Transcription
Hello everyone. Uh, welcome to Communion Topes and Shaders. We're going on to Lesson Two. And um, in this lesson, we're going to continue with looking at basically Bible study. Um, because you know, before we get into any specific topic, we need to make sure that we're approaching it from the correct point, that that we're interpreting the word correctly. We're not just taking something out of the word, out of context. And so that's why I usually labor to um, help you kind of uh, learn more about um, correct Bible study methods and how to rightly divide the word of Truth.
You know, recently I was even speaking to an unbeliever who I believe will not be an unbeliever for long. In that um, through our our relationship and our our conversation, it seems like they are getting closer and closer um, to um, receiving Christ. But here's the thing: it seems like they they said to me they like the they they can't just believe like an atheist that there's nothing after this life. They they said it doesn't make sense; there has to be something more than this. But when I look at the church, and specifically the Roman Catholic church, but most churches even um, Anglican they came out of and things like that, and excuse me, though they mentioned a couple of things and they said, you know, that there's just so much stuff that seems to seek to control and seems to really um uh uh not be good, you know. And um, and that's the problem: a lot of those ideas come from misunderstanding of the word that that that individual has learned. And um, you know, I spent some time with them. I said, well, that's the wrong way to approach the word; this is how we approach the word, and this is what is true. And and they were just blown away because they had never heard the things that I had been saying to them.
And this is why it's so important that we as Believers know the word, know how to study the word, and then we were able to present it in its pure form. I mean, that's why the book of Galatians was written, wasn't it? Paul's writing and saying, stop mixing the message. Um, but we we will we will always mix the message as long as we don't study the Bible correctly. And the lack of correct Bible study seems to be um, an epidemic. Um, but anyhow, 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17 says, "All scripture given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." So you know, the words following um, profitable, the word profitable are all pointing to the profitability of scriptures, the benefit that we can get from um, Genesis to Malachi. Remember, Paul's writing this, and he doesn't have the benefit of a new testament; he's busy writing it. So when he's talking about scriptures, he is specifically referring to Genesis to Malachi, and he's saying that they are profitable. The word Doctrine again means teaching or explanation. Okay, so the scriptures, Genesis to Malachi, are primarily for teaching. The the scriptures, Genesis to Malachi—this is very important—the scriptures are uh, primarily for explaining. Okay, it's um, important for us to see that the term, they all scripture, so he's saying all scripture uh um, Genesis to Malachi, all scripture is profitable for Doctrine. Okay, let me just check it; that's how it puts it: it's profitable for Doctrine. So it's profitable for teaching, but teaching what is what we need to look at. Okay. Um uh, let me go down here. The words Romans chapter 12:7 uh, we we see Paul using this word um uh uh um didascalia. Didache. Okay. Um, and he says, or ministry, let us wait on our min min in or here that teacheth on teaching. So this is talking about Doctrine or um, teaching. Okay. Ephesians 4:4, he he speaks about how we mustn't be carried around about with every wind of Doctrine. It's the same Greek word. And so that shows us that he uses the um, that the interpretation from Greek to English um, uses um uh uh the same Greek word where we get Doctrine and the same Greek word to get teaching, and then they obviously obviously just pick and choose according to the the context and what they think. But we need to see that Doctrine is teaching. Okay. I I actually grew up thinking Doctrine was um, kind of like a list of things of what we believe, and it's on the website or it's in a book, and um, the rest is just a bunch of teachings that we get into. No, that's not not accurate. Um, Doctrine is teaching. Okay.
