How to Study the Bible for All It

1
How to Study the Bible for All Its Worth

• Part 2

2
The Problem

• There is ongoing discussion over whether modern
  man can, or was ever intended to, understand
  Gods will for his life by reading scripture.
• Some say the Holy Spirit speaks to each through
  the Bible in a unique way.
• They conclude it is not surprising we do not
  understand the Bible alike or worship in the same
  way.
• They also believe that we are all on the way to
  heaven, though we use different paths.
• Scripture reveals Christ and his apostles had a
  quite different view of scriptural authority.

3
Jesus Thinking

• A trap set by the Sadducees demonstrates that the
  Lord thought Gods word was written to be
  understood by men.
• The Sadducees did not believe in the spirit
  world, angels or life after death.
• They attempted to trap Jesus with a hypothetical
  question.

4
Jesus Thinking

• The story is told in Matthew 2223-28.
• The Sadducees told of a woman who married a man
  and each of his 6 brothers as each, in turn, died
  childless (Levirate marriage described in Genesis
  386-11 Deuteronomy 255-10).
• Then, the woman died.
• Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of
  the seven will she be? For they all had her.

5
The Lords Answer

• The Pharisees assumed marriage continued in the
  resurrection and could not answer the dilemma
  presented.
• The Lord refuted it based on his own authority,
  stating that those in the resurrection are
  neither married nor given in marriage.
• Instead, in the resurrection, they would be like
  the angels (Matthew 2229-30).

6
The Tense of One Word

• The Lord proved man has a spirit by using the
  tense of one word (Matthew 2231-32).
• The word was in the Pentateuch, which the
  Sadducees accepted as delivered by God through
  Moses (Exodus 36, 15).
• The Lord spoke to Moses of those who had been
  dead for a long time.
• Yet, Jesus asked, But concerning the
  resurrection of the dead, have you not read what
  was spoken to you by God, saying, I am the God
  of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
  Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of
  the living.

7
The Sadducees Defeated

• But the Sadducees held that a dead man had
  ceased to exist, that he had vanished to
  nothingness. According to their view, therefore,
  God had styled himself the God of nothing (J. W.
  McGarvey, The Fourfold Gospel).
• Such a powerful argument based upon the tense of
  one word could only be made by one who believed
  in the plenary verbal inspiration of the Bible.
• Further, it is evident the Lord believed God
  revealed his will in such a way that man can
  understand and use it to reason precisely the
  meaning and application in his daily pursuits.

8
Method

• Everyone who reads the Bible for understanding
  will use some method of interpretation, so it
  should not be surprising that the Lord used one.
• Method can be defined as, a systematic
  procedure, technique, or mode of inquiry employed
  by or proper to a particular discipline or art
  (Merriam Webster Online).

9
The Inductive Method Described

• A leading or drawing off a general fact from a
  number of observations and experiments (D. R.
  Dungan, Hermeneutics)
• No interpretation is true that does not harmonize
  with known facts.
• We must be sure to gather as many parts as
  possible so we can clearly identify the whole.
• For instance, we do not know everything Jesus
  ever did or said, but we do have sufficient
  evidence to prove he is the Christ (John
  2030-31).

10
A Careful Search for Truth

• In our courts, which use the inductive method, we
  want all the evidence carefully sought out and
  presented.
• We do not want a doctor to operate based upon 1
  inconclusive test.
• With our souls at stake (John 832), we do not
  want our understanding of doctrine based on only
  a few verses read without proper consideration of
  other facts.

11
Inference Used in the Inductive Method

• Lot went down into Egypt.
• Genesis 1210 says Abram went down into Egypt,
  without mentioning Lot.
• Genesis 131 tells us Lot came up out of Egypt.
• The purpose of the book of Acts may be inferred
  from its content.
• It is a necessary inference that the writer
  aimed to inform the reader accurately of the
  beginnings of christianity sic and of the
  divine directions by which men turn to the Lord
  and form churches (Clinton Lockhart, Principles
  of Interpretation).

12
The Road to Emmaus

• Jesus joined 2 disciples on their walk to Emmaus
  (Luke 2413-24).
• There was great confusion among the disciples
  following the resurrection of Jesus.
• Two on the road to Emmaus were talking about
  reports concerning the same.
• Jesus, unrecognized by them, asked what they were
  talking about and why they were sad.
• They marveled at his ignorance of the happenings
  in Jerusalem, briefly reporting Jesus
  crucifixion, the women finding the empty tomb and
  the angels report that he was alive.

13
Jesus Response

• Then He said to them, O foolish ones, and slow
  of heart to believe in all that the prophets have
  spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered
  these things and to enter into His glory? And
  beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He
  expounded to them in all the Scriptures the
  things concerning Himself (Luke 2425-27).

