Studying the Bible

The video link is at the bottom of the page.

1. Introduction

A. Two Essential Truths

When it comes to Studying the Bible, there are two essential truths to understand:

The first truth we learn is weighed more heavily than all other teachings:
What we already believe is weighted more heavily than all other teachings.

Therefore, the danger is:

• That if we have been taught incorrectly or
• some incorrect teachings we hold dearly to,

it can then be not easy to accept new truths.

For instance, teaching that women shouldn’t lead men will create a challenge in allowing women to teach unless it’s for other women.

Another common misconception is that only a small group will survive the Great Tribulation.  I’ll explore the first example of women in leadership in this study. The second example is covered in the eschatology series summarised in Victorious Eschatology.

B. Allowing God to Wash Us

It can be daunting to momentarily set aside our teachings and let God’s word cleanse us.  I’ve done exactly that and I encourage you to do the same as you study the scriptures using the guidelines below.  By doing so we’ll discover our effectiveness in God’s power will grow. Then follow through with learning the teachings on this website with the same study mindset.

2. We Need to Receive the Word of Life When Studying the Bible

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—

1 John 1:1

• Hear – receive teaching from others.
• Seen – daily reading. It is wise to read through the Bible once every year.
• Looked upon – study the Word of God diligently
• Hands have handled – meditate upon. Meditating on God’s word means “chewing the cud”. Just as a cow chews grass swallows it to digest it then regurgitates it to chew some more and swallows it again until it’s ready to absorb all the nutrients, we should do the same with God’s word.

A. Pulling Down Strongholds

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

2 Corinthians 10:5

I hear the phrase “God is in control” frequently in Christian circles. However, as we mature, this statement can become a barrier to taking responsibility for our actions.  We co-labour with Christ,and events cannot be dismissed with a fate-like “God is in Control”. Our topic “God is in Command, Not in Control” cover this in depth.

B. Power of the Tongue

Language develops or diminishes our faith. When we verbally declare a statement, we hear it with our ears, and beliefs grow in our minds. If it is negative, Jesus calls it a defilement:

Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Matthew 15:11

C. Neural Pathways Produce Strongholds

These thoughts in our brains are medically called neural pathways. If we allow them to, these neural pathways become stronger until they become a highway in our minds that everything else gets filtered through. After a while, a “city” develops on that highway, blocking anything disagreeing with the firmly held belief. Such a city is similar to a neuron body, as seen below, where 4000 nerve fibres (pathways) connect with this one neuron body:

God calls this city of thought a stronghold (A firmly held faith statement, true or untrue, is probably made of millions of such neuron bodies because the human brain has 88 billion neurons). A stronghold can either be a good stronghold that builds faith or a mistruth that the enemy uses to rob us of confidence and authority.

D. New Neural Pathways

God has provided meditation that builds new neural pathways based on truth and faith, which come from God’s word and Spirit.

 We see God explaining this to Joshua:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8

Studying the Bible through reading, pondering, and reflecting will make you successful in God’s work.

3. Studying the Bible as the Inspired Word of God

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2 Timothy 3:16

A. An Extension of His Will

The Greek word for inspiration in this scripture is theopneustos.  God-breathed – is the literal translation. The Greek translation for the root word pneo is – wind, breath, a spirit, the Spirit. So we conclude that in a symbolic sense, the word Paul uses is a model of the Bible itself: an extension of God’s will, formed out of His spirit, in written form. The English Translation of the Bible says this-

All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:16

B. God’s Word is Breath to Us

Therefore, it brings us life and also makes us more like Christ. As we read the scriptures, we breathe in the word of God.

The Passion Bible says this-

Every scripture has been written by the Holy Spirit, the breath of God. It empowers us by its instruction and correction, giving us the strength to take the right direction and lead us deeper into the path of godliness.

2 Timothy 3:16 The Passion

The Word of God enters us in the same way that the Spirit breathed life into Adam and Eve. This way, when we declare the word of God over sickness, it brings resurrection life if the Word of God agrees with Jesus’s words. This is why we use “in the name of Jesus.”

C. ALL scripture

• We need to consider both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
• Be very careful not to take one scripture without taking the whole scripture. An example of this is about men not having long hair because that is what the Bible says:

Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

1 Corinthians 11:14

But making this an absolute is problematic because we see that God told Samson and those who took the Nazarite vow never to cut their hair!

For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Judges 13:5

4. Study the Bible, Focusing on the Original Intention of God.

God’s original intention needs to be the pivotal point by which we read all scriptures.

A. Focus on The Vision of God

By focusing on God’s vision and recognising that everything He does serves that purpose we will naturally align our efforts with His priorities.

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Ephesians 1:4-5

God’s original intention and focus were to have sons and daughters, not just to “save sinners”.

B. What Fruit we Produce Depends on What we Focus on

If our focus is on raising sons and daughters of God rather than “saving sinners” equipping the saints prepares them to rule and reign with confidence as God’s children.  However if our focus is on a distant angry God our fruit in those we lead will be fear of that distant God.

Through the love of the Father, the sanctifying power of the Word (Jesus) and the fruit of the Holy Spirit, they will develop into holy and blameless sons and daughters.

Remember, our focus shapes our destiny.  By concentrating on overcoming sin we risk becoming self-righteous and sinning more. However, by committing sin to the Lord and walking in the Spirit we can overcome it. 

5. Studying the Bible Through the Lens of the Goodness of God

God’s character towards His children must be pivotal for reading the scriptures. This website has a series on the Nature of God, starting with the “Old Testament Revelation of God”.

