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How to Study the Bible 10Introduction:
1. According to Hebrews 1:1-2, God has spoken to us. 2. We learn from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that the Bible is God's Word. 3. When the Bible is read, it can be understood (Ephesians 3:4). 4. To understand the Bible, it must be "rightly divided" [handled accurately] (2 Timothy 2:15). 5. This is an important matter because it is possible to study the Scriptures and fail to understand them. a. Jesus illustrated this in His parable of the sower (Matthew 13:4, 19). b. The eunuch also failed to understand the Scriptures he read (Acts 8:26-34). 6. The science of interpreting the Bible is known as "hermeneutics." 7. By following some basic guidelines the Scriptures can be interpreted properly, and they can be understood. Discussion: I. THE SCRIPTURES MUST BE STUDIED WITHOUT PRECONCEIVED IDEAS AND BELIEFS A. Those who deny that miracles occurred will interpret the Scriptures accordingly. B. Those who believe in evolution will also interpret the Scriptures to accommodate their beliefs. II. THE CONTEXT OF A PASSAGE MUST BE CONSIDERED A. By ignoring the context, the Bible can be made to say almost anything (Genesis 6:14; Luke 10:37; John 13:27). B. To properly understand the statements found in Acts 16:30-31, the context must be studied carefully (vs.9-34). C. 1 Corinthians 1:17 is sometimes used to diminish the importance of baptism (see vs.10-18; Acts 18:8). III. THE GRAMMAR OF A PASSAGE MUST BE STUDIED A. (1 Corinthians 11:27) "Unworthily" is an adverb that relates to the manner in which the Lord's Supper is eaten. B. Jesus answered the Sadducees by referring to the tense of "am" (Matthew 22:29-32; Exodus 3:6). IV. MEDITATION IS VERY HELPFUL A. A righteous person meditates upon God's law "day and night" (Psalm 1:1-2). B. The proper disposition to have when meditating is expressed in Psalm 119:1 | ||