14
Reporting to the Eleven

• After breaking bread with them in Emmaus, their
  eyes were opened to recognize Jesus.
• When he vanished, they went back amazed to the 11
  and those with them.
• They reported the Lord was risen and had appeared
  to Simon.
• They told how he was made known to them in the
  breaking of bread.

15
Jesus Words to the Assembly

• Jesus appeared, pronounced peace upon them, told
  them to handle his feet hands to confirm he was
  flesh, not spirit and ate some food.
• He then said to them, These are the words which
  I spoke to you while I was still with you, that
  all things must be fulfilled which were written
  in the Law and the Prophets and the Psalms
  concerning Me. And He opened their
  understanding, that they might comprehend the
  Scriptures (Luke 2436-45).

16
Peters Pentecost Presentation

• When the 12 began to speak in other languages, a
  multitude assembled wondering how it had happened
  (Acts 21-13).
• Peter said this is that spoken of by Joel (Acts
  216-21 Joel 228-32).
• He said David foretold Jesus resurrection (Acts
  225-32 Psalm 168-11).
• David also prophesied the Father would make Jesus
  the Christ (Acts 233-36 Psalm 1101).

17
Stephens Sermon Abraham

• Gods call and promise to Abraham
• Called in Ur Acts 72 Genesis 1131-32
• Called in Haran Acts 73 Genesis 121
• The move to Canaan Acts 74 Genesis 125-7
• The promised land and son Acts 75 Genesis
  127 1315 154, 18 178 263
• Bondage in Egypt prophesied Acts 76-7 Genesis
  1513-14
• Circumcision commanded Acts 78 Genesis
  179-14 211-5

18
Stephen on Joseph

• Joseph, sold by his brethren, but God was with
  him
• Acts 79-10a Genesis 3726-28 in Potiphars
  house 395 in prison 3921-23 and in
  interpreting the prisoners dreams 406-23.
• Joseph, the governor of Egypt
• Governor because of the wisdom God gave him
  Acts 710b Genesis 411-43.
• As governor, he met with his brothers and father
  Acts 711-14 Genesis 4146-4712.
• Both Jacob and his sons were buried in Canaan
  Acts 715-16 Genesis 4713-5014.

19
Stephen on Moses Birth and Call to be a Deliverer

• The Pharaoh who knew not Joseph Acts 717-19
  Exodus 11-22.
• Moses birth and adoption Acts 720-22 Exodus
  21-10.
• Moses flees from Egypt to Midian Acts 723-29
  Exodus 211-22.
• Moses call to be Gods deliverer Acts 730-35
  Exodus 31-431.

20
God Brought Them Out

• Acts 736
• God showed wonders and signs in Egypt Exodus
  51-1251.
• God showed wonders and signs in the Red Sea
  Exodus 1317-1431.
• God showed wonders in the wilderness Exodus
  161-1716 Leviticus 101-7 Numbers 111-2.

21
Stephens Comments on Moses

• Acts 737-41
• Moses prophesied God would raise up a prophet
  like him from among his brethren Deuteronomy
  1815, 18-19.
• Moses received Gods word Exodus 193.
• Yet the people would not follow God but asked
  Aaron to build an idol, which they worshiped
  Exodus 321-6.

22
God Gave Israel Up

• Acts 742-44a
• God turned from his people and gave them up to
  worship idols devoted to all the heavenly host
  Amos 525-27.
• Yet, they had the tabernacle witnessing to the
  true God, which was made according to the pattern
  Exodus 2540.

23
The Tabernacle and Temple

• Acts 745b-47
• Israel had received the tabernacle and taken it
  with them into the land of promise Joshua 314
  181.
• God drove the Gentiles out before them Joshua
  239.
• David asked to build a temple for God, but God
  gave that task to Solomon 2 Samuel 61-713 1
  Kings 61-38.

24
God Dwells in Heaven

• God Most High does not dwell in man made temples
  Acts 748-50 1 Kings 827 Isaiah 661-2
  Psalm 10225.
• Stephen concluded the Jews had always rejected
  God and his Spirit Acts 751-53.
• They persecuted the prophets.
• They killed John the baptizer.
• They betrayed and murdered the Just One, having
  received the Law through angels, but refusing to
  keep it.

25
Lessons in the Response

• The audience response stopped Stephen before more
  could be said (Acts 754-60).
• They perfectly understood the conclusions he was
  drawing from a careful review of scripture and
  reacted violently.
• The stoning is evidence the inductive method can
  be used to understand God alike.
• It is further evidence that some will reject
  truth, even responding with violence.
• However, such rebellion does not prove the method
  is erroneous.
• Instead, it shows man continues to read Gods
  word and go his own way.