Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why are there disagreements... | 2 Tim 2:15 | New Creature | 109667 | ||
kalos I personally believe that believer's have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit who will come to the aid of those who continually rely upon Him for the correct interpretation of the word of God. I have taught adult Bible studies and adult Sunday school, and I have noticed an increasing tendancy for individual's to go directly to the commentator's thoughts, or the foot-notes in their Study Bibles for their understanding of particular verses. Instead they should pray that the Holy Spirit will lead them to the correct interpretation of God's word, and that may not come immediately. It may be that God wants us to read, and re-read that text, and to continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to help us understand the text. Then in time as we patiently and prayerfully wait for God to reveal the correct meaning of the text to us, it will come. A light will come on if you will, and it will become plain to the one truly desiring to gain understanding. The Commentaries themselves are not necessarily evil, but since the various commentary authors themselves do not always agree, commentaries and foot-notes should not be relied upon, because they are not inspired like the actual text, and can often mislead. I found the following quote which seems appropriate for this post. I believe it comes from A. W. Tozer, but I'm not sure. "It is a dangerous and costly practice to consult men every time we reach a dark spot in the Scriptures. We do not overlook the importance of the gift of teaching to the Church, but we do warn against the habit of taking by blind faith the opinions of men - even good men. A few minutes of earnest prayer will often give more light than hours of reading the commentaries. The best rule is: Go to God first about the meaning of any text. Then consult the teachers. They may have found a grain of wheat you had overlooked." God Bless you New Creature |
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2 | Why are there disagreements... | 2 Tim 2:15 | kalos | 109680 | ||
God has appointed teachers in the church. And GOD HAS APPOINTED IN THE CHURCH, first apostles, second prophets, third TEACHERS, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. (NASB 1 Corinthians 12:28, emphasis added) [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; (AMPLIFIED Romans 12:7) New Creature: Thanks for the quote from A.W. Tozer. He wisely adds balance to the question under discussion. I always appreciate your input and enjoy reading your replies. Your reply to my question is well thought out and well written. But the question remains: With the Holy Spirit indwelling believers, WHY DO WE NOT ALL COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSIONS on the interpretation of various passages of Scripture? Charles C. Ryrie writes: 'A proper understanding of the Bible depends on two things: '(1) the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, and '(2) the interpreting work of the reader. '[The word illumination has to do with] "the ministry of the Holy Spirit which makes clear the truth of the written revelation in the Bible. In reference to the Bible, revelation relates to its content or material, inspiration to the method of recording that material, and illumination to the meaning of the record. (...) 'Illumination, though assured, does not always guarantee automatic understanding. As indicated above, the believer must be in fellowship with the Lord in order to experience this ministry. But also he must study, using the teachers God has given to the church (Rom. 12:7) and the abilities and means at his own disposal.' ____________________ Page 1959, The Ryrie Study Bible, Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Moody Press, Chicago, 1976, 1978 |
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3 | Why are there disagreements... | 2 Tim 2:15 | New Creature | 109684 | ||
kalos; To answer your question: "WHY DO WE NOT ALL COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSIONS on the interpretation of various passages of Scripture?" ONE OF THE REASONS why more and more individuals are reading Scripture and coming away with different interpretations can be acredited to the fact of too much reliance being placed upon commentaries and foot notes. Due to the laziness by many to spend time meditating upon the word of God in prayer, they think it easier to let the men who wrote the commentaries do all their studying for them. I think we need to consider the two following quotes about commentaries and foot-notes. "Are the notes in a study Bible inspired, like the actual Scriptures, or can these notes reflect the erroneous views of the commentators)?" "Since many with an earned doctorate degree contradict each other and themselves, doesn't this further prove spiritual understanding doesn't come that way?" Lastly let me ask: Is it necessary to bring in extra-Biblical material in order to better understand the Bible? I agree that God has given to church gifts of pastors and teachers, but I believe we need to be like the Bereans and search the Scriptures to see whether or not the things which are being said line up with Scripture. God also gives the gift of discernment, and has cautioned us to beware of false teachers. There were false teachers in Peters time and there will be false teachers in our time as well (2 Peter 2:1) and Paul also warned us; "OF YOUR OWN SELVES (or among yourselves) shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:28-31) I find the following text in the Gospel of Luke; Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, Notice it was Jesus, Himself that opened their understanding of Scriptures, not any commentaries or outside influence. Once again may God Bless and keep you New Creature |
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4 | Why are there disagreements... | 2 Tim 2:15 | kalos | 109700 | ||
Even the people who don't use commentaries disagree with each other. Why is that, since believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit? New Creature: You make good points in your Note. I do not necessarily disagree with your points, but my original question was not: "With believers consulting commentaries, why do we not all come to the same conclusions on the interpretation of various passages of Scripture?" My original question was: "With the Holy Spirit indwelling believers, why do we not all come to the same conclusions...?" That is, when people claim that to interpret Scripture correctly all they need is their Bible and the Holy Spirit, what they often imply is that they do not need anything else. They imply that since they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, then all of their interpretations must be correct. My question is: if that is true, then why do we not all come to the same conclusions? The focus of my original question is not on people who rely on commentaries AND the Holy Spirit. It is on those who rely on me and my Bible and the Holy Spirit. If this is all one needs to interpret accurately, then why are there disagreements on the interpretation of Scripture? New Creature, please understand, I am not disputing you. Rather, I sincerely wonder: since we all claim the ministry of the Holy Spirit in interpreting Scripture, you would think we would all reach the same conclusions. But, we don't. Why don't we? Even the people who don't use commentaries disagree with each other. Why is that? Bless you, kalos |
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5 | Why are there disagreements... | 2 Tim 2:15 | New Creature | 109716 | ||
kalos; In my last reply, I mentioned one of the reasons why believers do not arrive at the same conclusions regarding the meaning of Scripture. Another reason is one I will now mention because I personally experienced it. When I first became a believer, I was a new born baby in Christ, I thought as a spritual baby in Christ thought. As I continued in the faith, my understanding of Scripture increased. Then I arrived at a point where some the things I previously thought were Scripturally accurate were now found by me to be Scripturally inaccurate. I had to depart from my previous thoughts about what I initially thought Scripture said, because my understanding was imperfect. What I am trying to say is that in the Christian community, we have believers at various levels of spiritual maturity in their faith. Experience tells me this is another reason we don't all draw the same conclusions about Scripture. Spurgeon once was quoted as saying: "we read Scripture with the simplicity of a child, and whatever we find therein to state it; and if It may not seem to agree with something we have hitherto held, we are prepared to cast away every doctrine of our own, rather than one passage of scripture." I think if each of is honest with ourselves we will see that we have had to adjust our thinking about the meaning of certain Scripture as we have matured in the faith. I know I have had to. Grace to you New Creature |
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