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BIBLE STUDY (2)Bible study should always commence with prayer for the illumination of the Holy Spirit, without whose help we cannot rightly understand the truths that God would have us believe.
The words of Scripture should always be taken in the sense that the writer intended, and therefore in order to interpret Scripture aright we must pay attention to its plain meaning and grammatical construction. Only by doing so can we give evidence of our belief in the Scripture's claim to verbal inspiration and hope to profit thereby.
We must never attempt to interpret a word, sentence, verse or paragraph except in terms of its context.
The infallible rule of the interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself. Each passage of Scripture must therefore be interpreted in the light of the rest of Scripture, and difficult passages in the light of plainer, clearer passages. We should always remember that, whereas the rule is infallible, our interpretation of it is not.
God does not give us light on everything at once. Unresolved difficulties should not be allowed to hinder the consecutive study of the Word of God. Make a note of problems that arise in the course of study, consult commentaries, and ask help of older Christians and ministers on these matters.
Bible study cannot be divorced from conduct. God will give us increased light only as we walk in the light we have been given.
'The Bible is a book which, though it is written by men for men, is yet written by God for His own glory. Its subject matter is God, and how He becomes our God through Jesus Christ ... It is therefore a book which must be studied in its own light, and that is the light shed on the words by its Author—God, the Holy Spirit.' Hywel R. Jones