The Strand Study Bible

Written From Ephesus During Paul’s T hird Missionary Journey

I CORINTHIANS

1882

spiritual ). In other words, in order to understand any Scripture we must consult all Scripture, thus the rule for interpreting difficult and ambiguous passages within the Bible is always to cross-reference those passages in the light of parallel passages that are explicit and clear. The King James EASY-READING Red Lettered Study Bible notes:

Simply stated, “The Bible interprets the Bible.” Please notice that the word, “Bible” is repeated twice. The first mention is with reference to the Word of God as a whole. The second mention is to God’s Word in any of its parts. So then, if we are wanting to know the correct interpretation of a particular verse or chapter of Scripture, it must be examined in the light of the other parts or whole of Scripture. 4

2. We must learn to surrender our will for God’s will ( Rev 1:1b ) If we are to study and understand the Bible the way God intended us to, first and foremost, our motto must be, “Lord, I want what you want. What is it you want ( Acts 10:35 )?” Henrietta C. Mears in What the Bible Is All About notes: You must give to the Bible attention with intention, and it is intention that will necessitate attention. Perhaps there is so little attention in Bible reading today because there is so little intention. We must come to it with a purpose... 5 3. We must learn to focus upon the repetition of a truth within a passage and/or book of the Bible ( Isa 66:5 ) Anytime God repeats Himself within Scripture (Lev 19:18) it’s because He is trying to emphasize something. Take, for example, the subject of CHRIST’S deity (Jn 5:17-18 & 8:53-59 & 10:30-33). Every time the religious Jews tried to kill Jesus, it was always for the same reason He said He was God and thus a part of the Triune Godhead. 4. We must learn to follow the context of a passage ( I Cor 2:9-11a , Lk 23: 29- 31 , Acts 7:45 , Heb 4:8a and Rev 4:10–5:7), according to its original language (Num 12:1-10 and Rev 17:6 ) It’s called exegesis (the critical analysis and “breaking down” of the original language so that we can understand what we believe about God). Gary E. Gilley in I Just Wanted More Land notes: Exegesis is discovering the meaning of a given text of Scripture. 6 Martin Luther once noted: If I were younger, I would want to learn this language [Hebrew], for without it one can never properly understand the Holy Scripture… For that reason they have said correctly: “The Jews drink out of the original spring, the Greeks drink out of the stream flowing out of the stream, the Latins, however, out of the puddle.” 7 We can only speculate how Martin Luther would have characterized those of us who read the Scriptures in modern English. 5. We must learn to view God as a God of order (I Cor 14:33,40/Gen 1:1-3) According to Genesis 1:1-3, God’s Word has the ability to turn chaos (vs 2) into order (vs 3). Thus God’s Word, when placed in order, has the capability of turning confusion into comprehension. NOTE The Bible is like a puzzle. The way you piece it together determines the time it takes to see the real picture. Learn the “chronological” order of the Bible and the God of order will unveil the true picture to you. 6. We must learn to obey what we already know to be true (Jn 8:30-32 and Deut 17:14-17/I Ki 4:26 & 10:23-27 & 11:1) We must be willing to be “doers” of the Word and not hearers only (Jms 1:22,25). 7. We must learn to practice humility (Mt 11:20-25 and II Sam 24:1 ) Truth belongs to God and to those who “humble” themselves before Him.

1 Alcorn, Randy. Heaven , Carol Stream, Ill., Tyndale, 2004. Print. 2 Lehman, Louis Paul. Questions I Had to Settle , Grand Rapids, MI, Lamp-Lighter Productions., 1965. Print. 3 Richardson, Cyril C. The Doctrine Of The Trinity , Nashville, TN, Abingdon Press, 1958. Print. 4 The King James EASY-READING Red Lettered Study Bible . Humboldt, TN., G.E.M. Publishing, 2009. Print. 5 Mears, Henrietta C. What the Bible Is All About , Glendale, CA, Regal Books, 1953. Print. 6 Gilley, Gary E. I Just Wanted More Land , Fairfax, VA, Xulon Press, 2001. Print. 7 “Martin Luther.” ancient-hebrew.org. 1 Aug 2007 .