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THINGS TO OBSERVE IN BIBLE STUDY- (2)
In our last study we began to deal with some basic things to observe in Bible study. We noted three things: [1] Always observe who is speaking; [2] always observe to whom a thing is spoken, and [3] always note the context of a passage. Failure to do these will generally lead one to erroneous conclusions. Now we move to some other suggestions. NOTE PARALLELS IN WORDS, THOUGHTS AND SUBJECTS Care should be exercised here, for the same word or thought may have two different meanings, however slight, in two separate passages. An example would be in a comparison between Romand 6:1 and 6:15. Here the same question is asked: "Shall we sin ...?" Such would bring us to the value of considering the tense of the verb "sin." In 6:1 it is in the imperfect, or continuing tense. In other woreds, should the Christian keep on in a life of sin? Obviously not. But in 6:15 the verb is in the aorist tense, the force being, "may a Christian commit sin as a one time act" and still be pleasing to God? Again, the answer is "no." "But," one may say, "I don't know Greek and so can't do this." Here is the value of a dictionaries and/or concordances and lexicons. One does not have to know the original language to determine such things. What he does have to possess is the willingness to put the sweat of study into finding our what scripture says. More examples might be comparisons between passages such as Acts 2:38 with 3:19, or compare Ephesians 5:18-19 with Colossians 3:16. Look up all passages where a word or thought is used on a given subject. Again, here is the value of a good concordance. Then one should make use of contrasts. These are often noted by the little word "but." For example, note the contrast between Christ and Moses (Heb. 3:5-6. Or, contrast what men wanted with what Paul preached (1 Cor. 1:22-23). Or, contrast between a former and resent way of life (Col. 3:8ff). INTERPRET DIFFICULT PASSAGES IN LIGHT OF EASY ONES A good rule of thumb is that any meaning attached to a difficult passage contradicting
a plain one is wrong. Let us note some examples. In 1 Corinthinas 15:29 Paul speaks
of a "baptism for the ." Some find this to be an extremely difficult passage.
But there is an easy, plain one also to be considered, that being Romans 2:5-6.
Mormonism teaches that one may be baptized for one who has died, and thus secure
a better standing before God on behalf of that person. Bu the passage in Romans
tells us plainly that each man must give account to God for self. Therefore, 1 Corinthinas 15:29 cannot mean that one can be baptized for the sins of one already .
Another example might be Romans 11:26 where Paul says, "so all Israel shall be saved." Does this mean that every Jew will eventually be saved? No, for Romans 10:1-3 plainly shows that some Jews would be lost. Therefore, whatever Romans 11:26 means, it cannot mean that every Jew will be saved. What Paul is saying is that "every Jew" (that is saved) will be saved just like the gentiles would be - by faith (context here is a must). More will be said on this subject in the next article. - Bill Moseley |
