Getting To Know Yehovah and His Ways through the Scriptures
3) Study - You must devote time and effort for it to be fruitful. Our Saviour said, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" John.5:39.
[The Bereans] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11
Searching involves an investigative effort and time.
4) Meditate - Psalm 1:1,2 says, "Blessed is the man…[whose] delight is
in the law of the Lord (Yahweh); and in His law doth he meditate day and
night." Think about what you have read and try to understand it from
different perspectives. Think about the deeper meaning behind what you read.
5) Compare - Read the commentaries of others on Scripture only after you
have determined their meaning for yourself from following the previous
guidelines. If your views differ from theirs, confirm and adhere to the view
that is proven by Scripture.
6) Obey - The Almighty will not continue to reveal truth to us if we do
not obey the truths we already know. We must obey what is written if we are to
profit by what is read.
7) Share - Let your light shine by letting others know what you have
learned so they may benefit and be edified.
Rules of Interpretation
Next there are nine basic rules of interpretation that must be followed in order
to avoid confusion and false doctrine.
1) Rule of definition - Any study of scripture must begin with a study
of words and their meanings. Definitions of words are based on their usage in
Scripture, not on their usage in modern times. ie; the word "name" in modern
times means a label used to identify someone or something. "Name" in Bible days
denoted something far deeper such as the character or attributes of a person.
For example, "Abraham" means "father of a multitude." His name describes
something very important about him.
2) Rule of usage - The interpretation of words and phrases must be
understood according to the usual custom and dialect of the nation.
3) Rule of context - Every word you read must be understood in the light
of the words that come before and after it. The meaning must be gathered from
the context. ie; 1 Corinthians15:51 says, "We shall not all sleep." The context shows that it means " there
will be believers who have not experienced death before the Messiah returns."
4)Rule of the Law of First Mention - The Law of First Mention may be said to
be the principle that requires one to go to that portion of the Scriptures where
a doctrine is mentioned for the first time and to study the first occurrence of
the same in order to get the fundamental inherent meaning of that doctrine.
5) Rule of historical background - A knowledge of the life and society of the subject at that time in history is helpful for a correct understanding.
6) Rule of logic - The Bible appeals to our reason; it invites
investigation and it is to be interpreted by a rigid application of the laws of
language and grammar. ie; the seals, trumpets, and plagues of Revelation are
numbered 1-7. Logic tells us they are numbered to show they occur in that order
in time. To place the fifth trumpet before the second trumpet violates this
rule.
7) Rule of precedent - We must not violate the known usage of a word and
invent another for which there is no precedent. If the Scripture gives a
particular usage or meaning of a word, then there is a precedent and the usage
may be acceptable. ie; the word "ordinances" in Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out
the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” . The Greek word is
"dogma."
G1378
δόγμα
adog'-mah From the base of G1380; a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical): - decree, ordinance.It never means "heavenly commands" as is commonly taught. It always means
man-made commands, note the phonetic "a dogma" gives the meaning even
more credence.
8) Rule of unity - The parts of the Bible are to be interpreted with
reference to the whole. ie; the practice of being a "New Testament Christian"
who disregards the Old Testament violates this rule.
9) Rule of inference - An inference is a fact reasonably implied from
another fact. ie; Yahshua proved the resurrection of the dead to the Sadducees
by this rule. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read
that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the
living. Matthew 22:31,32.
10) Rule of consistency - An interpretation must be consistent with all
other texts. ie; to say the Law of Yahweh has been done away with is
inconsistent with many Scriptures including Rom.3:31; "Do we then make void
the law through faith? Yahweh forbid: yea, we establish the law."
Methods of Bible Study
There are five methods of Bible study. Each one will lead to a deeper
understanding of Scripture. Haphazardly reading a few verses of Scripture is not
real Bible study. It is only nibbling at the truth.
1) Topical Method - This is, by far, the best method to learn the great
doctrines of the Bible and the will of our Heavenly Father. Simply select a
topic or subject and trace it through Scripture from it's first mention. A "Concordance" would be very
helpful with this method.
2) Biographical Method - Studying various Biblical characters can be very
interesting and rewarding.
3) Study of individual Books - Choose a Book and study its author, its
recipients, its purpose, its main teachings, etc.
4) Study of chapters or important passages - This method is similar to
method #3 but with a more focused objective. This method must also be used when
doing a topical study.
5) Study and memorize individual verses - This method provides the
student with a ready arsenal of Scriptures for any sudden need or emergency.
Bear in mind that the last three methods of Bible study can lead to "tunnel
vision" concerning Biblical Doctrines. To fully understand all that the Bible
says about a subject, the topical method must be used.
Bible Study Aids
Here is a list of literature that can greatly aid in studying the Bible.
Scholars have devoted countless years of their lives to provide readers of
Scripture with these tools. They are indeed a blessing.
1) Strong's Concordance - This reference is a must for any Bible student.
It lists every scripture for each word found in the Bible. You can then turn to
the back of the book to find the Hebrew or Greek word that was used, its
meaning, and other ways the same word was translated.
2) Englishman's Hebrew / Greek Concordance of the Old / New Testament -
Provides the same function as Strong's, but is much faster to use. It lists all
other ways a word was translated and the verse it was used in. Although Strong's
does this, Strong’s is much more tedious and time consuming to use.
3) Hebrew and Greek Lexicons - These are Bible language dictionaries that
go into much greater depth than Strong's. They are usually coded to be used in
conjunction with Strong's numbering system. You need not know Greek or Hebrew to
use them.
4) Commentaries - These provide the views of many different scholars on
each verse of the Bible. Remember that scholars often differ on their views.
Their understanding is not always correct, but they could provide further
insight.
5) Bible Dictionaries - Used just like a regular dictionary, they can
provide detailed information on people, places, things, and various subjects
such as Atonement, etc.
Remember:
"Study to show thyself approved unto Yahweh, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15.