A. God is Always Good To His Children

Focusing on God’s goodness is far more effective than dwelling on an angry God, as illustrated by the metaphor of Jesus as humanity’s asbestos suit against the fiery wrath of an angry God.  Simply because a revivalist delivers a successful sermon about sin doesn’t mean we should base our theology solely on it.  Consider Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God” as an example.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Luke 11:13

B. God is Always Looking

God always looks towards humanity as their Creator so He can become their Father.

If we preach according to God’s original intention to have sons and daughters rather than “Jesus came to save sinners,” we will be much more effective in our evangelism.

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Ephesians 1:4-5

6. Studying the Bible Through the New Covenant

We must study scripture within the context of the active covenant. This means examining the Old Testament through the lens of its relevant covenant. For instance, a prophetic passage should be understood in relation to the covenant it supports. From Adam and Eve’s sin until the Mosaic law, death reigned. From the giving of the law until Jesus’s crucifixion, sin reigned.

Consequently, the curses in the Mosaic law cannot be applied today. The New Covenant prohibits capital punishment for witches.

A. The Mosaic Covenant was Nailed to the cross.

The Old Testament should be read in light of the New Testament revelation.  We now live under the New Covenant following the Old Testament’s demise. 

having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Colossians 2:14

In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Hebrews 8:13

Therefore, instead of focusing on the blessings and curses of the Old Covenant found in Deuteronomy 27 and 28, we need to realise these are no longer active because we now live according to the blessings found in the beatitudes which have replaced them. The curses are no longer active because Jesus became the curse for us.

In Daniel 8 we learn that 2300-days from the transgression until the Temple was cleansed by the Macabbeans  was under the law. Therefore the transgression would be against the law. A Jew named Menelaus who was not a Son of Zadok, robbed the Temple an then arranged for the massacre of Onias III the rightful High Priest. This was a transgression against the law that gave Antiochus IV Epiphanes the authority of God to stop the daily sacrifice.

B. The New Covenant is Now the Active Covenant

Everything since Jesus’ death and resurrection must be read in context of grace and righteousness reigning. Therefore, all studies must be through this lens.

• Jew and Gentile are now one.
• Our minds and hearts know the correct thing to do and think.
• Believers know the Lord individually.
• He will teach believers personally.
• Sin no longer reigns
• Believers are now the people of God (sons and daughters).
• We rule and reign as kings.

This way, when we declare the word of God over sickness, it must bring life if that word is based around the New Covenant. If the words are of the New Covenant, then they will agree with the words of Jesus. This is one reason we use “in the name of Jesus”.

On 27 June, 67 CE eleven thousand two hundred men, women and children climbed Mt Gerizim to escape the Roman army, believing that the blessings of the Old Covenant given on that mountain would save them. They all perished from the heat of the sun, with blistering sores all over their bodies.

7. Studying the Bible, We Do Not Make Absolutes Relative.

A. An example of an Absolute:

It would be that homosexual marriage is not marriage in the sight of God.

An example of making them relative would be saying marriage between people of the same sex is acceptable because the ban on homosexual marriages doesn’t apply now, only back in the time of the first disciples.

This teaching is incorrect because all unrepentant sexual immorality will result in eternal separation from God.

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:8

We know that homosexuality is not acceptable because:

• There is no scripture that contradicts this.
• It goes against the concept of matrimony between man and wife – being the first covenant God made.

Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and join his wife, and they shall become one flesh

8. Studying the Bible, We Do Not Make Relative Cultural Truths an Absolute.

Making a relative scriptural reference into an absolute biblical principle is a sure way to introduce legalism.

A. An example of Relative Scriptural Reference:

An example of wrong teaching—making a cultural truth an absolute—is that women cannot teach men. In his epistle to Timothy, Paul makes a cultural statement relevant to the churches at the time of writing.

And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

1 Timothy 2:12

The reason why Paul taught this was because of the culture of the Ephesian church.

If it was an absolute, then we have the following problems:

• Mary had Authority over Jesus.

Firstly, Mary taught the Son of God—Jesus! She even did this when Jesus started His ministry, and she was correct in her foresight!

Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

John 2:4-5

• The Bible is Full of Women Teaching Men.

There are over 800 verses in the Bible where teaching is by a woman. Are we going to say that men cannot teach those 800 verses to men?

• Women Apostle.

Another example is Junia, a woman apostle mentioned in the Bible.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Romans 16:7

She was such an excellent apostle that she was considered outstanding amongst the apostles.

9. Study the Bible Remembering Context

While it’s important to keep scripture relevant today, we risk forgetting its original audience.

A. Jewish Religion

The early church’s letters (now called epistles) were written to a predominantly Jewish audience. Their lens was Judaism in Roman culture. Although the Romans had defeated the Greeks, Greek culture heavily influenced them.

B. Who was it Written to

Although entirely relevant today, the epistles were written to the church under persecution. nearly everything in Revelation was written to the church alive at that time. It is very easy for us to develop a fearful expectation of the future until we realise they had a much harder time than we do now.

C. When it was Written

Much of the New Testament was written at the greatest time of suffering for the Jewish people, and things were about to get worse for both the Jews and the Gentile believers who were about to go through the promised Great Tribulation that Jesus prophesied would happen within one generation and never be repeated. Therefore, we need to read about suffering in the context of the coming Great Tribulation. To be faithful to God and His Word, we must not catastrophise the current situation (for example, Covid, War in Iran) because Jesus was clear that the Great Tribulation was the day of vengeance that would finish in 70 CE.

© Use by Permission Awakening Impact Ministries/ Dr Neville van Eerten D.Miss. 2027