By Joe Slater
Yes. You. Can!
Will it be easy peasy lemon squeezy? Not likely. Will you understand everything completely the first time you read it? Of course not, but you could say that about practically anything.
One major religion teaches that the “laity” (as opposed to the “clergy”) cannot understand the Bible, so that group’s hierarchy must interpret it and tell the people what it means. Paul the apostle disagrees! “By revelation He (the Lord) made known to me the mystery(as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:3-4).
Now that same apostle wrote “some things hard to understand.” So said another apostle (2 Peter 3:16). But he didn’t say “impossible to understand,” nor did he suggest not even trying to understand.
The blessed man’s “delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Yes, understanding the Bible takes study (not mere reading) and serious thought. “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).
Take full advantage of every opportunity to understand the Bible. Study in private. Study with others in Bible classes. While going about your daily tasks, think about what you have read from the Scriptures. Difficult passages will become clearer as you study and learn texts that are more obvious. And remember, understanding is not an end in itself. “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
Yes. You. Can!
Will it be easy peasy lemon squeezy? Not likely. Will you understand everything completely the first time you read it? Of course not, but you could say that about practically anything.
One major religion teaches that the “laity” (as opposed to the “clergy”) cannot understand the Bible, so that group’s hierarchy must interpret it and tell the people what it means. Paul the apostle disagrees! “By revelation He (the Lord) made known to me the mystery(as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:3-4).
Now that same apostle wrote “some things hard to understand.” So said another apostle (2 Peter 3:16). But he didn’t say “impossible to understand,” nor did he suggest not even trying to understand.
The blessed man’s “delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Yes, understanding the Bible takes study (not mere reading) and serious thought. “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).
Take full advantage of every opportunity to understand the Bible. Study in private. Study with others in Bible classes. While going about your daily tasks, think about what you have read from the Scriptures. Difficult passages will become clearer as you study and learn texts that are more obvious. And remember, understanding is not an end in itself. “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
“Therefore do not be unwise, but
understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians
5:17).
- Joe Slater serves as minister of the Church of Christ in
Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the congregation's
website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com
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