 1 Cor. 1:10 We are to be of the same mind and judgment.

      The commands of obedience to Jesus Christ are universal. (Acts 17:30; 1 Tim 2:3,4). God desires all to come to a knowledge of the truth. God expects all men to come to the same understanding of Jesus Christ and to be obedient to the gospel.

·         John 8:24 Jesus is the Messiah, and our salvation is dependent upon our believing the right thing about him.

·         Gal. 5:1-4 Some fell from grace and were severed from Christ because they bound the Law in addition to gospel.

      What kind of God says, "be of the same mind" and composes a Bible that says different things to different people? If we say that God cannot communicate clearly, what are we saying about God? A simple math lesson teaches the principles of addition; all that are in the class are expected to arrive at the same, correct answer. We assume that normally intelligent people would arrive at the same answer if they understood the principles. If someone came up with a wrong answer, we do not assume the book is wrong, but that the person needed further teaching. So it is with the Bible.

If People Understand the Bible Differently, The Problem is With the People Not With the Bible

      God wrote to us what he wanted us to know. Whatever He wrote was for our best interests. It is the truth that makes us free, but we have an obligation to abide in God's word.

(J. D. Thomas, Heaven's Window, pp. 66-71.)

Laziness:  Some do not study; they assume what they think the Bible should say based on poor knowledge. (2 Pet. 3:16-18; Ezek. 34:1-10; Hosea 4:6)

      Wishful thinking: Some want it to say something so badly they assume it does say it and reject other views--this is especially true of doctrines surrounding salvation. (1 Cor. 6:12-20; 1 Tim. 1:3,4; Matt. 7:21-23)

      Personal Prejudice: Some hold a doctrine because they have been taught it; the Pharisees held to the tradition of their fathers and put it before the Law or Jesus. (John 7:47-49; 9:28-34; Mark 7:1-13)

      Unteachable because of pride: Some are unwilling to admit they are wrong and are unapproachable. (2 Pet. 2:10-20; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; Matt. 6:3)

      Emotional Bias: Some hold such a love for a teacher that they not consider that their mentor could possibly be wrong.  Some have “Preacheritus!”  There was only one Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 1:10-13; Mark 3:1-6; 3:22-24)

      Vested Interest: Some teach what they are paid to teach, whether it is right or not.

Titus 1:10-11; 1 Tim. 6:3,4; 2 Tim. 4:3,4

      Dishonest:  Some have no integrity or regard for truth, so they handle the Bible dishonestly. (1 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Thess. 2:8-12; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 2 Cor. 11:13-15)

      Faulty Logic: Some people do not reason correctly; they may miss the point; they may reach conclusions before they get all the facts; or they may not see the need for sound reasoning. (2 Pet. 3:16; Mark 6:14-16; Luke 6:6-11; 1 Tim. 6:20-21)

      Lack of Thoroughness: Many people do not fully explore a subject before they form a doctrine in their mind.  There is a difference between a truth and the whole truth. (John 7:40-44; Matt. 22:23-33)

      Regard for Human Authority: Some favor a teacher, a commentary, a church council, or a creed book over plain Bible truths. (Matt. 15:1-14; Gal. 1:6-9; John 12:48)

      Self-deception: People when they select their beliefs have filters to keep out things they do not wish to believe.  If one tells himself a lie long and loudly enough, one will believe it. (2 Thess. 2:8-12; 2 Tim. 4:3,4)

      Correctly understanding the Scriptures means that there are certain, basic rules that must be followed.  The Bible must speak for itself and should never be made to say things that were never intended by the writers.  Solomon urges us to "Buy the truth and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding" (Prov. 23:23).  The Lord expects us to "be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).  Listed below are some basic instructions in how to understand the Bible correctly.

      1. Familiarize yourself with the sixty-six books of the Bible.  The Bible is actually a library of books.  Note that there is an Old Testament and a New Testament, which are written to different audiences.  The OT addressed the nation of Israel or the Jews, while the NT is addressed to Christians, both Jews and Gentiles.  The books of the Bible are written in different styles of literature:  history, narrative, poetry, wisdom, prophetic, exhortation, and apocalyptic.  The Bible was written over a period of 1600 years by forty different authors who lived in a variety of places.  Each book has its own historical and cultural setting.

      2. Select good Bible study helps.  It will help you greatly to acquire a Bible dictionary, a Bible atlas, and a concordance.  These tools will help you define people, places and things that may be unfamiliar to you.  The concordance will give you the passages, which have the key terms you are studying.

      3. Read each individual passage in its context.  Each passage of each book has a context in which it is to be read an understood.  Many passages are misunderstood because the reader has never taken time to investigate the context of the Scripture he is reading.  Some questions he must ask of the passage:

·         Who is writing the passage?

·         To whom is the author writing?  Not everything in the Bible is written to every person.  The OT was written to Jews, and the NT was written to Christians.

·         When was the passage written?

·         What was the author's intent and purpose in writing?  The direct or literal sense of a sentence is the meaning of the author, when no other is indicated; not any figurative, allegorical, or mystical meaning.

