The Bible Student

How should a Christian study the Bible? What are his or her goals? Can an unbeliever understand the Bible as well as a believer? How should the Christian prepare him or herself before opening the Bible? What is the best attitude to have towards Bible study?

The Family has, unfortunately, done very little in giving its members Bible knowledge, and even less in teaching them how to study the Bible for themselves. This page contains an outline of the approach that is necessary in order to arrive at the correct interpretation and application of the Bible.

Faith

The Bible student should believe that the book he or she is studying actually contains the words of God. Now, it is true that an unbeliever who is well-studied in history, culture and language can arrive at the correct meaning of biblical texts. In other words, when it comes to obtaining the exact meaning of an ancient Hebraic expression, or analysing the relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans, unbelievers can arrive at the same results as believers. Unbelievers can understand the original meaning of the text. However, believers take the process two steps further, both of which are hidden from the unbeliever. Firstly, believers attempt to discern God’s eternal principle behind each account or passage in the Bible, and second, they have as the ultimate goal the correct application of these principles in today’s modern society.

In general, Family members declare that they believe the Bible.

Obedience

The very nature of the Bible is such that it requires obedience. When, for example, we read in both Old and New Testaments of prohibitions against lying, we are then obligated to live truthfully. When we read of the narrow gate that leads to life and of the wide gate leading to destruction we immediately realise the eternal consequences of our actions. True Bible reading cannot leave one unchanged.

Obedience in the Family is a rather selective affair. Members proclaim loudly that they are more obedient than most Christians when it comes to ‘forsaking all’ to become a ‘disciple,’ or in the amount that they tithe, and in their missionary zeal. However they are strangely silent when it comes to the biblical prohibitions against sexual misconduct or the strong warnings against contacting the spirits of the dead.

Biblical study should affect lives, yet obedience to the Bible cannot be dependant upon church policy.

Illumination of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not a separate entity from God, or merely His way of working. The Holy Spirit is God Himself, inseparable yet distinct. It is the Holy Spirit that shines the light of truth upon the pages of the Bible, enabling the student to rightly apply the principles to his or her own life.

Note that this does not mean that the Holy Spirit precludes the necessity of study. On the contrary, biblical study is essential, for God has not promised that the Holy Spirit will act as a Hebrew-English dictionary or as an encyclopaedia of ancient Israeli customs. Neither does the Bible imply that ‘new truth’ will be available to believers through the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Rather, the Holy Spirit illuminates the scripture that is present in the Bible.

On the revelation of the Holy Spirit, Spurgeon once commented:

It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to them should think so little of what he has revealed to others. (Spurgeon).

In other words, if someone ‘solely depends on the Holy Spirit’ without reference to what others have written, he or she may be guilty of pride, or may simply have confused the illumination of the Spirit with the inspiration of the Spirit. This means they may presume that the Holy Spirit will reveal everything to them that they need to know, instead of allowing Him to bring understanding and application from the words of the Bible, or from the results of other people’s labours.

Church membership (local and universal)

While membership of a particular church or affiliation with a denomination is not biblically mandated, all Christians are members of the Body of Christ. Therefore, there can be no such thing as a solitary Christian. All Christians are members of the universal church, which consists of all true believers, in all parts of the earth, from the first century until now. We are also inseparably connected to the particular Christians in our own time and locality, who can provide us with checks and balances if we go astray. In other words, if our understanding of Scripture is wrong, our brothers and sisters in Christ can correct us; if it is right, it will ring true to others in the universal church.

The Family falls rather short in this area, having deliberately separated itself from the majority of Christians through its adherence to its singular doctrines. Therefore, no checks and balances are possible.

Presupposition: the Bible is inspired revelation

Presuppositions are the assumptions that we must make about the Bible before we examine its pages. The first presupposition is that the Bible is a product of the God of the universe revealing His message via human writers. If we study the Bible we will learn about this message, about its relevance to modern believers and about God Himself.

The Bible is authoritative and true

The Bible stands as the final authority on all truth and error. Before its precepts all doctrine must be measured, and will either stand or fall. It is the ultimate standard for all behaviour and belief. This is an area in which the Family is sadly lacking. Although many Family members will profess that they believe the Bible to be true, the official Family doctrine is that ‘revelations’ received by the top leadership of the Family are as inspired as the Bible, and therefore do not have to be measured by the Bible. Family members are taught that the ‘prophecies’ published in official publications are actually “Jesus speaking” and therefore as authoritative as the Bible itself.

