Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:3

How To Understand the Bible
Lesson 1

Marking Code: UB
Marking Color: Green
Key Text: John 17:17

1. John 17:17. The greatest question ever asked is: “What is truth?” Where can we find truth? God’s Word, the Bible, is the source of truth.

2. 2 Timothy 2:15. Correct study is essential to right understanding. How should we study the Bible? Paul tells us to rightly divide (compare, interpret) the word of truth.

3. Isaiah 28:9,10. Comparing scripture with scripture puts truth together like a puzzle – line upon line, here a little and there a little – to form a comprehensive picture of God’s truth.

4. Acts 17:11. We are to study for ourselves, testing all human teachers and teachings by the Bible. How do we test teachings by the Word?

We search the Bible individually for ourselves.

We ask God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13,14).

We build on the study of godly Christian preachers and teachers – going to the Bible to compare their teachings with God’s Word (Acts 8:30,31,33).

5. Isaiah 8:20. This is the litmus test to discern error.

Any teaching that does not harmonize with God’s Word – the law and the testimony – is error and contains no light.

6. 2 Timothy 3:15-17. All Scripture is given by God’s inspiration and is profitable for our study. The Old Testament (the “Scripture” of Paul’s day) as well as the New Testament is God’s inspired Word.

7. 1 Corinthians 10:11. The experiences recorded in the Bible have personal application to our lives. They are written for our admonition.

8. Luke 24:44,45. Jesus endorses the accuracy and inspiration of the Old Testament. (The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms were three divisions of the Old Testament in His day.)

9. 2 Peter 1:19-21. Brilliant men with high IQ’s did not think up these wonderful Spirit-designed truths. They originated with the moving of the Holy Spirit upon the hearts and minds of holy men of God. The Bible is its own best interpreter.

10. John 5:39,40. To be a Bible “whiz” is not enough. We can search the Bible to accumulate knowledge, but unless we come to know the Christ of the Bible, it is of little value.

Luke 11:28; John 7:17

11. Jeremiah 15:16. Joy results from following God’s Word.

          UB-End.

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