·         What circumstance may have prompted the writer to give rise to this lesson?

·         What kind of literature is he using to make his message known?

·         What are the historical and cultural circumstances that bear on this passage?

·         What would this message mean to its original recipients?

      To interpret a passage and not regard its context is to misinterpret it; to interpret it contrary to its context is to teach falsehood for truth.  The meaning of a word or phrase in a later book of Scripture is not to be transferred to an earlier book, unless required by the context.  There are four circles of context:

      The Historical-Cultural Circle of Context.  Many concepts are not properly understood when one does not think about the customs of the people and the historical circumstances of the time.  Further, since the OT was written originally in Hebrew and Aramaic and the NT was written in Greek, the sense of a sentence, and the relation of one sentence to another, must be determined according to the grammar of the language in which it is written.

      The Biblical Circle of Context.  Because the whole Bible is the product of inspiration, no two passages of Scripture conflict or contradict one another.  No two passages should be thought to teach contrary doctrines.  Often the problem is that the reader has not studied enough to see how the passages harmonize with each other.  The meaning of NT words and phrases are often influenced by the OT and should be determined in harmony with OT usage; not by Greek against Hebrew usage.

      The Specific Author and Specific Book Circle of Context.  Words and phrases sometimes take on a particular meaning whenever they are used often in the same book or by the same author.  This particular meaning may not be normally understood if found used in another book or by another author.

      The Immediate Context.  The most important context for understanding any verse of Scripture is the verses before and after it.  The final determinate of the meaning of any word is the way that it is used in its immediate context.

      4. Learn to draw out the meaning of a passage; do not read into the passage anything that was not originally there.  There is a difference between exegesis and eisegesis.  Exegesis is the drawing out of the meaning of the passage.  Eisegesis is the reading into the passage things that were never there.  Those who study the Bible must be careful not to read into it their own personal prejudices or concepts that they think ought to be in the Bible.  One must read God's Word with an open mind to learn what He has said and to understand the Bible for what it says for itself.  The Bible is always its own best interpreter.

      Let the Bible explain itself.  A difficult prophecy in Joel 2 finds its fulfillment in Acts 2.  On the day of Pentecost, Peter said, "This is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16).  In Eph. 4:4 Paul says that there is "one body"; this body is defined as the church (Eph. 1:22,23).  In Rev. 1:20 John explains that the seven stars are angels or messengers and the seven golden lampstands are the seven churches.  There is no further need of wondering.  The Bible is indeed its own best interpreter.  A plain, clear passage should always be used to make the dark and abstruse passages clear.  A difficult passage never denies or contradicts the plain teaching of the Scripture.

      The Scriptures admonish us not to add or take away from what is revealed (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:6; John 8:31,32; 2 John 9; Rev. 22:18,19).  We must learn to stay within the teaching and observe the teaching carefully, completely, lovingly and accurately.

      The Scriptures do contain a law of inclusion and exclusion.  We must do all that God commands us to do (Matt. 28:19,20), yet we must also realize that specific commands exclude substitutes and additions.  When God told Noah to build an ark of "gopher wood," this excluded all other kinds of wood.   When God gives us an instruction in general terms, He allows us to use our common sense to fulfill that command in a variety of ways.  For instance when God tells us to "go into all the world," He allows us to walk, run, swim, take a car, take a boat, take a plane, ride horseback, use a morcycle, use a bicycle, or any other way that we choose.  The good Bible student knows how to distinguish between general instructions and specific instructions.  He accurately observes the specific.

      5. Take all that the Scriptures teach on any subject.  All the truth on any one subject is not usually in one passage.  There is a difference between a true statement and the whole truth of a matter.  John 5:24 says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."  It is true that we are saved by faith, but that is not the whole truth.  Faith apart from repentance or baptism will not save (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38).

      6. Recognize figures of speech.  There are many figures of speech in the Bible.  Many problems occur because uninformed students interpret a passage literally when they should interpret it figuratively.  "It may truly be said that most of the gigantic errors have their root and source, either in figuratively explaining away passages which should be taken literally, or in taking literally what has been thrown into a peculiar form or Figure of language: thus, not only falling into error, but losing the express teaching, and missing the special emphasis which the particular Figure was designed to impart to them." (E.W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech, p. xvi.). 

Important Figures of Speech:

      Simile:  a comparison of two things in one or more aspects, usually employing the words "like" or "as."  Example:  "Is not my word like a fire?" declares the Lord, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?" (Jer. 23:29; cf. Isa. 53:6; Matt. 10:16; 17:2; 23:27).

      Metaphor:  the comparison of two things without the use of "like" or "as."  Example: "You are the salt of the earth" (Matt. 5:13; cf. Gen. 49:27; Matt. 5:14; 7:15; Jude 12,13).

      Parable:  a comparison, an extended simile; a short, supposed story from real life that points to a moral or spiritual truth.  Examples:  The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37); The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32); The Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13).

