"Which law" are we under? ---- A Bible Study

by Don French

Is the Law of Moses Still in Effect? Galatians 4:21-31

1) Which law did the bondwoman and her son represent?
2) Which law did the freewoman and her son represent?
3) Which son represents Christians?
4) What was to be done with the bondwoman and her son?
5) Which son was to inherit everything?

Jeremiah 31:31
1) What Did Jeremiah say about a “new covenant”?

Matthew 5:17-18

1) Did Christ come to destroy the law of Moses?
2) What was Christ’s purpose?
3) Could any of the old law be taken away before all of it was fulfilled?

Colossians 2:14

1) Was the old law against us?
2) Was the handwriting of ordinances contrary to us?
3) When was the law of Moses taken away?

Hebrews 8:6-7 and 10:8-10

1) Can you see the concept of two laws here?
2) Which law was better?
3) Which law was established upon better promises?
4) Which law has Christ as it’s mediator?
5) Was this “new covenant” made through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross?
6) What happened to the “old covenant”?
7) Which covenant are we now under?

Hebrews 7:11-14

1) Could perfection come by the Levitical priesthood?
2) Which priesthood was Christ called after?
3) What had to be done for Christ to become a high priest after the order of Melchizedek?

Hebrews 10:9

1) Did Christ take away the old law?
2) Did Christ establish a second law?
3) Was this the will of God?

Hebrews 9:15-17

1) By what means did Christ establish the New Testament?
2) Was Christ’s death necessary for a change in the law?

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE
OF THE OLD LAW? Galatians 3:24-25

1) What was the purpose of the old law?
2) Are we now under the schoolmaster, the old law?

Romans 15:4

1) Why was the old law written?
2) Should we study the old law?

Hebrews 10:1

1) What did the old law contain?
2) Could the old law make us perfect?

2 Timothy 3:16-17

1) Can the new law make us perfect?
2) Which law do we wish to follow?

SUMMARY
Is the Law of Moses Still In Effect?

1) The Law from Moses is represented by the Bondwoman. (Galatians 4:21-31)
2) The New Testament is represented by the Freewoman. (Galatians 4:21-31)
3) Those who follow the Old Testament are represented by the Bondwoman’s son. (Galatians 4:21-31)
4) Christians are represented by the son of the Freewoman.(Galatians 4:21-31)
5) Those who follow the Old Testament receive no inheritance at all. (Galatians 4:21-31)
6) Christians will inherit everything from God. (Galatians 4:21-31)
7) The handwriting of ordinances was against human nature. (Colossians 2:13-14)
8) The Law of Moses was contrary to us. (Colossians 2:13-14)
9) The Old Law was taken away when Jesus was nailed to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)
10) The New Testament is better than the Old Testament.(Hebrews 8:6-7)
11) The New Testament was established upon better promises. (Hebrews 8:6-7)
12) Jesus Christ was the mediator of the New Testament. (Hebrews 8:6-7)
13) Jesus did not come to destroy the Law of Moses, but to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:17-18)
14) Either all the Old Testament is in effect or none of it is. (Hebrews 8:6-7)
15) Before Jesus could become High Priest, the Law of Moses had to be changed.(Hebrews 7:11-22)
16) Jesus came to take away the Old Law and establish a New Law. (Hebrews 10:8-10)
17) It was the will of God that this happen. (Hebrews 10:9)
18) Jesus had to die to fulfill the Law of Moses and bring in a new covenant. (Hebrews 9:15-28)
19) The death of Jesus was necessary for the New Testament to come into effect. (Hebrews 9:15-28)

What Was the Purpose
of the Law of Moses?

1) The purpose of the Law of Moses was to lead the world to Jesus. (Galatians 3:24-25)

2) The Old Testament contains a shadow of the New Testament. (Hebrews 8:4-6; 10:1)

3) By studying the Old Testament, we can better understand the New Testament. (Romans 4:23; 15:4)

4) The Old Testament was written for our learning. (Romans 4:23; 15:4)

5) The Old Testament could never make its followers perfect.(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
6) We do not study the Old Law to find commandments that we still obey. (Romans 4:23; 15:4)

7) We study the Old Testament to see how God feels about obedience to commandments. (Romans 4:23; 15:4-6)

Further study:
2 Chronicles 34:14; Matthew 26:28;; Luke 22:20; 2 Cor 3:6,14; Hebrews 7:11-12; 9:15-20; Romans 7:4,7; Exodus 24:12; 34:27-8;

What Can You Do? You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

We Welcome You Following the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body [collectively called the “churches of Christ” Romans 16:16),] assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

If you have any comments or questions --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please contact me at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com or 253-396-0290 (cell). Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor.
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What's Wrong With Denominational Baptism?

Adapted from an article by Cevil Willis
Last update 07 Feb 2021X

The word “baptism” with its various inflections occurs 126 times in the New Testament. Hence, one has to say a good deal about baptism or neglect a large portion of the Bible.

So far as I know, all denominations except the Christian Scientist and the Quakers practiced some rite that they call baptism. Most people, therefore, have submitted to some ordinance that was called baptism. When these people learn about the New Testament church, they often want to come into the church on their denominational baptism. But, if something is wrong with denominational baptism, and I think there is, these people plainly need to be told about it. This I shall attempt to do in this short piece.

Note these things wrong with denominational baptism:

1) IT MUST HAVE THE PROPER AUTHORITY (Matthew 28:18-20; Colossians 3:17).
Denominational councils and creeds authorize denominational baptism. Jesus never authorized it, nor did He ever command anyone to be baptized into any denomination. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded. If you were not baptized into the name [authority] of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for the forgiveness of your sins, --- your “baptism was not valid! YOU WERE BAPTIZED BY THE WRONG AUTHORITY! And here is the rest of it.

