Have you ever come across a passage of Scripture that you just couldn’t understand? Have you ever struggled through a chapter of Romans, 1 Corinthians, or Revelation? Have you ever looked for answers in commentaries and study notes only to find out that other Christian theologians and scholars have interpreted passages completely different? Have you had the “privilege” to sit through passionate debates between believers about specific interpretations of Scripture?
If we are not careful, these disagreements can lead us to division, or they could lead us to simply give up. They could lead us to believe that the Bible cannot be understood, or that it’s meaning is flexible and changes depending on the reader’s bias.
I was reading through 2 Peter today, and I came across a verse that gives me hope and provides me with a bit of humor. In the midst of an otherwise serious book, Peter talks a bout Paul’s writings.
“…just as our beloved Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these letters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” 2 Peter 3:15b-16 (ESV)
Wait…don’t miss it. Peter just said that Paul is hard to understand. I love it!
Let there be no doubt that there are passages of Scripture that are difficult. Let us never forget that at the very core, we are reading about an infinite, unsearchable, timeless, and perfect God around which we will never be able to fully wrap our minds… and that is ok. In fact, it is good! If you or I could fully know and articulate every mystery of God, our God would not be a God worthy of our worship. There would be no need for faith.
HOWEVER, I believe that God used the biblical authors, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to communicate. So, either we believe that God is a struggling communicator who is impossible to understand, OR we must believe that God intends for His Word to be studied, understood, and lived out.
As I thought more about this, I thought of six things that have helped me in my study through God’s Word. I could certainly say more, but if you want to learn more about God’s Word, how to study it, or how to interpret it, I believe that this will help you like it has helped me.
#1. Don’t give up.
It is easy to get frustrated as you struggle to understand a passage of Scripture, but it is worth the struggle. Don’t give up. This is your fight. This is a fight that is worthy of the time and energy that it will require from you.
#2. Check your motives.
The goal is not to simply know more head knowledge. This leads to pride and a stagnant faith. The goal is to know more about Him, His church, His world, and His Kingdom in order to glorify Him, to worship Him, and to lead others to Him. I encourage you to always check your motives before you study through God’s Word.
#3. Deal with others in love.
The world sees enough bickering, bad-mouthing, and division. The church has experienced enough splits and struggles. As you begin to study God’s Word, you will experience a temptation to create division between those who translate passages in a different way than you. Please don’t hear me wrong; there are certain things that are worth dividing over. For example, Christ is God. I will die for this truth, and it is worth dying for. However, many of our disagreements are simply not worth dividing over. As we come to disagreements in the Scripture, we must deal with our brothers and sisters in love, honesty, and humility. Jesus says that the world will know that we are His by our love for one another.
#4. Seek the wisdom of those who are more mature in the faith.
Chances are that you are blessed to have a more mature believer in your life. Seek them out! This is the power of the body of Christ. We need each other.
My encouragement to whoever you are, no matter your level of maturity, is to find men and women that are more mature in the faith than you, and give them the permission to speak wisdom into your life. You will be surprised to see the balance that this will bring to your life and to you studies in God’s Word.
#5. Consider a good “Hermeneutics” or “Biblical Interpretation” class.
At the risk of sounding dramatic, a Hermeneutics class changed my life and changed the way that I approach God’s Word. Many churches offer classes like this, (including Stone Oak Bible) and I would strongly recommend signing up. If your church does not offer this type of class, and you live near a Bible collage or seminary, ask their admissions office if you would be able to audit the class. It is worth the time. It is worth the money. It is worth the effort.
#6. Pray.
Before you approach God’s Word, pray. As I said before, I believe that God communicates through His Word, and it is important to open your mind and heart to what He has to say. My encouragement to you is to pray that your insecurities, your bias, and your judgments will not get in the way of the message that God has for you through His Word.
Hope this helps you in your journey.