Um, you know, in uh, Paul's pastoral letters, for First Timothy, Second Timothy, and Titus, um, he he he emphasizes the importance of Doctrine or teaching. Okay. 1 Timothy 1:10, 1 Timothy 1:10, he says, "For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound Doctrine." Now, that word sound implies complete; that word sound implies whole or lacking nothing. Okay. 2 Timothy 4:3 says, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine, complete or whole uh, Doctrine, but after their own lusts they shall heap unto themselves teachers having itching ears." You know, that's what we see nowadays is people listen to things that they want to listen to; they listen to teachings that may um, you most Christians are like that; you and check out their playlist of teachings that they listen to, and it's everything to do with what they think they want, what they need at that time. And sound Doctrine doesn't address what you think you want; sound Doctrine addresses what you need to know. And so a lot of things that I teach nowadays, it's not the popular topics, but they are rarely things that need to be understood and and heard and and and uh, known. Okay. Anyway, let's move on. Titus 1:9 says, "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound Doctrine, by complete whole Doctrine, by doctrine that lacks nothing, both to exhort and convince the gainsayers." Okay. So Paul's instructions to Timothy and to Titus is really that they need to uphold sound Doctrine. Okay. They need to uh uh, uphold wholesome, healthy teaching, explanation of Genesis to Malachi. You know, Paul had spoken of how Timothy had known the holy scriptures, Genesis to Malachi, which were able to make him wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. That he says in 2 Timothy 3:15, "That from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." That word wise implies skillfully devised. Okay. That word wise is speaking about how um, you uh uh um um the scriptures were profitable for teaching and explaining salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus; that gave Timothy the wisdom to be able to receive salvation. This is what Jesus explains upon his resurrection um, with the disciples in Luke chap 24. Let's read it: Luke chap 24, from verse 25 to 27. Um, it says, "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." So from this passage, the word enter is translated uh, from a word which implies to come to a place or to come to something for the first time. Okay. So it says, "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?" So that's to enter into a place he hadn't entered to prior. You know, and and Jesus prior to the the death um uh uh, he hadn't had this experience of death and resurrection yet. So you know, in essence, this is is meaning that um, he entered into an experience that he didn't have until then. Okay. Now hold on to that. The the the word expounded, how Jesus expounded unto them uh, all in all things concerning himself in all the scriptures, that word expounded is made up of two Greek words which basically mean um, through—the first part of that word is dia, which means through or across—and the second word is hermeneio, which is to interpret or to explain. And so that word expounded, oo sorry, that word expounded um, is um, basically implying to um, explained across and throughout the scriptures. So that's what what um, Paul is talking about, how um uh uh the scriptures, Genesis to Malachi, throughout the scriptures, it's able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. And this is what Jesus did in Luke 24: he explained the things concerning himself from the law, from the prophets, from the Psalms, throughout, across the scriptures, he explained. Okay. Luke 24:44 and 45, "He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." Okay. How did he open up their understanding? Through teaching. Okay. I you I grew up thinking it was hocus pocus, like wave his hand over them or snap his fingers, and suddenly mystically they understood. That it's not talking about that; he explained, he taught, he he he he explained. It's talking about Doctrine; he explained Doctrine from Genesis to Malachi, and they understood. So Jesus in this text, Luke 24:44 to 45, is showing how the prophets spoke beforehand concerning the suffering that he would suffer and the glory that he would experience. Okay. Now John uh uh uh in his gospel uh refers to Jesus as the Word. Okay. So John 1:1, 2, and 3, it says, "In the beginning was the Word." Now who is the Word? The Word is Jesus. So when we read this, remember that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." So the word Word okay is translated from the Greek which implies thought or Reason. John is is uh applying this concept in explaining Jesus being the the the reason for the words of the prophets. Okay. He's he's showing that the the the Genesis to Malachi, the prophets are speaking about a person. Okay. Now let's go back to Second Timothy 3:16. 2 Timothy chapter 3:16. I trust you're able to keep up with me and uh, do your your your your Bible flipping or your scrolling to get to these verses. 2 Timothy 3:16: "All scripture given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." It's important for us to note that Paul is not referring to the four different elements in terms of Doctrine, sorry, in in terms of Doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction, and righteousness; he's not referring to four different things. Okay. He's referring to Doctrine. Okay. What is profitable? What is the the the scripture profitable for? Doctrine. That's it. Okay. This is clearly seen when you observe the word Doctrine there, because this is what was emphasized in the letter. So the other three terms, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, we're going to unpack those now in a moment. But reproof, correction, instruction, and righteousness is explaining what Doctrine, teaching and explaining, does. Okay. So all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine, which uh, a Doctrine um, does, how do I explain this? Um, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine, and Doctrine is able to reprove you, is able to correct you, and is able to instruct you in righteousness. So this is saying that the correct uh um, teaching, correct explanation of Genesis to Malachi will help you in terms of reproof, correction, and instruction of righteousness. So the word um, reproof, let's let's take a look at that. This reproof is to convince. Reproof is to convince. Okay. It's uh, used by the writer of the book of Hebrews as well, in Hebrews 11:1, a verse that we love to take out of context. But Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." So reproof is