2) IT MUST HAVE THE CORRECT SUBJECT (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:37-38; 2:38).
The Bible teaches, and everyone agrees, that the believer who has repented of their sinful life, and who confesses their faith in Christ, is a proper subject of Scriptural baptism. But denominations often sprinkle infants who cannot meet the above requirements. Denominations also baptize people who think they are saved --- rather than persons who desire to be saved. Hence, Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded if you submitted to baptism before you were of age to properly repent, or believing you were already saved --- then your “baptism was not valid." your baptism had the wrong subject! YOU WERE NOT A PROPER SUBJECT FOR SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM!

3) IT MUST HAVE THE CORRECT CONFESSION (Acts 8:37).
Persons in the New Testament confessed their faith in Christ as the only confessional necessity for baptism. But persons desiring to undergo denominational baptism will be asked to confess agreement with the sectarian creed. One denomination that I know of requires a confession consisting of twenty propositions. Most common is the unscriptural confession wherein one states that he believes that God for Christ’s sake has pardoned his sins. Do you remember what you confessed when you were baptized? Many who now question their denominational baptism have not the faintest remembrance of what they confessed. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded if you submitted to baptism before you confessed Christ as your Lord and Savior, then your “baptism was not valid!" YOUR BAPTISM HAD THE WRONG CONFESSION!

4) IT MUST HAVE THE CORRECT ACTION: (Acts 8:37; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12).
Scriptural baptism entails “much water” (John 3:23), and a coming “into”, a “going down into”, and a “coming up out of the water” (Acts 8:38-39). In Scriptural baptism, one is “buried” (Romans 6:3-4). Neither sprinkling nor pouring meets these Scriptural requirements. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded. If you submitted to sprinkling or pouring, then your “baptism was not valid!" YOUR BAPTISM HAD WRONG ACTION!

5) IT MUST HAVE THE CORRECT PURPOSE: (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).
These passages teach baptism to be “for the remission, or forgiveness, of sins,” or “for the purpose of having our sins forgiven”, to be “saved,” to have one’s sins “washed away.” Denominations usually assert they are baptizing one into that particular denomination, rather than into Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4). So even though one has been immersed, if they were not immersed for the Scriptural purpose of having their sins forgiven, that person’s baptism was wrong. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded. If you submitted to baptism for any other purpose than to have your sins forgiven, then your “baptism was not valid!" YOUR BAPTISM WAS FOR THE WRONG PURPOSE!

Most sectarians teach that one is baptized to show that they have been saved, rather than in order to be saved. Were you so baptized? If you will remember whether you confessed that you had been saved (which you very possibly may have done), you will be able to ascertain whether your immersion was “for the remission of sins” and into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).

6) IT MUST BE IN THE CORRECT ORDER: (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:37).
These verses establish the sequence of events in conversion to be: hearing, faith, repentance, confession, immersion, forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Sectarians confuse this order. They state the sequence like this: Gift of the Holy Spirit, repentance, faith, salvation, and then baptism. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded, if you submitted to baptism for the forgiveness of sins before you heard the gospel, or before faith, repentance or confession, then your “baptism was not valid!" YOUR BAPTISM WAS DONE IN WRONG ORDER!

7) IT MUST BE DONE FOR THE CORRECT ALLEGIANCE: (Matthew 28:18; Colossians 3:17). Sectarian baptism binds one to wear a human name, obey and endorse a human creed, belong to a human organization, and to support a human program --- while Scriptural baptism binds one who wear a divine name, obey a divine message, belong to a divine body, and to engage in a divinely authorized program. Denominational baptism attracts people to a denominational body rather than to Christ and His Kingdom. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded, if you submitted to baptism in allegiance to a denomination, then your “baptism was not valid!" YOUR BAPTISM HAS THE WRONG ALLEGIANCE!

Conclusion REMEMBER:
1) One cannot be taught wrong and baptized right (Romans 10:17; 6:17).
2) One cannot be baptized wrong and worship right (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:42).
3) One cannot worship wrong and live right (John 4:23-24).
4) One cannot live wrong and die right (Matthew 25:31-46).
5) Therefore, one cannot be baptized wrong and die right.

What about you, my friend? Have you submitted to Scriptural baptism? Do not make the error of interpreting what you did years ago in the light of what you now know the Bible to teach. Many have made this mistake. One must understand what they are doing at the time they are doing it to obey the gospel Scripturally from the heart. If you are not absolutely sure you were baptized in the way that Jesus commanded and teaches in His word, then please do so immediately. Your eternal salvation may be at stake!

“But God be thanked, the you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you... being then made free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).

If you have any comments or questions --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please e-mail me at BibleTruthsToU@Gmail.com or call 253-396-0290. Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor. Read more!

5) The "New_Covenant_Menu" Established at Christ's Death

04 Feb 2021
Thw New Covenant that was Established Upon Christ's Death This section is dictated to examining the relationship between the Old Testament Law and the New Testament Law and involves deeper studies of God's Word to learn those truths that sometimes are not evident with a superficial reading of the Scriptures --- that takes prayer, focused meditation and study to discover.

***************M E N U *************** A) A Better Covenant

B) Are the Ten Commandments still in effect?

C) Is keeping the "Christian Sabbath" Scriptural? Christian Sabbath valid?

D) Which Law? Which Law Are We Under Today?

E) The Lord’s Day

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A Better Covenant

This is a transcription of a lesson #1121 from The "Let the Bible Speak" T.V show by Brad Shockley. It can be viewed on Youtube.com at any time (see how at end of lesson).

