How to Study the Bible

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Chapter 1

Where Shall We Find the Way?

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). But how can we know the way today? There are many different attempts by Christians to try and understand God's will. Although they have been sincere, most of these attempts have ended in disaster.

Paths to Knowing God

  For Discussion: What are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these "paths to knowing God?"

1. Continual Historical

The Continual historical approach sees a salvation through the church that can claim a continual historical link back to the first Christians. Those who hold to this method think that the church has been the custodian of the truth and is its best interpreter. (Consider Apostolic Succession?)

2. Asceticism

This is the belief that teaches there are two worlds: a physical world and a spiritual world. The physical world conceals the spiritual world and so the way to know God is by renouncing all the physical distractions.

3. Mysticism

Mystics believe that the way to know the will of God is through a spiritual union with Him. This is achieved through rigorous self-discipline, contemplation and prayer.

4. Personal Witness

Without question, God is all powerful. He also has revealed that He desires close fellowship with believers. Many people believe that God reveals His will for them "through a personal witness."

The Bible Reveals the Will of God

By far, the vast majority of Christians believe that the Bible reveals the will of God. But often they think as the Ethiopian eunuch did when Phillip asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The eunuch replied, "How can I unless someone explains it to me?" (Acts 8:30,31). These next approaches to discovering God's will will focus on using the Bible as the revelation of God's will.

5. The Church Interprets the Bible

This view is often connected with the first view. The Church has been the keeper of traditions and the apostolic interpretations and therefore we must listen to the teachings of the church. A variation of this view exalts the leadership or a "gifted" individual through whom God supposedly speaks today.

6. The Bible is Interpreted by Creeds

This view exalts the Bible but teaches that its creedal interpretations embody the correct understanding of the Bible and therefore the Scriptures must be made to harmonize with the creed (W.C.F. etc.). Early American Restorationist responded, " If a creed is smaller than the Bible, it is to small and if it is larger than the Bible, it is too big."

7. The Bible and Later Revelations

Many sects teach that God is continually speaking and revealing new truths. Therefore any group that relies on the Bible alone has an insufficient basis for faith.

Another Approach: The Restoration Principle

The Restoration Principle simply believes that the Bible alone, interpreted by each person, is a sufficient basis for knowing the will of God. You should be aware of the underlying assumptions of this point of view.

1. There is a God who has revealed Himself to men.

2. His ultimate revelation has been made known through and in Jesus Christ.

3. Christians are bound by the authority of Christ.

4. The Bible, though written by men is inspired by God's Holy Spirit.

5. The Bible is the sole expression of spiritual authority for Christians today.

6. Primitive Christianity is a model for times to come.

7. The church has been apostate and needs to be restored to the ancient order.

8. Human beings are capable of correctly understanding the Bible.

Lane Rogers 06:51:09 AM 05/17/08