evidence. The word evidence is implying to persuade someone. Okay. The New English Bible uh renders it like this: it says, "Being convinced of what we do not see." So what we need to see here is that teaching or doctrine must birth a persuasion in the minds of the audience. Okay. When we teach, we need to to be leading people to a persuasion in their minds. Okay. And obviously their hearts too, um, but um, that's the purpose of Doctrine or teaching is to bring a persuasion. Okay. The word correction is translated from the Greek word uh, which is only used in Second Timothy chap 3:16. Okay. And it's it's it's coming from two different words, and I'm sorry, I don't have the ability to put it on the screen for you there, but I'm sure you can uh, pause and and write this down if you you need to. But it's derived from two words, epi and orthō. So epi epi and the next word a n o r orthō. Okay. So this is um, talking about to straighten. Okay. It's used for healing, actually. So the word orthō is used in, for example, um, Luke 13:13, where it says, "And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight; she was orthō." Okay. And glorified God. This is talking about corrected; the body was corrected. She was crippled, and her body was corrected. Okay. So this is what Doctrine is profitable for: to make you straight. Okay. To to put you right, to set you on the right course. You know, the woman that had been bent over was made straight, was corrected. That's what doctrine is supposed to do to us. And a lot of people don't like that in church; they don't like that teaching sometimes challenges them, and that teaching sometimes uh, causes them to have to respond. But that is the purpose of teaching. If we are are are listening to teaching that never uh wants to um, correct us, if we want to listen to teaching that never corrects us, if we're not willing to sit in and under teaching which is sometimes hard to hear because it it it it causes us to have to take, make a response, then then we we we're never going to grow; we're never going to have um, come to to to a knowledge of the truth that God wants us to come to. Anyway, Hebrews chapter 12, verse 12 says, "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees." So the term uh uh, lift up means to straighten. This is this is the the kind of correction that the the the the um uh uh Doctrine is profitable for: it's to correct, to straighten up, to lift your hands up. Okay. It's um uh uh Now this word, this word correction is talking about straightening up; it's um, it's talking about um, reforming and improving and developing you, and this is what teaching does: it straightens us up; it it it um, it straightens up or persuades us in the right direction. So you know, the word instruction, the word instruction. So it says um uh, all scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16 is given by inspiration of God, is profitable for teaching, for explaining, for for reproof, for convincing us. Okay. It's evidence to convince us that the the the the the scripture is evidence to convince us, and it's profitable for correction, to straighten us up, to put us in the right posture, and for instruction in righteousness. So the word instruction is to educate. The word instruction is to train or nurture. Okay. It's it's usually strictly used for nurturing a child. Okay. When we are born again, we are like spiritual children; we have a full-grown Holy Spirit in us, Amen. However, our minds need to grow up into the reality that's in our spirit. Hebrews chapter 12, verse uh, verse 5, 7, 8, and 11. Okay. Hebrews chapter 5, verse 7, 8, and 11, it says, "Have ye forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children? My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him." Verse 7: "If ye endure chastening"—talking about instruction, talking about education, talking about training—"God dealeth with you as with sons: for what son is he whom the father chasteneth, instructeth, uh uh, trains?" Okay. Verse 8: "But if ye be without chastisement"—without instruction—"like we often look at the chastisement and we think punishment; it's not talking about punishment; it's talking about putting on the right path, giving instruction, educating, nurturing. Okay. You look at Hebrews, or not Hebrews, uh, Ephesians chapter 6:4, it uses the same word: "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." So you know, the the the phrase is "And, ye fathers," in Hebrews chap 12, shows the expression was used strictly for father-child relationship. Okay. And um, it's therefore clear that the profitability of scripture, Genesis to Malachi, is when they are used to explain salvation through faith, faith which is in Christ Jesus. The result of this explanation, of this teaching, of this Doctrine, is that there will be reproof, which is evidence; there will be evidence for faith. Okay. There will be correction, a straightening up, a putting in the right posture, and an instruction in righteousness, an education in right living, in rightness. And that's a big topic; it's not talking about an instruction in identity; it's talking about an instruction in the righteousness that we become part of God's righteousness; it's talking about a new purpose that we have now. And I mean, it's not, there's a big misunderstanding when it comes to righteousness, especially if you look at a verse like this. The instruction that Genesis to Malachi gives us is our purpose, righteousness; it's your calling, righteousness, to set things right in earth and to do what's right in the earth, which is the propagation of the Gospel, the advancement of the kingdom of God. That's a a big topic to unpack which I'm not getting into now. So when we look at the instructions from Paul to Timothy to read the scriptures, it's important to examine the other instructions that Paul gives to the church, church in this regard. And and so he wrote, he wrote to them regarding reading. Okay. Ephesians 3:2-4 uh, 2-5. Ephesians chapter uh, 3:2-5, it says, "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you—Would ye how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery—as I wrote afore in few words—Whereby, when ye read—when when ye read—ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ." That is loaded; we're going to come back to verse four, "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, but is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." So in verse four, "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ." Okay. Paul's pointing out that his knowledge in the mystery of Christ will be understood when his writings are read. R e a d. The word read uh uh, already implies that he referred to what was written previously. You