Intro by Brett Hickey:
We are blessed to have my friend, evangelist Brad Shockley, as our speaker today. Brother Shockley, who works with congregations in Buffalo and Bolivar, MO, presents a message titled, “A Better Covenant.”


Brad Shockly:
For many the Bible can be difficult to understand. However, it is God’s intention for us to comprehend His Word (Ephesians 5:17). One hurdle many confront is recognizing that there are different covenants which guide God’s people. A covenant, simply put, is a law which directs and guides our lives. If we attempt to apply the wrong covenant to our life we may think we are living according to God’s will, yet be living contrary to it. As you have already studied in a previous lesson there is a difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. As Christian’s we believe in both the Old and New Testaments (Romans 15:4). However, we do not live according to the Law of Moses or Old Covenant (also called “Old Testament”). It is the proper legislative role of each covenant that must be discerned.

God is very clear in pointing out the difference in the two covenants. In our study we will discuss the two covenants, the abolishment of the first covenant, the establishment of the second covenant and the purpose of the second covenant.

The author of Hebrews extolls the covenant Jesus ratified with His blood. In Hebrews 8:6-7, the writer states, “But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” It is clear and undeniable that there is a first and second covenant. He speaks of the first as having faults. Thus, there was a need to replace it with the second covenant. The second was mediated by Jesus Christ and is called “a better covenant.”

Writing to the Galatians Paul speaks of two covenants. In Galatians 4:22-28 he presents an allegory concerning the two sons of Abraham (Ishmael who was born from the bondwoman Hagar; Isaac who was born of the freewoman Sarah) and the two covenants. We read, “For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bond- woman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.”

The first covenant is likened to the son born of Hagar, which is under bondage. Since she was a servant any child born to her would also be a servant. The Law given, the Old Covenant, typified this arrangement. It was a covenant, while in effect, would keep the people under servitude. The second, which is represented by the son born to Sarah, is likened to her as a freewoman by promise. Her child, Isaac, came not after the natural order of flesh (Abraham was 100 years old while Sarah was 90) but by the promise of God. Today, under the New Covenant, we are free.

The first covenant was the Law given by God to guide Israel. The Hebrew epistle identifies it as such. In chapter 8:9—“Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.” When Israel was led out of the bondage of Egypt they eventually found themselves at Mt Sinai. It was here, on this special mountain, where God delivered His Law to Moses. Exodus 19:16-19 tells the memorable story.

It reads, “And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 18 And mount Sinai was altogether in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.”

Later in the Exodus story chapter 31:18 records, “And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” Thus the first covenant was given to Moses, upon stone tables, to guide and direct the Jews. It is the giving of this law which provided the ten commands. They have been revered by Bible believing people ever since.

The second covenant was the law given by God to guide Christians. The Hebrew author writes: “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, He saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (8:7-8). The reason God gave a second, or New Covenant, was because the first was imperfect. In Hebrews 8:13 we find, “In that He saith, A new covenant, He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”

The first covenant contained faults and Israel would not continue to live in accordance with that Law. The most notable being the inability of the first covenant to provide absolute forgiveness of sin. Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, speaks of the inability of the law (the Old Covenant) to provide the forgiveness of sin. He wrote, “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” (Galatians 3:21-22).

The Hebrew author, in chapter 9, explains in greater detail this grave fault. He writes, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Vs 12-14).

The high priest, under the first covenant, would offer annual sacrifices. However, Jesus, through His atoning sacrifice of blood, obtained eternal redemption for humanity. For this reason, God decided to provide a second covenant, however before the second covenant could be effective God had to abolish the first covenant. The Apostle Paul instructs us on how the first covenant was done away. In Colossians 2:14, the Bible says, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.” It was the “handwriting of ordinances” (the Law) which was written on the stone tablets which was blotted out.

This was accomplished by Jesus Christ with His death on the cross. Again, Paul brings up the same subject in his letter to the Ephesians. He writes, “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:15-16). Through His atoning death Jesus could slay and put to death “the enmity.”

The first covenant which directed Moses and the Jews was made ineffective when Jesus died on the cross. It was necessary for the Old Covenant to be abolished. Under the first the difference between Jew and Gentile was staggering, however, under the New Covenant there is “one body” (Ephesians 4:4) that is composed of both. The racial differences were done away with at the shedding of blood when Jesus died on the cross. Regardless of one’s nationality they can, upon proper obedience, become a member of God’s family. A wonderful blessing, which before the cross, only a select few could enjoy.

In Paul’s epistle to Rome, he describes the marriage law in an analogy to the first and second covenants. Romans 7:1-4 explains the principles of the marriage law. “Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”

As long as the husband lives the wife is bound to that marriage relationship. It is only when the husband dies that the wife is free to remarry. If the wife remarries while the husband is still alive she is guilty of adultery. Likewise the passages teaches, “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” (7:4). Thus, by the death of Jesus Christ, we are free from the Law (the first covenant) and married to another (the second covenant). One is not allowed to be married to two men at the same time and one is not allowed to live under two different covenants at the same time. The Christian is dead to Moses and the Law and is married to Christ and the New Covenant. If one is married to both covenants at the same time they are guilty of spiritual adultery.

At the conclusion of Hebrews 8 the writer points out the change in covenants. He writes, “In that He saith, A new covenant, He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” (vs 13). The term old is defined as “worn out, to declare obsolete.” The English Standard Version translates this verse as, “In speaking of a new covenant, He makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Thus the first, the Old Covenant, is now rendered ineffective.

When the Old Covenant was put to death the New Covenant was estab- lished. The book of Hebrews explains this process. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth” (Hebrews 9:14-17).

