2. Realize that the Bible contains the mind and will of God (2 Peter 1:16-21; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Galatians 1:6-11).

 3. Approach the Bible humbly and reverently, desiring to know its truths (Matthew 5:6; John 8:31-32; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

 4. Have a profound faith in ALL IT SAYS. One cannot accept only a PART of the Bible as being inspired. We MUST accept it all, or none at all! It isn’t a smorgasbord where we are free to pick and choose! (2 Timothy 3:16) “All Scripture..”

 5. Let the Bible speak to you, not you to it! (1 Peter 4:11; Galatians 1:15-16; Acts 5:29).

 6. Study for profit with an earnest desire to know more of Christ’s will, not just to win an argument or endeavoring to “justify” yourself. (Song: “More About Jesus..” (Psalms 1:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:16).

 7. Be willing and eager to obey implicitly what Christ’s word commands of you (Matthew 7:13-21, 24-29; Luke 6:46; Matthew 15:1-9).

 8. Use common sense as you study God’s word. The same principles apply as one attempts to understand its message as any other documents! (2 Timothy 2:15).

 9. Observe who is speaking. There are things recorded that Satan said!

10. Observe to whom each statement is addressed: Whether to alien sinners, or to unfaithful Christians, or to Old Testament covenant people, or faithful Christians??? This will definitely have a bearing on the proper interpretation! (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Acts 3:22-23; Hebrews 1:1-2; John 16:12-13; Galatians 5:4).

11. Consider why each book is written. The first four books of the New Testament were were written to produce faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The book of Acts records cases of conversion during the apostolic age as well as some history of the early church. The next 21 letters (epistles) are instructions to churches and to individual Christians instructing them in “all truth” needed to please Christ. The book of Revelation was written to encourage first Century Christians under severe persecution. It was foretelling to them things that were to “shortly come to pass.”  This symbolic book was not written as a prophetic time table of things in our day or just before the return of Christ the final time. That which remains to be fulfilled is for Christ to return for His bride the church, and to execute final judgement. The book can be very reassuring for present day Christians as well as it was to those to whom it was addressed. Truth and good will prevail eventually, and those who “overcome” can “come over and be with Me says the Lord.” It also warns of “lukewarmness.”

12. Realize that there have been three (3) distinct dispensations of religion as God dealt with mankind-The Patriarchal (father rule age from creation to Sinai).The Jewish or Mosaic (From Sinai to the cross). The gospel age (From the first Jewish Pentecost after the resurrection and ascension of Christ back to the Father to sit on David’s  throne at His right hand, until the end of time). The New Testament of course is our guide for today. The Old is written for “our learning” and as “examples to us”  (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12; John 12:48; Hebrews 1;1-2; Matthew 17:1- 5).

13. Study the meaning of the very titles of each book! This gives clues to what the  content is about. Examples: (Genesis, the beginning); (Exodus, the going out of Egyptian bondage of the Israelites). (Leviticus the priestly tribe of Levi). Numbers,  the taking of a census of the people. (Deuteronomy; a second “giving of the law”).  etc. etc., etc.

14. Though somewhat difficult to keep straight, study the chronology and history of each book. They aren’t in order in your Bible as they were written. Some not knowing this become hopelessly confused and give up on seeking to understand this greatest of all books, the Bible. God intends for us to understand what He has caused to be written and preserved for all people of all time (Ephesians 3:1-11, 17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Matthew 15:13; 1 John 4:1-2; 2 John 9-11; 1 Timothy 1:3; John 8:31-32).

15. “..God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..” (1 Corinthians 14:33).  Therefore, the laws of hermeneutics (interpretation) demands that you do not place  an interpretation on any passage of holy writ that makes it at odds with another.  Also learn that when God specifies one thing in any passage, that excludes all other actions in the same class. “Gopher wood” (Genesis 6:14). Today for music Christ  specified “singing” (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16, etc.) Noah could use no  other wood for the Ark’s construction. We may use no other music in worship of God  today! See?

16. Consider whether or not the language is literal or figurative! Everything should be  taken literal if possible. However, when a literal interpretation would reduce the meaning to an absurdity, it should be obvious that a figure of speech is being used and it is not to be taken literally. Usually the context will show which is the case. Sometimes when one takes a statement literal it makes it contradict another plain and simple passage or principle, then one must view it as figurative. Example: Jesus said once, “labor not for meat which perishes...”(John 6:27). Paul speaking by the holy Spirit said, “He who will not work neither let him eat” and  “..labor working with his hands...to give to those in need” (2 Thessalonians 3:10; Ephesians 4:28). To take the statement of Jesus literal obviously produces a contradiction between the  Son of God and an inspired Apostle! See? There is no contradiction. Jesus uses a  hyperbole (pronounced hy-per-by-lee). Many metaphors are used in Scripture. Common sense helps here too!

17. Do not read into the text something that isn’t there! Take it for what it says and nothing more. Do not add your own “two cents worth” to divine revelation (Revelation 22:18-19; Galatians 1:6-9).

18. Seek to understand what God wants all to know from His holy word. Understand obscure passages in the light of those which are so plain that they cannot be   misunderstood. A point made partially above.

19. Maintain a proper attitude about this greatest of books. It is God speaking to man.  Respect how it teaches. Do not invade into the “silence of the Scriptures” (Hebrews  7:14; 1 Peter 4:11). Nothing is authorized by what God has NOT SAID! Since faith  comes by hearing, nothing can be an act of faith for which there is no Bible information! (Romans 10:17; Genesis 4:1-7; Leviticus 10:1-3).

20. Each time you open this sacred volume, study it as if it fell directly from heaven into your hands alone. Study it as if you had never seen it or read it before.  Lay aside all preconceived ideas or traditional beliefs and practices and see what God says about each matter under consideration. Man, unaided by the Holy Spirit, could not have written this book if he desired to. It teaches things about which he has no knowledge except as revealed herein. He would not have written it if he could have, for it condemns the very things he allows both religiously and morally! It is God’s book and it will never pass away (1 Peter 1:22-25; Matthew 24:35). It will be  present on judgement day (Revelation 20:12:15).

We have several  methods of Bible study for those interested. A sit down  study just answering your questions is profitable. A five lesson VCR series  being  an overview of the entire Bible story,  by Jule Miller of Texas. I have other VCR tapes that are designed to offset the organic evolutionary theory that is permeating the school rooms and the entire world via television and other humanistic media. You may take a Bible correspondence course in your home.  We pay  the postage both directions.
 
 Attend our services here weely. We are always happy to have visitors to our services. We meet each Lord's day morning at 10:00 A.M. for bible study classes. We meet at 5:00 P.M. , on the Lord's day evening. We meet again on Wednesday evening for bible study at 7:00 P.M. We welcome one and all to our services. You will be treated with kindness and courtesy we assure you.