Articles
Do You Understand What You Read?
If you are seeking God or seeking the truth in spiritual matters, you probably already know there is a lot of religious confusion out there. With over 1200 denominations in this country and innumerable creeds and statements of faith to which they appeal for what they believe, teach, and practice, it is no wonder many are confused and frustrated in their search. It is a spiritual ‘needle in a haystack’ situation, but the problem is magnified all the more when we understand it is our souls at stake here, and not a mere needle. How can truth be found? And, once found, can we understand it?
First, let us note that it is God’s word alone that can honestly be called truth. Jesus, in His prayer not long before His crucifixion, stated plainly to the Father, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The psalmist, many years prior to that day, wrote in a psalm to God, “The entirety of Your word is truth” (Psa. 119:160). What God has revealed to us within the Scriptures is sufficient for our every spiritual need and question (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16, 17); we either accept what God said about the Scriptures or we reject them completely, but we cannot say we honor the Scriptures as God’s word and then attempt to deny or explain away those parts we dislike, or that contradict what we want to believe. If the Scriptures are able to make us complete, we need no creeds or statements of faith; we just need to open up our Bibles and learn what God has given us to know.
And, yes, we can understand it. When Paul wrote the early disciples in Ephesus, he commanded [by the inspiration of God] that they “understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17); he also told Timothy that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3, 4); and when Paul wrote those brethren of the first century regarding God’s plan of salvation, he said, “when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). Now, friends and brethren, if God desires it and commands it, and if the disciples of the first century could understand it, why do some today maintain that one cannot understand the Scriptures? Could it be that they have ulterior motives?
The Scriptures are where God’s plan is revealed; it won’t come to anyone in a vision at midnight, and it won’t come by some vague ‘better felt than told’ experience. If you’re reading this, it is likely that you already understand faith is essential to our salvation, and God’s word says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Nowhere in Scriptures does God say He will grant a man faith by a miraculous and overwhelming outpouring of the Holy Spirit; again, faith comes by hearing the word, and that is because God determined before we were even created that His word would be “manifested…through preaching” (Titus 1:1-3). It is when men hear that message preached and are convicted by it that faith comes.
So, if I am willing to study the Scriptures, how can I do this properly — in a way the truth can be found, understood, believed, and obeyed? Consider the following points, taken from the example of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, and from the words of Paul to the brethren of Thessalonica regarding how he and his companions had come to them, and what those in Thessalonica who heard them did.
You May Need Someone to Guide You. When Philip met the eunuch on the road, the eunuch had been reading the Scriptures [the book of Isaiah], but when Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” the eunuch replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:30, 31). I want to emphasize that the man was hoping for someone to guide him — not someone who would dictate to him what he must believe, or just tell him what he wanted him to hear. The Greek word translated into our English word guide, literally means “to show the way.” And that is what Philip did.
Guiding others in the Scriptures sometimes means explaining things [such as Jesus did with some disciples after His resurrection, (Luke 24:27)]; sometimes it means we have to clarify the meaning of terms and phrases; sometimes it means we have to understand the style of writing that is being read [for example, prophecy or poetry; figurative or literal language]. Some who are unfamiliar with the Scriptures assume it is all literal, and that makes for some incredibly erroneous interpretations and, as a result, false beliefs and doctrines
Context is Essential. Let us note that when Philip studied with the eunuch, he began in the text he was reading and did some explaining. The text tells us, “Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35). It is only by considering and understanding the context in which these Bible verses are found that we will get a proper interpretation and understanding of what is being said. Countless errors exist today because men fail to do this basic act. Any time we hear doctrine or teaching that does not harmonize with [or plainly contradicts] other Bible passages, it is usually because someone failed to consider the context of the passages being cited.
Handle the Word Honestly. It pains me to say that there are many individuals who have a doctrine to uphold or a position to defend who will use abundant Scripture to ‘defend’ their beliefs, but only because they do so deceitfully — ignoring passages that plainly contradict their teaching, and giving false explanations for the ones they do use. Paul reminded the brethren at Thessalonica that the teachings he and his companions brought to them “did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit” (1 Thess. 2:1-3); in other words, its basis was in truth and Paul wasn’t trying to ‘pull one over on them.’ That is how we must study the Scriptures, too. We must handle each passage — each word — honestly, taking it for what it actually means, rather than what we want it to mean.
Examine Your Motives. This really should be done before study begins, but we must ensure that our aim is, as Paul wrote, “not as pleasing men, but God” (1 Thess. 2:4); when coming to them, they did not “seek glory from men, either from you or from others” (1 Thess. 2:6), and when we study God’s word, it should not be done to please someone other than God. If we are truly seeking God and/or seeking truth, it would be quite foolish to look for ways to justify some false doctrines that our loved ones hold, just to please them. And remember that God knows our hearts, too (1 Thess. 2:4).
Finally, Receive the Scriptures for What They Are: The Word of God and not the Word of Men. Paul was thankful the Thessalonians did just that (1 Thess. 2:13); I am thankful when others today receive it the same way! Far too many seem to have little or no knowledge of what the Bible is, and have been deceived [by religious leaders!] into thinking it is just a collection of myths, legends, folklore, and fairy tales! It is no wonder so few take these words seriously!
Let us recognize, as did the earliest disciples, that what is recorded here are “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68), and the words by which we will be judged, in the end (John 12:48). That being the case, this is the most important book we will ever read, and how we read it and understand it will have eternal consequences.
Study God’s word, yes! But do it properly! (2 Tim. 2:15). — Steven Harper