It is the death of Jesus Christ which ratifies the second (new) covenant. Through His blood, shed in His death, He is the mediator of this New Covenant. He is the go between or reconciler. Thus it is a better covenant! This law (New Testament) went into effect when the testator or law giver died. In modern vernacular we say, “A will goes into effect when the will giver dies.” Thus Jesus, His will and message of the coming of the kingdom, all became effective with His death on the cross.

The greatest blessing accomplished in the second (new) covenant is the forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 8:12 reads, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Jesus said, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28, NKJV). The Old Covenant, with its wondrous history and moral beauty, lacked the ability to provide absolute forgiveness of sin. Sin is the greatest dilemma humanity has ever faced, therefore the remission of sin is the greatest blessing humanity can ever receive.

Daniel King writes concerning the importance of the New Covenant and the forgiveness of sin, “God intended to build in two special safeguards: first He would put His law into their hearts and minds so that they would want to obey Him out of their love for Him; and second, He installed a means for the removal of this aggravating obstacle to their relationship, He would then be merciful to their unrighteousness, and provide a means for their sins and their iniquities to be remembered no more. They were to be entirely erased from God’s book of remembrance.”

Only under the New Covenant, on this side of the cross, can we find the cure for our greatest problem. If one desires to live under the Old Covenant they abandon the promise of God to provide forgiveness. Any Bible student should recognize the importance of this promise. Eternity is at stake and living in accordance to the correct covenant is of utmost importance.

Please recall, as we previously studied, Jesus shed His blood and died on the cross to ratify the New Covenant. Thus, understanding the role Jesus plays in our redemption, we see the importance of this covenant. The Bible displays the significance of Jesus and His atoning death. The subject matter is of such importance it was the focal point of both covenants. Isaiah, considered by many to be the most distinguished prophet of all, foretold these beautiful words, “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.” (Isaiah 53:10).

Thus the promise of forgiveness is etched in one of the most famous passages of Scripture. John identifies the life Jesus was destined to live, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). He then records the following statement, “And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2). Thus Jesus died in our place, as our substitute, shedding His blood that we might be the beneficiaries. We access this forgiveness through the gospel. Paul declared, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).

The gospel can be obeyed according to 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and 9 and is done as a burial and resurrection in the form of baptism according to Romans 6:3-6. Therefore the Bible plainly declares baptism is where we “wash away” (Acts 22:16) our sins. Acts 2:38 echoes the same teaching, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”

In our quest to understand the Hebrew author’s statement “a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6) we have noticed several fundamental truths. There are two great covenants given in God’s word. It was, according to Scripture, the plan of God to abolish the first (old) covenant to make way for the establishment of the second, or new, covenant. The Old Cove- nant lacks the ability to provide forgiveness of sin, however, the New Covenant, which faithful Christians are now living in conjunction with, provides the avenue for our sins to be forgiven. If we desire to please God according to His will we must make sure we are living in conjunction with His effective covenant.

Stay with us for a final word, after our song…

We hope you will contact us so we can help you obey the Lord according to the new covenant. Again, you may pre-order our new six lesson correspondence or simply request a copy of this message, "A Better Covenant, #1121. Sign in to our Facebook page for the daily Bible verse and subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch the weekly message at your convenience. Join us next week as we continue in our stand for truth in a world of religious confusion. We say with the apostle Paul in Romans 16:16, “the churches of Christ salute you.” Until next week, goodbye and God bless.

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We are members of the church of Christ as found in the New Testament. We are not members of a denomination or earthly religious organization. We are a brotherhood of believers, joined by a common bond, Jesus Christ. We try to live and worship following the patterns found in the New Testament.

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The Ten Commandments

Covenant With Israel
A covenant is an agreement. God made an agreement with the descendants of Jacob. The Law given through Moses, including the Ten Commandments, is the written record of that agreement. “The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive.” (Deuteronomy 5:2-3). The “us” in the passage is the Israelites. The Law was given only to the Israelites. We are not under the Law and it’s commandments today because it was a covenant between the Israelites and God.

Temporary
This covenant was temporary in nature. God revealed through the prophet Jeremiah, “... I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel ...” (Jeremiah 31:31). The apostle Paul explained that the Law of Moses was intended as a teacher to bring those under the Law to Christ. But after Christ came, those under the Law were no longer under it. “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” (Galatians 3:24-25).

Follow Christ
One can not follow the Law of Moses and at the same time follow Christ. “For Christ is the end of the law of righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:6).

A Better Covenant
Christ is the Mediator of a new and better covenant. “... He is also a Mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second” (Hebrews 8:6-7). Two covenants cannot be in effect at the same time. See Hebrews 9:15-10:4.

Priesthood Of Christ
Christ is High Priest and all Christians are priests under the new covenant (Hebrews 4:4; 1 Peter 2:9). If the first covenant were still in effect Christ could not be a high priest and Christians could not be priests. See Hebrews 7:11-19.

Law Fulfilled
The Law was fulfilled in Christ. He said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

Law Removed
Jesus fulfilled the Law and provided for forgiveness of sins through His own sacrifice. In so doing He removed the Law. “... having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).

Covenants Contrasted
The apostles of Jesus were ministers of a new covenant. The former passed away; the new covenant remains and is more glorious (2 Corinthians 3:5-11).

What Principles?
Since we are not under the Ten Commandments, someone may ask, “Is it all right to kill, to steal, to commit adultery, or to do the other things which the Ten Commandments prohibit?” No! Those things are forbidden in the New Testament also. The apostle Peter wrote of the knowledge God revealed in Christ, “... His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness ...” (2 Peter 1:3).