However, regardless of the wording in these Family ‘prophecies’, and regardless of how ‘inspired’ the Family ‘prophets’ may feel, it is the Bible alone which is the measure of all truth and all error. Therefore all Family writings without exception, including the thousands published as “Jesus speaking,” must be examined in the light of the Bible. Not a single word ever written by any Family member can ever be held to be on the same level as the Bible. Likewise, not a single word written by the authors of this web site, nor any sermon written by a preacher, teacher, scholar or commentator can ever come close to the ‘God-breathed’ scripture that we read in the Bible.

The Bible is a spiritual document

The Bible manifests a unique capacity to change lives. This does not mean that Bible verses are like magical charms that contain supernatural power within themselves. Rather, the Bible is different from any other book ever written. Through obedience to its precepts our lives will be changed, and we will come into fellowship with God.

The Bible has both unity and diversity

The Bible proclaims the message of the one God of the universe from the very first verse to the very last. It is the message of God. As such it presents an astoundingly unified theme of the love and mercy of God as He graciously bestows His salvation upon the sinful world.

Yet at the same time, there is diversity of literature, a wide range of language styles, and a vast array of doctrinal themes. The diversity and unity effectively complement each other, resulting in a book that is unimaginably deep, and remains as applicable to Christians in the 21^st century as it was to the original recipients of its various messages.

The Bible is understandable

The Bible is an accessible book. It was designed in such a way that its truths may be comprehended by those willing to read it. The truths of the Bible are not confined to any particular period of history or to any particular church; they are universally understandable. The Bible is not a secret puzzle whose solution lies only in the hands of cryptologists or prophets.

The Bible has not, as is claimed by the Family, been covered by the rubble of church traditions for so many centuries that it requires an archaeologist to uncover its truths. Various churches may be steeped in centuries of tradition, but we still have the Bible itself, and we are free to read and understand its truths for ourselves. Certainly, no man or woman ever has the right to proclaim that he or she has more truth than others, or that he or she can unlock its secrets in ways that no one else can. Therefore, the beliefs that are unique to the Family may be termed Family doctrines, but they cannot be termed Bible doctrines.

The Canon stands

The 66 books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and entire record of God’s revelation to His people. The Canon contains the material that God intended to be recorded, and is sum total of His revelation to all people.

Note that this does not preclude the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in understanding the Bible, and neither does it prevent God’s personal direction or messages of instruction given personally to His children. However there are some very important points that must be noted on this topic.

First, the Bible does not say (as is claimed in the Family) that ‘prophecies’ may be received at will, that whenever one wishes to ‘hear from God’ one may pluck a divine message from the world of the spirit. Second, there are great dangers in the Family practice of attempting to contact the spirits of departed saints in order to obtain such messages of instruction. Third, while God may, according to His will, graciously bestow divine direction upon one of His children, the totality of His self-revelation to mankind has already been given. In other words, personal ‘prophecy’ will not teach any new doctrine, it will not fill in any supposed ‘gaps’ in the Bible. Modern prophecy can never be considered on the same level as the books of the Bible, and it cannot be said to be authoritative for modern believers. This means that Christians in the 21^st century (and indeed in any other time) and Christians in the Family (and in any other church) are obliged to read, study, understand, believe and obey the words of the Bible, but they are not obliged to do the same for any message supposedly received by a modern ‘prophet’.

The Bible is complete, in that it contains all that we need to know for teaching, rebuking, correction and training.

2 Tim 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Methods of interpretation

All interpretation of the Bible must begin with the above qualities and presuppositions. These premises cannot be taken for granted, or neglected, for the inevitable result will be a corruption of the truth.

The Bible student’s primary job is to discover what is contained within the Scriptures. He or she is to be instructed by the Bible, and to allow the message to come out without adulteration or bias. Too often Christians come to the Bible in search of confirmation of what they already believe, and consequently it is no surprise when they produce scriptural ‘proof’ of their own private doctrines. The picture is of a Christian who has already decided what to believe hurriedly flipping through a concordance in search of confirmation. He or she is looking for specific proof and is sure to find it. Instead, we should come to the Bible uncluttered by our own doctrines and ideas and read its pages fresh each time, allowing it to speak for itself.

Such a practice would transform the Family beyond recognition.

For more, please see the pages on interpreting the Bible and proof-texting.

The goal

Interpreting the Bible is a process containing three essential steps.

First, the Bible student should uncover the original meaning. This is the meaning that the original human writers and recipients would have understood. How did the Christians in the city of Ephesus understand the epistle sent to them by Paul? How did Paul understand his own writings to the Christians in Rome? How did the Jewish crowds understand the parables Jesus told them? What was the significance in first century Israel of Jesus’ cleansing of the temple? Why are there laws against boiling goats in their own milk and against ploughing fields with oxen and donkeys yoked together? How do the Mosaic laws regarding slavery compare with the slavery laws of the surrounding nations?

