Did you know that there are over 100 million bibles sold annually around the world!  Despite that many bibles in circulation and it being one of bestselling books of all time, many people do not understand it.  In 2017 the Barna Research Group reported that nearly one third of Americans never interact with the bible.  Of those who claimed to have some interaction with the bible at least 50% only interact with it three or four times a year.   Yet, many adults, when asked, wished that they would read the bible more. 

Individually, interaction with God’s word can help us in profound ways and, overarchingly, nations that learn and hold to God’s precepts, prosper.  Daniel Webster (1782-1852) famed American statesman and skilled orator once said this about learning the bible:

“If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend, the credit is due to my parents for instilling in me an early love of the Scriptures. If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.”

We need to take Webster’s solemn warning very seriously.  Studying God’s word can benefit you personally as it is the only real source that reveals the true meaning and purpose of life. It is the most important book in the world! The lack of biblical knowledge, wisdom, and precepts can explain the various failures that we see in our world today. 

There are many reason why individuals do not read God’s word and that is the subject for other blog posts, but it is my opinion that you cannot afford to live without the spiritual truths and benefits it has to offer.  Because of this, I will briefly discuss seven keys or truths that, if you consider them, will help you unlock the truths of the bible.

#1 The Bible is a Complete Interconnected Book

                One of the most important truths that anyone studying the bible can grasp is that the Bible is a complete book.  I know that seems like an audacious statement but hear me out.  Many people either throw out sections of the Bible, like the Old Testament, or deem parts of it, like certain books or passages that they do not understand or do not agree with, irrelevant.  Additionally, many people view the books, especially in the Old Testament, as being disconnected and haphazardly thrown together.  Some people are intimidated by it and fail to understand its connected grand sweep.

People come to these erroneous conclusions through various means, but many are influenced by incorrect church (religious) traditions, erroneous bible teachers, misunderstanding cultural traditions, and even by our own nature. Dr. Chuck Missler writes:

 “The 66 books which we call the Bible constitute a highly integrated message system. What makes this so astonishing is the fact that they were penned by more than forty different people over a period of several thousand years! Yet we now discover that virtually every detail of the Biblical text evidences a highly skillful integrated design from cover to cover. In fact, every word, every place name, every detail was apparently placed there (in the original) deliberately as part of an overall intricate plan.” 

Truer words have never been spoken.  Once I came to the knowledge of the interconnectedness of the Bible, it opened whole new levels of understanding for me personally.  I used to think long ago there were errors, contradictions, and a disjointedness, probably because of cultural misconceptions or erroneous teachings I picked up in my religious upbringing.  However, every contradiction I supposedly knew about ending up being incorrect.  Only after looking any given contradiction in depth, did I actually find a deep connectedness.  These supposed roadblocks were thrown in for our edification, forcing us to dig beyond a surface level and delight God with a serious study. I found direction connections, where questions in the Old Testament are answered in the New and vice versa.  And on eo fthe most important discoveries I made was that Jesus is found in every book of the Old Testament.  The Bible is God’s gift to humanity and we should treasure it.

 #2 The Bible is Always Relevant

                Even though the Bible was penned by more than forty different people over a period of several thousand years and from our standpoint over 1900 years ago, it is still relevant for us today.  From its truths, that are the only source for those difficult ‘why’ questions of life, to its prophecies, that reveal humanities’ future and our amazing destiny, the Bible can change your life for the better if you only let it.  It is not irrelevant because its truths come from a source outside of man

#3 The Bible Interprets the Bible

                The Bible uses types, idioms, and occasional allegory.  Up to one third of it is devoted to prophecy which can contain symbolism and imagery.  However, if you understand this one vital principle, the Bible interprets itself, you can understand it. All the keys to understanding the Bible, lie within the Bible!

#4 Study All the Scripture on a Subject

                This is a step designed to protect yourself from those who build doctrine around one text or passage and, more importantly, to understand everything the Bible has to say on the subject.  The Bible dose not contradict itself.  Jesus said, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).   When researching a topic for yourself, study both the Old and New Testaments of your Bible.   When you do this diligently and honestly (set aside presumptions that you might have on a subject) , you will get a clear grasp on the subject of your study.

#5 Understand the Context

                This is very connected with step #4 and often challenges our preconceived ideas that we might have or presumptions that we bring to the Bible.  Exegesis has become a lost art in our society today.  Exegesis is a systematic process by which a person arrives at a reasonable and coherent sense of the meaning and message of a biblical passage.  Simply, exegesis is the act of interpreting or explaining the meaning of scripture.  Remember, sometimes our presuppositions are incorrect and we must be humble enough to acknowledge such, if it the case arises. 

#6 Prove All Things

                Don’t believe anything I say regarding the Bible! Each person is challenged to open their Bibles and check on anything that you hear a preacher, scholar, or speaker say about the bible.  This is especially true if you felt lead or something doesn’t seem quite right.  We are to adopt the attitude of the Bereans who were commended for their positive, investigative attitude when reading the Bible. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to found out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).  

                You can prove and test the Bible by practicing its instructions. This is a way to become more ‘in tune’ with it and have a good understanding of it.  Jesus emphasized that we must not only read the Bible but live by it.  It is the old concept of “learning by doing.”  Apply this principle to your Christian life.

#7 Pray for Understanding

                This is the foundational step that every other one is built upon.  We learn from the Bible that we need to have teachable attitude.  King David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).  Was David sin free? Absolutely not, but he had a teachable attitude.   David showed evidence of this teachable attitude when he prayed to God, “Show me Your ways, O Lord: teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I will wait all day” (Psalm 25:4-5).

Like David, we need to pray for understanding and guidance as we read and study the Bible. God blesses those who respect the Scriptures and show reverence towards his holy Word, “But on this one will I look: on him who I poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2).  

The Bible IS the most important book in the world.  It is not only a book for today but for the future as well, and it is relevant for our times.  Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words will be no means pass away” (Luke 21:33).  Have you been neglecting reading your Bible?  If so, it is time for change.  It is time to have the fullness of God’s Word unlocked for you. Ask God for forgiveness for neglecting His Word, and using King David as our example, ask him to instill a reverence, love and desire to spend time in His Holy Scripture daily.  He is a God of forgiveness.  He loves you and wishes a restored relationship with you.