Spiritual Non-Fiction posted January 4, 2019 |
Let us reason together
Tips on Understanding The Bible
by Deniz22
Here's an example of a verse often misunderstood and how to correctly understand it:
Romans 11:33: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
COMMENT:
(1) A quick read gives the impression (true) God has a great wealth of knowledge and the proper use of it, the latter being the true definition of wisdom.
(2) The implication (false) drawn by those who miss the complete meaning of the passage, is no one can know or understand either God or how He does things. In keeping with the misunderstanding of this verse, is the call to worship this unknowable God.
(3) Let's use logic in understanding what is written in the Bible. After all, it is God who said to us in another place, "Let us reason together."
A. Is it logical Paul would be reveling in a knowledge and wisdom he did not understand? Much less calling believers to join him in worshipping an unknowable God? He had just written some deep theological concepts in this chapter, so we may safely rule out any possibility of Paul's ignorance of these matters being a factor in his writings. Paul's point is it is impossible for anyone to "figure out" God on their own.
B. Happily, Paul has written elsewhere about obtaining knowledge from God. We always do well to bring n clarifying scriptures when studying any passage. Considering the context in the immediate passage, epistle-wide and finally, Bible-wide, is still the best and and most accrate commentary for believers.
It's made obvious by the passage itself in this case, Paul knows what God has revealed in His word and is glorying in the understanding of it. His comment on the impossibility of finding God's truth therefore simply means we are totally dependent on God to reveal God and His ways to us.
None but God's born-again people can ever know these things...and how marvelous they are.
C. 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, has much to say on this subject and a careful reading two or three times will make clear at least four things:
1. Only God knows God and His ways
2. He reveals them to us by His Spirit through the scriptures and men who understand them
3. Believers are spiritually equipped to receive God's truth by virtue of their new birth
4. our way to clarity of understanding is by comparing scripture with scripture, even as we are doing here (this gaining of God's knowledge is progressive in nature, the goal being maturity).
1 Corinthians 2:6: However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of: the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (a mystery is a truth previously unknown, now revealed).
9 But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things (scripture) with spiritual (scripture).
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (Note:such a "natural man" has not believed the Gospel so cannot progress in a life he has not entered). Jesus said, "You MUST be born-again."
15 But he who is spiritual judges (discerns or evalulates in light of other scriptures) all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
(This mind of Christ must grow in us just as it did in Jesus' earthly time. Even though He was God, He had to learn God's Word as a Man.)
Here's an example of a verse often misunderstood and how to correctly understand it:
Romans 11:33: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
COMMENT:
(1) A quick read gives the impression (true) God has a great wealth of knowledge and the proper use of it, the latter being the true definition of wisdom.
(2) The implication (false) drawn by those who miss the complete meaning of the passage, is no one can know or understand either God or how He does things. In keeping with the misunderstanding of this verse, is the call to worship this unknowable God.
(3) Let's use logic in understanding what is written in the Bible. After all, it is God who said to us in another place, "Let us reason together."
A. Is it logical Paul would be reveling in a knowledge and wisdom he did not understand? Much less calling believers to join him in worshipping an unknowable God? He had just written some deep theological concepts in this chapter, so we may safely rule out any possibility of Paul's ignorance of these matters being a factor in his writings. Paul's point is it is impossible for anyone to "figure out" God on their own.
B. Happily, Paul has written elsewhere about obtaining knowledge from God. We always do well to bring n clarifying scriptures when studying any passage. Considering the context in the immediate passage, epistle-wide and finally, Bible-wide, is still the best and and most accrate commentary for believers.
It's made obvious by the passage itself in this case, Paul knows what God has revealed in His word and is glorying in the understanding of it. His comment on the impossibility of finding God's truth therefore simply means we are totally dependent on God to reveal God and His ways to us.
None but God's born-again people can ever know these things...and how marvelous they are.
C. 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, has much to say on this subject and a careful reading two or three times will make clear at least four things:
1. Only God knows God and His ways
2. He reveals them to us by His Spirit through the scriptures and men who understand them
3. Believers are spiritually equipped to receive God's truth by virtue of their new birth
4. our way to clarity of understanding is by comparing scripture with scripture, even as we are doing here (this gaining of God's knowledge is progressive in nature, the goal being maturity).
1 Corinthians 2:6: However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of: the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (a mystery is a truth previously unknown, now revealed).
9 But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things (scripture) with spiritual (scripture).
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (Note:such a "natural man" has not believed the Gospel so cannot progress in a life he has not entered). Jesus said, "You MUST be born-again."
15 But he who is spiritual judges (discerns or evalulates in light of other scriptures) all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
(This mind of Christ must grow in us just as it did in Jesus' earthly time. Even though He was God, He had to learn God's Word as a Man.)
119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord!
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord!
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
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