In order to discern the original meaning of Scripture texts, the Bible student must obtain a clear picture of who the human writer was, who the original audience or recipient was, and who the scribe was. Was the passage originally spoken or written? What was the relationship between the writer and his audience? Was the book intended as personal instruction (Philemon) or as an encyclical (Revelations)?

This first step also involves a deep understanding of the circumstances surrounding each book. Why was it written? Was there a specific occasion that necessitated addressing? Is there a purpose included in the book by which we should understand all that is therein? The Gospel of John includes such a purpose. John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gave two specific reasons why he put pen to paper:

John 20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Therefore, all that is in the book of John should be understood as it relates either to the doctrine that the man named Jesus of Nazareth was and is in fact the Christ, the Son of the living God, or to the doctrine of eternal life through His name.

Bible students should familiarise themselves with the conditions in which each book was written. Who was the ruling power at the time? What was happening in Israel? Who was the ruler in Israel? What were conditions like for the people? Did sin predominate or righteousness? How did each book relate to world conditions?

The style of writing varies considerably within the Bible. Bible students should gain an understanding of the inherent differences between each literary genre. For example, psalms are different from parables, and were understood differently by the original readers. Even the psalms themselves contain great variety, some being intended for group worship, others for private meditation, and still others were solely to be sung at the coronation of a king.

Therefore the Bible student should study the various literary genres in the Bible and understand how each was used in the days it was written. For more see ‘Basic Bible Interpretation.’ Students should also realise that most verses related strongly to the verses and chapters around them. Therefore, the meaning of a verse can rarely be correctly understood when taken out of context. Each verse should be studied in the context of the passage it is in, the particular book it is in, and of the Bible as a whole. For more see ‘Proof-texting.’

This crucial initial step in Bible study is completely neglected, ignored or unknown in the Family.

The second step in the interpretive process is the understanding of the eternal truth that lies behind the original meaning. In other words, the original meaning of the text, as evidenced by a contextual study, is actually based in some way on one or more of God’s principles. It is the eternal truth of God on which His biblical messages to us humans is based. Sometimes finding this principle is straightforward: “Do not kill” plainly echoes God’s ownership of all life. God proclaims Himself as the source of all life and therefore forbids human usurping of His own prerogative. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” displays God’s declaration that He and He alone is responsible for the entire universe, the earth and all that is therein. At other times, the meaning is less obvious. Why did Paul not command Philemon or the Ephesians to free their slaves? What was the Holy Spirit-inspired purpose of those passages? What is the eternal truth that lies behind the command for women to cover their heads when praying, and for men to remain uncovered? This step in the process may take some work.

The Family similarly neglects this crucial step.

The third step in the interpretive process is to determine the modern significance of the eternal truths that lie behind the Bible stories. Many times this is not difficult. When the Bible says that “all have sinned,” it will not be long before we arrive at the conclusion that we ourselves are sinners. At other times the modern application is less obvious. Does the story of Zachaeus mean that when sinners get converted they should give half of their possessions to charity? What is the modern application of the story of Samson?

When churches neglect these three steps, they inevitably go astray. Unfortunately, Bible study in the Family is neither taught nor encouraged. Bible reading in the Family is conducted either by coming to the Bible with a preconceived notion of what one will find, or by a shallow instant application of certain select scriptures. Neither approach brings truth.

Conclusion

There are a number of qualities that all Bible students must possess if they are to arrive at a correct interpretation of the scriptures: they must believe and be ready to obey the Bible. They must know of its inspired, God-breathed origin and be part of the universal Body of Christ. They must take the Bible in its current form as the final authority on all truth and error, delegating all other writings and all other ‘prophecies’ as inferior to the Bible, to be measured against it. They must recognise the overall unity of the Bible, as well as the varied styles and genres within its pages. They work with the understanding that God has made the Bible an accessible book. They must use proper interpretive methods to arrive at the its true meaning.

Importantly, they must initially study to discern the original meaning of each text. Then, they should determine God’s eternal truth or principle lying behind the original meaning. Finally, and only after all the rest has been done, they are to apply that principle or truth to the modern situation in which they find themselves.

Bible interpretation is a long, involved process, but it is the most rewarding study that is possible to undertake.

References

Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, W Klein, C Blomberg & R Hubbard, 2004, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN.

Spurgeon: Commenting and Commentaries, CH Spurgeon, 1876, Baker Press, Grand Rapids.

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