How to Study the Bible – Part 1

This will be a 2 part series on how to study the Bible. The first thing we must recognize is the fact that the Bible differs from all other books. It differs in its claims. 2 Timothy 3:16 says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” The Bible is inspired of God and not of man. The word “inspired” here in this verse comes from the Greek words, “theos” which means God, and “pnein” which means to breath. Therefore, Scripture is a God breathed word. That is, it is as much the word of God as though God had spoken it with His own breath! Dr James H. Brooks estimates that the phrase “Thus saith the Lord” or its equivalent is used in the Old Testament 2000 times. The Bible differs from all other books when it comes to its Authorship. 2 Peter 1:21 says ” For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” H.L Horace Lorenzo Hastings in his book “Will the Old Book Stand” Pg 21 writes the following: “The authorship of this book is wonderful. Here are words written by Kings, by Emperors, by Princes, by Poets, by Sages, by Philosophers, by Fishermen, by Statesmen; by men learned in the wisdom of Egypt, educated in the schools of Babylon, trained up at the feet of Rabbis in Jerusalem. It was written by men in exile, in the desert, in shepherds’ tents, in “green pastures” and beside “still waters”. Among its authors we find the taxpayer, the herdsmen, the gatherer of sycamore fruit; we find poor men, rich men, statesmen, preachers, exiles, captains, legislators, judges; men of every grade and class are represented in this wonderful volume, which is in reality a library, filled with history, genealogy, ethnology, law, ethics, prophecy, poetry, eloquence, medicine, sanitary science, political economy, and perfect rules for the conduct of personal and social life. But again, it required fifteen hundred years to write this book, and the man who wrote the closing pages of it had no communication with the man who commenced it. How did these men, writing independently, produce such a book? Other books get out of date when they are ten or twenty years old; but this book lives on through the ages, and keeps abreast of the mightiest thought and intellect of every age”. In John 10:35 Christ regarded the Scriptures as a divine whole, not as merely partially inspired. Thirdly, the Bible differs from all other books when it comes to its standards. The Bible standard of life and morals is inestimably superior to that of any other system. Not only does it present us with a perfect moral code(Romans 7:21) but it also presents us with a perfect life as our example(1 Peter 2:21-22). No other book has ever been able to so this! Fourthly, the Bible differs from all other books when it comes to its Power. Hebrews 4:12 says ” For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” Millions of lives have been transformed through the power of the Word. Inspiration of the Bible is not a theory but a fact! A realization of this fact will have a vast influence upon our attitude towards the Bible and consequently upon our lives. Psalm 119:11 says ” Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” The Bible is able to keep us from sin! One famous author wrote ” The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrine, and the test of experience”

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