5. The word of God has its own built-in dictionary
We must not rely on man-made definitions to understand Bible words. All of the words in the Bible can be understood by the studying the Bible itself. There is no need to look to outside sources to understand Bible words.
A. Look up the first mention of the word
B. Consider the word in context
C. Note parallelism (e.g. fellowship defined in 2 Cor. 6:14-16)
D. Check cross-references
6. Context, Context, Context!
The Bible is not a collection of sayings. All false teachers use the Bible, they just use it out of context. Consider each passage in light of it’s dispensational context (prophecy or mystery). What is the context of the book? What is the context of the chapter? What is the immediate context?
“It shall greatly help ye to understand Scripture if thou mark not only what is spoken or wrythen, but of whom and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before and what followeth after.” Coverdale (1488-1569).
7. We must always keep in mind that the scriptures were given by progressive revelation
A. Look up the first mention of the word
B. Consider the word in context
C. Note parallelism (e.g. fellowship defined in 2 Cor. 6:14-16)
D. Check cross-references
6. Context, Context, Context!
The Bible is not a collection of sayings. All false teachers use the Bible, they just use it out of context. Consider each passage in light of it’s dispensational context (prophecy or mystery). What is the context of the book? What is the context of the chapter? What is the immediate context?
“It shall greatly help ye to understand Scripture if thou mark not only what is spoken or wrythen, but of whom and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before and what followeth after.” Coverdale (1488-1569).
7. We must always keep in mind that the scriptures were given by progressive revelation
Progressive revelation is dispensational truth. A biblical dispensation is marked by God dispensing new revelation that brings about a change in how He deals with man. We must not read truth back into a passage before it was revealed. For example, the baptism WITH the Holy Ghost in Acts 2 according to prophecy (Acts 2:16) cannot be the same baptism BY the Spirit into the Body of Christ which was a mystery later revealed through Paul (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 3:1-12).
8. We must consider what Paul says first (2 Tim. 2:7)
Since the apostle Paul is the divinely appointed spokesman for this present age of grace, we must consider what he says first if we are going to understand the scriptures. We cannot possibly follow everything the Bible says. We must follow the doctrine and example that Christ gave us for this age in the apostle Paul (1 Cor. 4:16-17; 11:1).
8. We must consider what Paul says first (2 Tim. 2:7)
Since the apostle Paul is the divinely appointed spokesman for this present age of grace, we must consider what he says first if we are going to understand the scriptures. We cannot possibly follow everything the Bible says. We must follow the doctrine and example that Christ gave us for this age in the apostle Paul (1 Cor. 4:16-17; 11:1).
9. We must rightly divide the word of truth
This is the main key to Bible study. In the one verse in which God told us to study His word, He told us exactly how to do it (2 Tim. 2:15). The upcoming posts will explain this main key.
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