BASIC Principles of Christianity

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE

Lesson 2

INTRODUCTION Many believe that the

Bible cannot be understood. But God has given us the Bible for that very purpose. The fact that you are taking the time to look at this study about the Bible, proves that you have a desire to know more about the Bible.

Read:

Ephesians 5.17II Timothy 3.15

YOU CAN KNOW♦ The Bible continues to be the world’s best

seller. ♦ It is loved in life and cherished even more

in death. ♦ Yet, it is abused, misused, misrepresented,

misunderstood and ignored.

♦ The problem of studying and understanding the Bible is usually not a difficulty in interpretation, but rather a lack of information or willingness to consider the facts.

♦ The differences between individual interpretation, church groups or between theory and practice is not the inability to understand, but may be a refusal to respect the Bible’s authority.– I. A BIBLICAL INTRODUCTION– II. WHY PEOPLE DO NOT SEE THE

BIBLE ALIKE– III. PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETING THE

BIBLE

A BIBLICAL INTRODUCTION

♦ The Old Testament was written in the Hebrew language and

♦ The New Testament was written in the Koine Greek and some Aramaic.

♦ The Old Testament is divided into: The Pentateuch, History, Poetry, Prophets.

♦ The New Testament contains: The Life of Christ, Pauline Epistles, Other Letters, and the book of Revelation.

♦ Translations & Versions are intended to keep our modern changing languages correct with the original languages.

WHY PEOPLE DO NOT SEE THE BIBLE ALIKE

♦ A lack of knowledge – Romans 10:1-3♦ Pre-conceived ideas – II Thessalonians 2:11-12♦ Deception – II Corinthians 11:3; I Timothy 4:1-

2♦ The wisdom of men – I Corinthians 1:22-24♦ The problem of sin – II Corinthians 4:3-4

A lack of knowledgeRomans 10:1-3 “Brethren, my heart's desire and my

supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”

Pre-conceived ideas……II Thessalonians 2:11-12 “And for this cause God sendeth them a

working of error, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Deception ……… II Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent

beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.”

I Timothy 4:1-2 “But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times

some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.”

The wisdom of men ……… I Corinthians 1:22-24 “ Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks

seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumbling block, and unto Gentiles foolishness; but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

The problem of sin ……… II Corinthians 4: 3-4

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.”

PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETING THE BIBLE ♦ The definition of words – Example (Baptism)♦ Realize the different Biblical periods – Hebrews

9:15-17♦ Examine the grammatical construction of the

Scriptures – John 5:58♦ Analyze the purpose and plan of the book –

Example (Revelation)♦ Consider the whole context – John 13:3-17♦ Look at parallel passages – Matthew 28:18-20;

Mark 16:15-16

The definition of words …… ♦ Baptism ♦ The word baptisma - rendered

“baptism”, occurs in the New Testament twenty-two times.

♦ Baptidzo – “to dip, immerse, submerge, plunge, sink, overwhelm, wash, cleanse”

♦ Baptismos – “a dipping in water”♦ Baptistas – “one that dips, a baptizer”

Realize the different Biblical periods ………♦ Hebrews 9:15-17 “And for this cause he is the mediator

of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.”

Examine the grammatical construction of the Scriptures ..

♦ John 8:58 “ Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.”

Analyze the purpose and plan of the book ……… ♦ Example

(Revelation)♦ John describes the book as “the

revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him to show to his servants what must soon take place”

♦ Practical purpose was to strengthen the courage and faith of the early Christians with a message of hope and victory.

♦ Author clearly states and repeats that the time of these events was quite near. (1:1; 1:3; 3:11; 22:6, 7, 10, 12, 20)

Consider the whole context … ♦ John 13:3-17 Turn to John 13: 3-17

and read aloud.

Look at parallel passages … ♦ Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came to them and

spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

♦ Mark 16:15-16

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

TIDBITS1. The Bible consists of 66 books:

39 Old Testament Books 27 New Testament Books

2. The Old Testament was given to the Jews3. The New Testament is given to all the

world.4. God has given us the entire Bible for life.5. First part He intended to be replaced by the

second part.

Thank You For Your Interest!!!♦ If you found the Basic Principles of Christianity series

educational and informative … ♦ Feel free to drop us a note and let us know what you thought

of this lesson series – we will be glad to hear from you. Kevin Wilsonkmwilson.hpcc@gmail.com ork.mark.wilson@gmail.com

YOU MAY NOW PROCEED TO

LESSON 3

A STARTING POINT