Why Study The Law?
The Law reveals much about the nature of God, the importance of obedience, the certainty of punishment for disobedience, and the importance of faith. These and other lessons are learned from a study of the Old Testament. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

Handle Correctly
If we are to correctly apply the Scriptures, we must handle them correctly. It is incorrect to lift out the parts we want and overlook other parts. This is the practice of those who lift the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament and apply them for today. For example, the commandments require Sabbath observance. The Sabbath is the seventh day --- Saturday. Some have sought to make an adjustment by use of the phrase “Christian Sabbath.” But the Scriptures do not speak of a “Christian Sabbath.” Christians assembled for worship on the Lord’s Day --- Sunday. See Acts 20:7. As Christians, we should follow the pattern found in the New Testament.

Salvation In Christ
The Israelites did not receive forgiveness for sins under the Law. See Hebrews 10:4. A remembrance of sins was made once each year. But under the new covenant there is forgiveness as Jeremiah prophesied, “... I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).

Jesus Is Lord
To accept Jesus as Lord is to submit to His authority. If we lift portions of the Law and apply them today, we do not accept Jesus as Lord. If we accept Him as Lord and Savior, we will accept His authority as expressed in these words, “... All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20).

What Can You Do?
You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from sin, and following Jesus Word) (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

We Welcome You
Following the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community [which are collectively known as the “churches of Christ” Romans 16:16] welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

We would be happy to assist you in finding the location of the Lord's church near you. A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

Presented By:
Dennis Crawford
253-396-0290
e-mail: BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com www.BibleTruthsToU.blogspot.com
www.cocpw.com www.NewTestamentChurch.org
www.LettheBibleSpeak.com
And here is the rest of it. Read more!

Introduction to Hermeneutics

Introduction to Hermeneutics

by Smith Bibens

last updated 24 May 2020xx

The study of hermeneutics is a scriptural and essential 

endeavor … and if neglected, can produce dire results

The field of study involved in interpreting the Scriptures is called "biblical hermeneutics." The English word “hermeneutics" is descended from the Greek word hermeneuo, which is used in its verb and noun forms, including compound forms, nineteen times in the New Testament. Vine defines hermeneuo (Strong # 2059): "denotes to explain, interpret . . . and is used of explaining the meaning of words in a different language . . ." (424). This word is derived from Hermes, a god of the Greek pantheon (equivalent to the Roman god Mercury), who served as the messenger for the Gods, transmitting and interpreting their messages to man. The occurrences in New Testament follow. Italicized English words indicate those which translate the Greek term.

hermeneou (verb, Strong's # 2059)

John 1:38 “Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, 'What seek ye?' They said unto him, 'Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master) where dwellest thou?' ”

'

John 1:42 “And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, 'Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas,' (which is by interpretation, A stone).”

John 9:7 “And said unto him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,’ (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”

Hebrews 7:2 “To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation ‘King of righteousness,’ and after that also King of Salem, which is, ‘King of peace.’ ”

hermeneia (noun, Strong's # 2058)

1 Corinthians 12:10 “To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

I Corinthians 14:26 “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”

diermeneou (verb, Strong's # 1329), a strengthened form of No. 1 (dia, through, used intensively), signifies to interpret fully, to explain" (Vine 424).

Luke 24:27 “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

Acts 9:36 “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.”

1 Corinthians 12:30 “Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?”

1 Corinthians 14:5 “I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may. receive edifying.”

1 Corinthians 14:13 “Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.”

1 Corinthians 14:27 “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.”

methermeneou (verb, Strong's # 3177), "to change or translate from one language to another (meta, implying change, and No. 1), to interpret" (Vine 424). Occurrences: Mt. 1:23; Mk. 5:41; 15:22, 15:34; Jn. 1:41; Acts 4:36; 13:8.

Milton Terry says,

“Hermeneutics is the science of interpretation. The word is usually applied to the explanation of written documents, and may therefore be specifically defined as the science of interpreting an author's language. This science assumes that there are divers modes of thought and ambiguities of expression among men, and, accordingly, it aims to remove the supposable differences between a writer and his readers, so that the meaning of the one may be truly and accurately apprehended by the others”(17).

In addition to applying the study of hermeneutics to the study of Scripture, there are other disciplines in which the study of hermeneutics is employed, such as in jurisprudence (legal issues), communication science, and information science.

Actually, everyone practices the science and art of hermeneutics every day, because we practice interpreting communication from others every day. We are constantly interpreting all kinds of communications: verbal, written, and visual. Whenever we read a newspaper, a billboard advertisement, or watch a TV program, we are interpreting communication. Most of the time it is automatic, and we are hardly conscious of the interpreting process going on in our minds, but it is going on. Most of the communication we receive on a daily basis is from people with whom we share a common culture, language, and history, so the interpretation process is an easy one.

What happens, however, when we encounter a person who is a foreigner and does not speak English well? Putting the shoe on the other foot, what happens when we are the foreigner, as when we visit overseas? We often have difficulty in communicating and understanding the messages we are bombarded with on such occasions. A traveler's dictionary, even an interpreter, might be brought into the picture to help us out.

What happens when we encounter a piece of writing that is written in a foreign language, or written a very long time ago, or written in a culture that was quite different from the one we live in today? We would certainly not understand such writings without a conscious effort at interpretation. For example, most people who read Shakespeare today have to read an annotated edition that explains all the unfamiliar words and figures of speech of the English of Shakespeare's day. As another example, once a brother in the church bought a multi-volume set of commentaries called The Biblical Expositor, thinking that he would receive a great deal of help on his chapter studies from this source. As he read the volumes, however, he found that the men whose works were included in this set were all dead and gone a century or two ago, and their writings reflected the forms and syntax of the English language of a century or two ago. He found it positively unreadable, and eventually gave the whole set away.

The foregoing examples illustrate that they may be encountered within our own language and culture, given the passage of just a few centuries. In the Bible we encounter a body of writing that was set down nearly two millennia ago, in a culture that was radically different from ours, and in languages that we, most of us anyway, do not understand.

