Administrators Tom Wetmore Posted June 11, 2011 Administrators Posted June 11, 2011 Here are some good principles for Bible study from the Discipling small group ministry that I was involved in for a number of years. I think they are also quite instructive to our discussions here. Quote: Principles of Bible Study 1. The Word of God is Jesus Christ, and the words of the Bible tell us about that Word. Therefore, when we study the words of the Bible we always look behind, in and through those words for God’s Word – Jesus Christ. 2. No Christian has a monopoly on understanding either God’s Word or the words of the Scripture. This includes biblical scholars and the most unlearned Christian. All of us must listen to one another as we seek to understand the richness of God’s gifts. 3. We must assume everyone has Christian integrity and not accuse one another of being unchristian, no matter how unusual are the opinions. 4. We must further assume that we will arrive at different understandings of portions of Scripture and that that will not disturb God as much as it does some of us. 5. Few of us will know Hebrew or Greek, and we therefore need to use a variety of English versions to try to understand the text. 6. While we accept our differences, we do not feel that those differences are unimportant, or that they should be ignored or treated as if they did not matter. 7. Different biblical understandings can remain among us, but we can still be warm Christian friends. In fact, as we grow to better understand our differences, we can grow in our appreciation of one another. Quote "Absurdity reigns and confusion makes it look good." "Sinless perfection is such a shallow goal." "I love God only as much as the person I love the least." *Forgiveness is always good news. And that is the gospel truth. (And finally, the ideas expressed above are solely my person views and not that of any organization with which I am associated.)
cheddar Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Here are some good principles for Bible study from the Discipling small group ministry that I was involved in for a number of years. I think they are also quite instructive to our discussions here. Quote: Principles of Bible Study 1. The Word of God is Jesus Christ, and the words of the Bible tell us about that Word. Therefore, when we study the words of the Bible we always look behind, in and through those words for God’s Word – Jesus Christ. 2. No Christian has a monopoly on understanding either God’s Word or the words of the Scripture. This includes biblical scholars and the most unlearned Christian. All of us must listen to one another as we seek to understand the richness of God’s gifts. 3. We must assume everyone has Christian integrity and not accuse one another of being unchristian, no matter how unusual are the opinions. 4. We must further assume that we will arrive at different understandings of portions of Scripture and that that will not disturb God as much as it does some of us. 5. Few of us will know Hebrew or Greek, and we therefore need to use a variety of English versions to try to understand the text. 6. While we accept our differences, we do not feel that those differences are unimportant, or that they should be ignored or treated as if they did not matter. 7. Different biblical understandings can remain among us, but we can still be warm Christian friends. In fact, as we grow to better understand our differences, we can grow in our appreciation of one another. Amen. I've never met two Christians who agree on everything. Quote
Woody Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Quote: Amen. I've never met two Christians who agree on everything. AMEN to that. And we don't need to. God expects us to get along whether we agree or not. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
miz3 Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 I don't know Woody, are you sure that you are one of us? LOL Quote
Moderators Gerr Posted June 12, 2011 Moderators Posted June 12, 2011 Except for #1, these are not principles for Bible study, but they are good principles to follow for discussion. Quote
Sonny Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Here's some more: Fundamental Rules for Interpreting Scripture Quote
skyblue888 Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Scripture is explained by Scripture. This is the only principle of interpretation given in the Bible. It is not subject to any private interpretation. Scripture must be comparared with Scritpure. sky Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
Sonny Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Scripture must be comparared with Scritpure. sky Not necessarily true. Skipping around and taking this and that and then piecing them together is not doing the Bible justice. Context is everything! For example: "Judas hung himself" & "Go do thou likewise" can be pieced together to mean go hang yourself. As silly as that sounds that's what can happen when you ignore time & place & context. Quote
skyblue888 Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Sonny, do you actually think that in my 35 years of studying the Bible it never occured to me that context should be considered. That is for granted. You don't compare oranges with apples! First, without the Spirit, we cannot discern spiritual things. "Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God... comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." 1 Cor.2:13. To compare spiritual things with spiritual simply means to compare Scripture with Scripture on any given subject. "the Word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, line upon line, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little." Isaiah 28:13. And the Testimonies of God's Spirit are to be studied in the same manner. "The Testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the messages given, as Scripture is explained by Scripture." 1 S.M.42. sky As for the example you gave I heard that 30 some years ago . Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