      Allegory:  an extended metaphor.  An allegory differs from a parable, in that a parable typically keeps the story distinct from its interpretation, while an allegory intertwines the story and its meaning.  Examples of allegories:  the Christian armor (Eph. 6:10-20); the true vine (John 15:1-17); and Paul's allegory of Ishmael and Isaac (Galatians 4).

      Fable:  an illustration story made by attributing human qualities to animals, plants, and inanimate things.  Unlike the parable, which uses characters that are true to life, the fable uses actors that are unreal.  There are only two fables in the Bible:  Jotham's fable (Judges 9:6-21) and Jehoash's fable (2 Kings 14:9).  (The NT uses "fable" as a translation of the word "myth" (muqoV), which may be defined as a religious story that has no connection with reality and contrasted with an eyewitness (cf. 1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4; Tit. 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:6).

      Personification:  representing an inanimate object or abstract idea as endowed with the personal attributes of a human being.  Example:  "tomorrow will be anxious for itself" (Matt. 6:34; cf. Num. 16:32; Prov. 8:1; Psalm 19:1; Isa. 55:12).

      Anthropomorphism:  the representation or conception of God as having human attributes.  Example:  the Lord God "walking in the garden in the cool of the day" (Gen. 3:8; cf. Gen. 11:5; Psalm 8:3; Prov. 15:3; Isa. 59:1).  God, of course, is spirit (John 4:24) and should not be considered as made of matter (Acts 17:22-30).

      Irony:  a method of criticizing or judging by seeming to praise or congratulate.  Example:  Elijah's mockery of the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:27; cf. 1 Cor. 4:8-13).

      Euphemism:  a soft or moderate expression for a more direct and perhaps shocking one. For example, those who are dead are called "asleep" (1 Thess. 4:13 cf. Gen. 15:15; 42:38; Judg. 3:24; 2 Sam. 18:32; John 11:11).  Other phrases:  "spreading the skirt" for marriage (Ruth 3:9); "them that are afar off" are Gentiles (Acts 2:39).  To "uncover nakedness" is to have sex with (Lev. 18:6).

      Hyperbole:  the intentional use of exaggeration for effect.  Example:  "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19:24; cf. John 21:25; Psalm 6:6,7; Judg. 7:12).

      Paradox:  the assertion of two propositions as true which seem to be contradictory, but in fact are not contradictory.  For example:  "but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away that which he hath" (Matt. 13:12; cf. Matt. 5:5).

      Metonymy:  the use of one noun for another that it suggests.  For example, 1 Cor. 11:27 speaks of drinking "the cup," a reference to the contents not the container.  Or "they have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them," the writings of Moses and the prophets not the men (Luke 16:29).  John turned to see a voice speaking, a reference to the speaker (Rev. 1:12).  God so loved the world, not the earth but the people who live in it (John 3:16).

      Synecdoche:  a form of expression where a part represents the whole or a whole represents a part.  For example, "preach the gospel to every creature" would not include dogs and cows (Mark. 16:15).  In Matt. 12:40 Jesus is to spend "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth," yet he remains buried only about 37 hours, not 72.  The apparent discrepancy is solved when one recognizes that in Jewish thought, any part of a day is counted as if it were a whole day.

      Riddle:  a riddle is a concise saying which is intentionally formulated to tax the ingenuity of the hearer or reader when he tries to explain it.  Samson's riddle is found in Judg. 14:12-20.  The number 666 in Rev. 13:18 also contains a riddle.

"Figurative language is a pervasive feature of human discourse.  It lends vivacity to expression and adds depth of meaning.  In order to understand any figure, one must of course first recognize the literal meaning and then, by reflecting on the relevant points of similarity, interpret the significance of the figure."

How can we know the language is figurative? 

·         The sense of the context will indicate it.

·         When the literal meaning of a word or sentence involves impossibility.

·         If the literal makes a contradiction.

·         When the Scriptures are made to demand that which is wrong.

·         When it is said to be figurative.

·         By the use of common sense.

      7. One must come to the Word of God with the right attitude.  Open-mindedness and humility are essential to good Bible study.  The point of view that a miraculous event can't possibly have happened will lead one to endless speculation.  One must have a good and honest heart if one is to bring forth fruit with patience (Luke 8:15).  Christians are to "buy the truth and not sell it" (Prov. 23:23) and so hold a high view of the truth.  Christians must also come with a willingness to apply what they learn to themselves.

      8. Apply the message of the Bible to your life.  We ought to bring the message of the Bible home by responding to the passage with our hearts and lives.  Here are some questions we can ask the Scriptures that will help us apply them to our lives:

·         Does this command something I'm not doing?

·         Does this suggest a change in my behavior?

·         Does this reflect a spirit or an attitude I'm not manifesting?

·         Does this confirm a belief I already hold?

·         Does this suggest further study or a change in my beliefs?

·         Have I accepted this promise and trusted God to fulfill it?

·         Have I seen this promise fulfilled in my life?

·         How would it change matters if everyone obeyed this command?

·         What would Jesus do in my place?