A Bible Study Blunder

For our summer session the ladies at my Church are working through the book of Colossians. Last week when we met I went over basic guidelines that I have written up for them as they study on their own through the week. Col.1:24 gives a perfect example of what not do do as a FIRST step in your study of Scripture. I believe many untaught laypeople jump right into the Bible and begin to interpret and apply the passage without first doing a thorough study of the text.

We talked about the fact that virtually every cult that claims to be Christian-such as Jehovah's Witness and the Mormons, either add to Scripture or take away from Scripture or misinterpret Scripture. A huge blunder when studying your Bible is to start out interpreting passages. There is much hard and diligent work to be done before interpretation and application of scripture. Every cult and heresy claiming to be Christian fails at the point of interpretation of God's Word. They fail at 2 major doctrines-doctrines that determine eternal destiny. Those 2 doctrines are-the person and work of Christ: the deity of Christ and the way of Salvation. Every cult and deviation from Christianity gets these 2 doctrines wrong.

As an example of an interpretation blunder we(at the ladies Bible study) read the following verse together and I asked them what they thought this could mean if they wrenched it out of its context and did not study it in context and in the whole of the book and the whole of Scripture. Most thought it could be interpreted as something  lacking in Christ's work on the Cross-and there may be something we need to add to that work. Of course we alll knew that was the WRONG interpretation of this verse-in fact the verse cannot be wrenched out of its context and interpreted alone.
Col 1:24
 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church....
ESV


This was an excellent exercise for us in how NOT to study the Bible. It is inexcusable in the day we live in for Christians to get it wrong doctrinally. God has given us "everything we need for life and godliness". God has given us excellent translations of his word in our language. God has given the Church gifted men who understand the original languages the Bible was written in. He has given gifted men to his Church and doctrinal blunders like the ones mentioned above must be and can be avoided. God has given us the Holy Spirit to indwell believers so that we can be led into all truth. The word of God is clear and not complicated to understand-but God requires us to WORK-if we desire the true treasures contained in the Book he has given us.

Every believer must be a lifetime student of Scripture-we never arrive at a place in this life when we have learned enough-or know enough or have matured enough to stop growing in our understanding of our Triune God through the study of his Word. Diligent study will lead us to the right interpretation and proper application.

To summarize this post: How to avoid Bible Study blunders
1. Diligent study using all the resources available to you-including a good translation of scripture. Your Church elders(your first resource) can help you find those resources-I have a few excellent ones on my sidebar here at the blog. Two of my favorites are the Grace to You website and the Alpha and Omega Ministries website. Both of those websites have articles and YouTube channel links so you can watch and learn-or read and learn. I also want to add Lane's YouTube channel.  Lane posts videos from the other 2 ministries above plus many other good sources including sermons by Paul Washer. You need a few books to make a basic library.

2. After all your study and hard work comparing scripture with scripture and checking all of your resources-then-and only then-are you at the place of Interpretation of scripture.

3. Finally when you are done with those steps you are ready for Application of scripture. Application is the final step in Bible Study-not the first-and not all scripture will not have a personal application for you.

2 Tim. 2:15
2 Tim. 3:16