Musicman1228 Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Originally Posted By: skyblue888 Scripture must be comparared with Scritpure. sky Not necessarily true. Skipping around and taking this and that and then piecing them together is not doing the Bible justice. Context is everything! For example: "Judas hung himself" & "Go do thou likewise" can be pieced together to mean go hang yourself. As silly as that sounds that's what can happen when you ignore time & place & context. This is absolutely true. Mixing up context is what I call 'cut and paste theology'; taking part of a verse here, another part of a verse there, combining them and coming up with a theology that is muddled and confused and of no use. I can think of two people right off that have made a great 'living' doing just this-the 'apostle' Paul, and Ellen White. Don't gasp and say 'this is not true'; look honestly at how they have achieved their theologies and you can see this 'cut and paste' mixing up of verses is the centerpiece of both of their understanding of Scripture. Paul does this with the OT, and EGW does this with both the OT and NT, especially with the apostle she calls the 'greatest' apostle, and that is Paul. Quote
skyblue888 Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Oh please. sky Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
Guest Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Oh please. sky I will have to second that. Even though MM is my friend. Quote
ClubV12 Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Of course there is one BIG difference between Paul, Ellen White and the rest of us trying to figure out theology. They were prophets, we are not. They had a direct connection to God in the form of visions, dreams and revelations. We don't. They are messengers and teachers, to us, trying to figure out. It would not be wise to discredit their testimony. Then again, Sky summed it up nicely, "Oh please." Well said, actually... :) Quote
CoAspen Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Quote: They had a direct connection to God.... As well do we, through prayer and the Holy Spirit. Quote
jasd Posted June 14, 2011 Posted June 14, 2011 QE frame: Okay, context is good; however, just how binding should it be upon the expositor...? If context is that binding upon exposition - then must we not jettison Psalms 22 as being a prophetic representation of Jesus Christ?--I mean, there it is in the middle of something else entirely! Prov 25:2 [it is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter. The truths of Holy Writ are not so easily encountered..., as to render them 'cheap'. Quote
miz3 Posted June 14, 2011 Posted June 14, 2011 The object is to know the Truth! Just how many methods are there? Quote
skyblue888 Posted June 14, 2011 Posted June 14, 2011 Scripture is explained by Scripture. 1 Cor.2:13. But unless we have the Holy Spirit as our Teacher, the Scriptures will remain a strange language to us. Without the eyesalve we are blind to the true meaning of the Word of God. sky Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
jasd Posted June 14, 2011 Posted June 14, 2011 >>The object is to know the Truth!<< Indeed!—and can one think of anything more inspirational than its search?—being that Truth itself is sometimes more numinous than not. Quote
jasd Posted June 14, 2011 Posted June 14, 2011 >>But unless we have the Holy Spirit as our Teacher, the Scriptures will remain a strange language to us.<< Was the HS promised to the corporate Body of Believers?—or are we to understand that we, individually and/or denominationally, are promised the leading of the HS into all truth? >>Without the eyesalve we are blind to the true meaning of the Word of God.<< It may be that I am mistaken; however, are there not more than 30,000 (you read that right, thirty) Protesting .orgs and nigh-on a 1,000 schismatic groups within Catholicism? Quote
jasd Posted June 14, 2011 Posted June 14, 2011 >>Scripture is explained by Scripture. 1 Cor.2:13.<< It is my thinking that at times – St Paul leaves us with the need to intuit what he truly desires to say. I mean, at one point he encourages everyone(including women) in ‘church’ to speak up – though in an orderly fashion, and at another time he desires that women keep silent in ‘church’. Like, make up your mind St Paul.. Quote
Dr. Rich Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 Of course there is one BIG difference between Paul, Ellen White and the rest of us trying to figure out theology. They were prophets, we are not. They had a direct connection to God in the form of visions, dreams and revelations. We don't. They are messengers and teachers, to us, trying to figure out. It would not be wise to discredit their testimony. Then again, Sky summed it up nicely, "Oh please." Well said, actually... Why didn't you include Mohammad, Nostradamas, Joseph Smith, and a host of others who claimed (themselves) that they were prophets, apostles, or messangers of God? Huh? What makes YOU such an expert on who is a true apostle and who is a false apostle? John 17's prayer is for those who read ONLY the words of Jesus (the true gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven) that were give to us to read and written by the eyewitnesses of Jesus as authorized in John 14:26. Luke, Paul and the unknown writer of Hebrews never ever met with Jesus! Neither did EGW, Mohammud, Nostradamas, Joseph Smith and a host of others! Why? Because Jesus didn't even come down to this earth to personally give the prophecy(s) found in the book of Revelation to John! He couldn't have done this or He would have lied to the disciples. Look folka Jesus went to heaven and gave the Holy Spirit to ONLY those who overcome sin by practicing righteousness. Saul/Paul did NOT do that--at all! In fact, he was totally evil as was Muhammud. God would NEVER force anyone to become converted. If you doubt this, please show me ONE place where Jesus ever said that there will ever be another true prophet except for the ONE found in Matthew 17 and 24:45? However, He did say there would be many false ones! AND they would deceive MANY--not just a few. Quote
Administrators Tom Wetmore Posted June 15, 2011 Author Administrators Posted June 15, 2011 Why is that? Quote "Absurdity reigns and confusion makes it look good." "Sinless perfection is such a shallow goal." "I love God only as much as the person I love the least." *Forgiveness is always good news. And that is the gospel truth. (And finally, the ideas expressed above are solely my person views and not that of any organization with which I am associated.)
ClubV12 Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 Perhaps you would like to explain the difference between Mohammad, Nostradamas, Joseph Smith and Ellen White Tom? Not worth the effort in my opinion, it won't have any impact on what Dr. Rich believes or not... Quote
skyblue888 Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 That's a fact. sky Quote "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.
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