The Bible is a divine book in that it is inspired and authored by God through the Holy Spirit. But God has caused His Word to be clothed in human words. So the Bible is a book of human communication, and must be interpreted by the same methods, rules, and means that we would bring to the interpretation of any other written document. God has seen fit to put His self-revelation in written form, therefore, to understand what is written we must appeal to the same canons of interpretation that we would apply to any document.

How important is this written communication to our knowledge of God? Just think for a minute: what could we know about God or His will if we did not have this written communication we know as the Bible? Psalm 19:1 declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork." Paul, before Gentile audiences, argues from creation (Acts 14:17), to show that God is and that He is good. But that is about all that we can know about God apart from the Bible.

Revelation was necessary, for man was incapable of  "reaching up" to God. "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21, NIV). Therefore, God had to reveal Himself to man through a medium that man could understand --- the medium of human language.

From the foregoing, we see that the study of hermeneutics is a scriptural and essential endeavor. It is one aspect of Bible study that, if neglected, can produce dire results. It is with this in mind that we enter upon a study of this subject. As we launch out into the study, it must become immediately clear that there is not time enough in this whole week of study sessions to do justice to the subject. However, after looking over the schedule for this day, which includes other studies relating to hermeneutics, I thought it best to spend some time in laying a foundation for hermeneutic studies.

Foundation Facts of Hermeneutics: Axiomatic Truths About
the Bible that Make Hermeneutics Possible

1. The Bible is inspired by God.

If the Bible is not inspired by God, then ultimately its message is not very important and understanding it aright need not be a high priority. On the other hand, if the Bible is the revelation of the Omnipotent God who is Creator and Moral Governor of the Universe, then the message of the Bible is of the highest importance, and understanding it becomes the highest priority.

The Scriptures affirm that they are from God. The human penmen of both the Old and New Testaments taught that their words were not their own, but the words of God. To some minds it is circular logic to claim that the Scriptures are inspired because they claim to be. However, we could not know that the Bible was a divine revelation unless it made that assertion for itself. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 presents the testimony of Scripture to Scripture.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Old Testament. Over 3800 times we read "The word of the Lord came unto...", or "The Lord spoke.. .", or "Thus saith the Lord. . ." or words of like import. Jesus affirmed the inspiration of the Old Testament by repeatedly quoting from it as the Word of God. (See my recent 

article "Jesus' Attitude Toward Scripture," Christian's Expositor, March 1997.) Of the twenty-four books in the Hebrew arrangement of the Old Testament, Jesus quoted from twenty-two of them.1 Jesus quoted passages as historical truth that are most scorned by Bible critics: Jonah and the great fish (Matthew 13:40), Lot's wife (Luke 17:32), Noah and the Flood (Matthew 24:37-38), the creation of man and of the institution of marriage (Matthew 19:4-6). Jesus often acknowledged that the Old Testament Scriptures were the Word of God (Luke 16:17; Matthew 4:1-11; 5:17-18; 22:29-32; Mark 7:6-9; Isaiah 29:13). The apostles followed the Lord's example. In the apostolic writings there are, by one writer's count, 1600 quotations, allusions, and references to the Old Testament. Peter asserts, "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21, NIV).

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1. The Hebrews did not have less in their OT than we do. They simply had it arranged differently. Instead of 1 and 2 Kings, they had a book called Kings. Other books were combined. For example, Ruth was a part of Judges. The order was different. For example, Chronicles was the last book of the Hebrew arrangement. The arrangement of the English Bible is borrowed from the arrangement adopted by the Septuagint. A book on Bible introduction will supply more information on this and other matters that are good to know in doing Bible exegesis. I would particularly recommend Geisler and Nix's General Introduction to the Bible, Moody, 1968.

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New Testament. Jesus made the same claims for His words that He made for the canonical Old Testament Scriptures. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). He stated that His words were from the Father (John 12:49; 14:22-23). Jesus promised His apostles that they would receive divine help in preaching the gospel (John 14:26; 16:13). He promised,

“And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you” (Matthew 10:18-20).

This promise was fulfilled. Paul said, "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:23; 14:37; see also Galatians 1:11-12). Peter affirms, "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed” (2 Peter 1:16-20).

There are three terms that are commonly used by conservative Bible scholars to describe the quality and quantity of God's inspiration of the Scriptures.

a. Verbal

b. Plenary.

c. Progressive

Verbal Inspiration. This term signifies that the very words of Scripture are inspired. God has taken up human words and framed them in sentences that would accurately convey the thoughts He intended. Paul writes definitively on this in 1 Cor-inthians 2:4, 10-13.

“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power... But God bath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (see also 1 Thessalonians 2:13).

Since the very words of Scripture are inspired, arguments are even made within Scripture that turn on the tense of a verb (Matthew 22:32) or the whether a noun is plural or singular in number (Galatians 3:16).

Because the very words of Scripture are inspired the importance of word definitions is crucial. This is clear when we see words like "baptize," "sing," "communion," "cup," in 

Scripture. All valid exegesis of Scripture begins with understanding the meanings of the words found in Scripture as they were used and understood in the time Scripture was penned. For instance, we do not define "baptize” by the modern English dictionary, but according to the common usage of the word in the Greek speaking world of the first century. Lexical and grammatical study is the foundation of Bible exegesis, and Bible hermeneutics has guidance to offer in these studies.

Plenary Inspiration. "Plenary" means "full, complete, entire, extending to every part." Plenary inspiration means the Bible is inspired in every part. The Bible does not just "contain" the Word of God, it is the Word of God. This means that the genealogies of Numbers and 1 Chronicles are just as inspired as Psalm 23, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), or 1 Corinthians 13. The latter passages may be of greater relevance to a spiritual need we have in our lives, but they are no more inspired, qualitatively speaking, than the former.

