This page provides some introductory articles for a basic look at the issues related to understanding the Bible. Yes, the Bible CAN be accurately understood - if a person is willing to accept what it says!
There are two main articles, which summarize most of what is found in the "Bible" section of this journal:
- "The Bible - God's Word to All People" presents a concise summary of what we must do, if we want to understand the Bible and benefit from it. This may be the most important article in this journal, for it focuses on the foundation on which all the other articles are built. Your response to this one article will most likely determine your response to all the other articles.
- "The Bible - From God to Us" is a highly-detailed chart, which shows the relationships between various issues involved in how we received the Bible (from God) and how we can correctly understand it. You do not need to understand everything in the chart, in order to understand the Bible; but the chart will be quite helpful if you are trying to understand the various background issues.
Also included is a help (for keeping track of what you have read in the Bible), an article about the Bible's uniqueness, and a warning.
DO SOMETHING!
Start reading the Bible! Apply the principles you read in the article, "The Bible - God's Word for All People." You may also want to consider keeping a "journal" - a record of your observations, questions or topics you may wish to explore later, prayer requests, etc.
The main articles: |
We could call this our "manifesto," for it defines our perspective - and everything else in this journal is based on this view. This article focuses on reading God's Word, understanding it and living it. It also contains a short study of the four basic ways that people respond to the Word, and encourages us to respond in the way that Jesus says is right. |
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This is a flow chart that presents the issues involved in the transmission of God's Word (from God to us), as well as the issues involved in correctly understanding it. It also explains why people come to false conclusions and error - the reason that there are so many "interpretations" of what the Bible says. |
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Other articles: |
Bible Reading Chart |
This chart can be used for keeping track of what you read in the Bible. It can be helpful for those who have the goal of reading the entire Bible, especially if they wish to move around from section to section. The PDF chart is designed to be printed on both sides of a standard sheet of paper, and then folded into thirds. |
The Unique and Unstoppable Word of God |
The Bible is unique: It is different from all other books in what it says, in how it has been preserved down through the centuries, and in how people respond to it. It is also unstoppable: Though people try to attack, suppress, and destroy it, they will never (and can never) succeed; the Bible and its message will prevail. |
For more about the unique characteristics about the Bible, see: Three Unique Characteristics About the Bible. |
The Bible is dangerous. A person cannot read it without being affected in some way. Exactly what the effect will be depends on the attitude the person has toward it. [This is a short article, comprised of a short saying and a Bible verse.] |
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Jesus prayed... Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17) The Bible also warns those who choose to ignore the Bible... It would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. (2 Peter 2:21) |