UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE
By Timothy Glover
Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:20, "...no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved buy the Holy Spirit spoke from God." The bible claims inspiration for itself (2 Tim. 3:16) for the apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit, the other comforter (John chs. 14-16).
Paul is the writer of most of the New Testament and he claims that his message came from God (Galatians 1-2, 1 Cor. 2:10-13). He writes in Ephesians 3 that he came to know the mystery by revelation and that the Ephesians may understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ when they read Paul’s letters. What they understood concerning the mystery of Christ, you and I may now understand.
God’s revelation in these last days was through his son (Heb. 1:1,2) by whose authority and in whose name the apostles were commissioned to preach the good news to the world. Jude 3 speaks of "the faith once for all delivered to the saints." Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:3 that God has provided "everything that pertains to live and godliness through the knowledge of him" (Jesus). We can come to know Jesus, his mind (attitude), his deeds, and his will through the apostle’s teaching. All that has been made known is the revelation of God’s mind for us and there will be no more. Jude speaks of it as a faith that has been revealed once for all time just as Jesus died once for all time ( cf. Heb. 9:28). Since what we have is all we have and that it is sufficient, whatever Jesus taught and the apostles taught and wrote is God’s will. Consequently, they will be applicable to us and those who follow. It is true that when we read the N.T., we are reading someone else’s mail. However, we should realize that while the books of the bible were not written to us, they were written for us. The principles of truth are applicable.
One difficulty comes when trying to apply those principles surrounded by first century culture to a 20th century world. We must be able to seize the principle not the culture.
The second obstacle to proper understanding is the failure to distinguish the two covenants. This will be taken up in a future article. Yet, for our purpose, the book of Hebrews will suffice to show the arrival of a "better covenant" (8:6-13). Then 9:16-17 tells us that where a testament is there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it and it is valid only when men are dead. When Jesus died, his will was in force. He ";took away the first in order that he may establish the second" (Heb. 10:9). While he was alive he could say whatever he wanted. But since he is dead, the new written will must be respected and followed. This is not to advocate that the O.T. be invaluable. Still, it is not the will put in force by the death of Christ. Understanding these two will help us apply its principles properly.
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