The practical significance of this is that we must take all the Scriptures teach into consideration when we study a subject. We cannot isolate a passage from other passages on that subject and expect to arrive at a valid in Also, we cannot be selective in what we accept as inspired. 

    Some people want to take Paul's words on love in 1 Corinthians 13 as inspired, and reject what he says in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 about women speaking in the assembly. They say that when he addresses the latter issue, his human prejudice shows through! Either the Apostle Paul was inspired or he was not. His writings are either altogether inspired or not at all.

    Furthermore, if we adopt the idea that only parts of the Bible are inspired, who is to say which parts? Subjective human opinion becomes the highest authority in religion if it is left to man to decide what is inspired.

Progressive Inspiration. This means that God did not just send an angel to earth with the completed volume of the Bible. God did not commit its inscripturation to one man at one time. The Bible was penned over a span of 1600 years by about forty penmen who produced a total of sixty-six books: thirty-nine Old Testament and twenty-seven New Testament.

    Tracing the scheme of redemption through it's pages, we find that God's plan was unveiled gradually over three dispensations of time Patriarchal, Mosaical, and the Christian.: What began as personal revelation to selected persons (family heads or "patriarchs"), eventually became centered in the chosen nation of Israel. Moses was the first prophet to inscripturate God's revelation, and this ushered in a period of about 1600 years during which time further Scriptures were added to what Moses wrote. Hear the writer of Hebrews as that book opens;

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:12).

There have been two great written revelations given by God. The first was given to Israel by the prophets. Beginning with Moses, this period of inspired writing continued through the return from Babylonian exile down to Malachi. The result is the Old Testament. The second was given to all mankind through Jesus, the Son of God, by His apostles and prophets: the New Testament (cf. Hebrews 2:14). The first written revelation prepared for and made possible the second (Galatians 3:24-25; 4:1-5; Ephesians 3:1-5; Hebrews 8:7-10). However, God's revelation has not progressed indefinitely.

2. The Bible is a Finished Revelation.

The Bible is perfect and complete in its entire contents and only its contents are necessary to furnish us with the knowledge of truth and right. Everything pertaining to life and godliness has been revealed. (2 Peter 1:3). Jesus promised that His apostles would be guided by the Spirit into "all truth" (John 16:13). When those men finished their earthly work and left behind the books that make up the New Testament, that closed God's revelatory work.

    In view of the Lord's promise, and the teachings of the New Testament writers, that leaves no room for further revelations like the Koran, Book of Mormon, or modern Pentecostal “revelations." James describes the New Testament as the "perfect" law of liberty  (James 1:25). How can you fill a full cup or go north when you are standing on the North Pole? Likewise, you cannot improve upon that which is perfect and complete.

3. The Bible is the All-sufficient Authority in Religion.

Since the Bible is a complete revelation, lacking nothing that is needful for man's spiritual well-being, then it alone is a sufficient authority and guide in the Christian faith. Denominational creeds, catechisms, manuals, and books of discipline; innovations in the work and worship of the church; theological modernism; all these are evidence that the all-sufficiency of the Scriptures is not respected.

    Many would sooner listen to fellow mortals than the counsels of God (Matthew 15:9). We are specifically warned against changing the message of the Bible. We cannot add to it (Revelation 22:18; 2 John 9). We cannot subtract from it (Revelation 22:19). We cannot change it in any way from what was delivered by the Lord's apostles and prophets (Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thess- alonians 2:15; 3:14). In the words of John D. MacDonald,

“God may have more light to break forth from His word; but he has no light to give apart from his Word. We can never grow beyond these everlasting words; we can only grow into them more deeply” (What the Bible Teaches About the Bible, Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale, 1980).

Some people are not tolerant of such a view. A Unitarian preacher once protested, "Purity of heart and life is more important than correctness of doctrine." To this a more conservative preacher responded, "Healing is more important than the remedy; but without the remedy there would be no healing." Likewise, there can be no pure Christian living without pure Christian doctrine.

A final point to make about the Bible's authority over life: its words will be the standard by which humans are judged on the final day (John 12:47-48; Revelation 20:12).

4. The Bible is Understandable.

A great error, widely held, is that the Bible cannot be understood by most people; some would say, all people. Some lament, "Everyone sees the Bible differently." On the other hand one hears, "Only those well studied in a seminary are fit to understand and interpret the Bible." In particular, the Roman Catholic church has claimed for centuries the right to be the sole interpreter of the Bible. To discourage people from reading it for themselves, many ecclesiastics have discouraged people with, “You cannot understand the Bible on your own." This tune is also sung by groups as diverse as the Mormons, Watchtower Witnesses, and Christian Scientists.

Scripture teaching, however, is completely against such claims. Jesus said, "Hearken unto Me every one of you and understand" (Mark 7:14). Jesus indicated that those who had difficulty understanding Him were those who were ensnared by the Devil (John 8:43-44). Paul adds, "So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:17, NASV). Were Jesus and Paul mistaken to utter such exhortations? I think not!

Admittedly, there are difficult passages in Scripture. These passages may be wrested by the unlearned and unstable to their own destruction (2 Peter 3;15-16). Note that it is the "unlearned" who fail to understand. Remember, just because something is hard to do does not mean it is impossible to do. If we make a commitment of time and effort we can understand God's Word (Proverbs 2:3-5). Learning leads to understanding. Greater learning results in greater understanding.

    When I entered Algebra I my freshman year in high school, the subject was a dark mystery to me. Once I learned the subject, I found that I understood its principles, symbols, significance, and usefulness. This understanding came only after arduous study. In coming to understand Scripture we have to follow the same strategy. And we must keep it up all life long. Timothy knew the Scriptures from his youth (2 Timothy 3:15), but he is still enjoined to study (1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 2:15).

The Bible has been compared to the Earth. The farmer can make a living by scratching the surface of the Earth. The miner delves deep into the bowels of the earth to bring forth precious minerals, gems, and the treasures of the Earth's resources. Likewise, an ordinary reader of Scripture can find all that pertains to life and godliness very easily in the Bible. At the same time, the Bible scholar will delve deep into the text and bring forth great treasures of truth.

The ability of everyone to understand the Scripture was a controversial topic during the Reformation. For centuries the Scriptures had been regarded as a dark and mysterious book requiring secret skills of interpretation to unlock; skills only possessed by the church. Martin Luther came to maintain the essential clarity and simplicity of Scripture. He said,

“This does not mean there are no difficult or obscure passages in Scripture. But such passages can be interpreted through clearer passages or through . . . grammatical studies. If such passages still remain unclear after such investigations, the reason lies not in the obscurity of the text, but in the mind of the reader.”

Would God be just to require that men obey His Word in order to go to heaven        (Matthew 7:20-21; John 12:47-48), and then give that Word in such a form that no man can understand? Hear Milton:

“We count it no gentleness or fair dealing, in a man of power, to require strict and punctual obedience, and yet give out his commands ambiguously. We should think that he had a plot upon us. Certainly such commands were no commands, but snares. The very essence of truth is plainness and brightness; the darkness and ignorance are our own” (Milton, quoted in Terry 160).

Terry adds,

“We cannot believe that the sacred writers desired to be misunderstood. They did not write with a purpose to confuse and mislead their readers. Nor is it reasonable to suppose that the Scripture, given by divine inspiration, is of the nature of a puzzle designed to exercise the ingenuity of critics. It was given to make men wise unto salvation, and in great part it is so direct and simple in its teachings that a little child can understand its meaning” (Terry 161).

The German commentator Lange gives us a fair illustration of the real difficulty.

“As the sun in the earthly heavens has to break through many a cloudy media, so also does the divine word of the Holy Scriptures through the confusion of every kind which arises from the soil of earthly intuition and representation” (Lange, quoted in Terry on p. 162).

5. The Bible is a Harmonious Unity.

The Bible is a unique book. Sixty-six books really, written over sixteen centuries, by forty men, it is nonetheless, a harmonious whole. Many deny this fact, but the truth of this claim can be easily established by one's reading through the Bible attentively. What forty human writers over the past two millennia could take up a controversial subject and all make the same observations and come to the same conclusions? A study of the history of philosophy will satisfy anyone that, for humans, this is impossible. How does one explain the marvelous unity of Scripture except by divine revelation?

Jesus inferred the unity and harmony of Scripture in His teaching. "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me" (John 5:39, NIV; see also Luke 24:27, 44). Paul affirmed the unity of apostolic teaching (1 Corinthians 15:9-11; Galatians 2:1-9), as did Peter (2 Peter 3:15-16) and John 

(1 John 4:6).

Because the Scriptures are harmonious, one can expect to achieve a proper grasp of the will of God on a particular subject only by bringing together all that the Bible has to say on that subject. Clearer passages must govern the understanding of more difficult passages. For example, Revelation 20 must not be interpreted in such a way that it conflicts with the plain teaching of 1 Corinthians 15. Remember that in the final analysis, Scripture must interpret Scripture!

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Foundation Facts of Hermeneutics

1. The Bible is Inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 14:37)

a. Verbal (1 Corinthians 2:4, 13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).

b. Plenary (2 Peter 1:20-21; Luke 24:44).

c. Progressive (Hebrews 1:1-2; Deuteronomy 18:15, 18).

2. The Bible is a Finished Revelation. (2 Peter 1:3; John 16:13; Jude 3; James 1:25).

3. The Bible is the Only Authority in Religion. (Galatians 1:6-9; 2 John 9; Revelation 22:18-19).

4. The Bible is Understandable (Ephesians 5:17; Mark 7:14; 2 Peter 3:15-16; Proverbs 2:3-5)

5. The Bible is a Harmonious Unity (Luke 24:27, 44; 1 Corinthians 15:9-11)

Bibliography and for Further Reading

Balchin, John F., Understanding Scripture. Downer's Grove, Ill.: Intervarsity press, 1981.

Dungan, D. R., Hermeneutics. Delight, Ark.: Gospel Light, n.d.

Ferguson, Douncan S., Biblical Hermeneutics: An Introduction. Atlanta: John Knox, 1986.

Kaiser, Walter C. Toward an Exegetical Theology: Biblical Exegesis for Preaching and Teaching. Grand Rapids: Baker,          1981.

McQuilken, Robertson., Understanding and Applying the Bible. Chicago: Moody, 1983, 1992.

Mickelson, A. Berkeley., Interpreting the Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdman's, 1963.

Mickelson, A. Berkeley and Alvera Mickelson. Better Bible Study: A Layman's Guide to Interpreting and Understanding God's Word. Glendale, Calif.: Regal, 1977.

Ramm, Bernard. Protestant Biblical Interpretation. Boston: W. A. Wilde, rev. ed. 1956.

Terry, Milton S. Biblical Hermeneutics. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1974.

Vine, W. E. Vine's Amplified Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. Stephen Renn, ed. World Bible Publishers,     n.d.

Virkier, Henry A. Hermeneutics: principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981.

Woods, Guy N. How to Study the New Testament Effectively. Nashville: Gospel Advocate, 1992.

Please Contact me, Dennis Crawford, at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com or 253-396-0290 (cell) for comments, questions, further Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you. Read more!