know um, then when we look at verse three and verse five, it shows that he's referring to the revelation of the mystery that wasn't known previously. Okay. So let's unpack this a little bit; we still got some time for this. Paul in Romans chapter 16, we're going to look at this, in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, and in Colossians chapter 1, explains how his writings are an explanation or a revelation of the mystery of the Old Testament uh, writings. Okay. So look with me firstly at um uh, Romans chapter 16, verse 25-26: "Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith." Okay. 1 Corinthians chapter 2:6 to 12. As we read through this, I encourage you to highlight or underline, make a note of things that stand out for you in context of Paul explaining that his writings are an explanation um, interpretation, you could say, of the mystery um, which which is concealed in the uh, Genesis to Malachi scriptures. Okay. 1 Corinthians chap 2:6-12 says, "Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." And last passage, Colossians 1:25-27: "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." So something was hidden, and now it's revealed. Okay. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. So here we can see how Paul is explaining that his writings are the explanation of Genesis to Malachi. So we don't want to get stuck in Genesis to Malachi without reading the interpretation of the Epistles, the letters of the New Testament. And when we're reading the letters of the New Testament, we need to make sure that we're not um uh, misunderstanding that Paul's not kind of sucking some, sucking some, not sucking some; Paul's not thumb-sucking some kind of ideas out of thin air. What is he doing? Okay. Paul is um, studying Genesis to Malachi, and with the understanding of Christ, he is now explaining to us how what Jesus explained in Luke chapter 24. He's explaining to us; Paul's writings are notes, commentary on Genesis to Malachi. And if you go and study out Paul's writings and Peter's writings and John's writings of the of the New Testament letters, you will find that they are all referencing Old Testament scriptures, Genesis to Malachi. So back to uh, Ephesians chapter 3: "If ye have heard of the dispensation," verse two, "of the grace of God which is given me to you—Would ye," verse three, "how that by revelation he made known unto to to me the mystery, as I wrote afore in few words, whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ," which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit. So now we see the word read or read, which is translated from a Greek word which implies to know again or to read properly. You know, we often kind of think it's just a casual reading. Okay. You don't get um, wisdom or knowledge by just casual reading. Okay. You might just be able to tick, "I've done my Bible reading for today," but unless you're rereading and thinking, nothing happens. Okay. This this this this Greek word, an—it's easier if I have it on my screen—but um, it it's implying um, complete or to read completely, to read properly. This is what the Bible's trying…
To explain to us, okay, um, uh, whereby when ye read, when you read completely, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ. You don't get to the revelation of Christ from the scriptures by reading a verse here and a verse there, or a chapter here and a chapter there. Needs to be a completeness in our Bible study, in our reading. Okay, um, this is what Paul is trying to to say here. The word “read” is talking about complete, thorough reading, paying attention to details, paying attention to words. So, in essence, the word “read” is not a casual uh browsing or scanning through a document like many of us do with our Bibles. Okay, it's involving a diligent study, paying attention to details of words, paying attention to details of the context, of the culture, of the customs, of the audience. Cuz cuz you're going to see now, as we dig into this some more, you let's let's look at this. Jesus used the same word, okay, uh, a n a g i n, anag Osco, okay, aninos, aninos is the word “read,” which is used in the New Testament often, and it's not talking about casual reading; it's talking about a diligent, detailed study, paying attention to words, paying attention to details. Okay. Jesus used this word when he rebuked the attitude of the Pharisees, okay, in their study of the scriptures. Um, and he was addressing them, and often times he would he would speak concerning them, saying, “Have you not read?” You remember that? Okay, Matthew chapter 19:4, he answers them and says unto them, “Have you not read that he which made them in the beginning made them male and female?” Okay. In the Book of Matthew, the phrase is used six times, “Have you not read?” In ch 12:3, he says, “But he said unto them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry?” Okay, and and this is all referring to Old Testament accounts. This case here, you know, when he says, “Have you not read,” he’s talking about, “Have you not read in Genesis to Malachi?” Okay, um, we see it more in in Matthew 12:5, or “Have you not read in the law how that on the Sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are blameless?” It was also used concerning praise and babes, Matthew 21:16, “And he said unto them, Hearest thou what what these say?” And Jesus says unto them, “Have ye not read out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise?” Matthew chap 21:42. Okay, Jesus said unto them, “Did you never read in the scriptures the stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner, and it is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.” So you know, he he’s um using concerning the the he used it was used concerning the stone which the builders rejected, Matthew 22:31, “But as touching the resurrection of the Dead, have ye not read?” Okay. Now again, when he’s saying, “Have ye not read ananis,” okay, I’ve got the Greek word down now, hey, “Have you not read ananis?” Have you not diligently paid attention to details? Cuz this is what he’s saying, you know, these um uh um Pharisees, they they’re reading a lot, but they’re not paying attention to details. Okay, look at this, John chapter um so yeah, he he he he the the the Jesus always seemed to prefer the Pharisees um or he always referred, not preferred, he referred the the Pharisees to the scriptures. Why? Because they were apparently people of the word. Okay, and this is how we deal with people like that that are like this: we have to get back to the word and show them the word. Um, but this was not to imply that they had not read the scriptures; this was taking into consideration the fact that they were teachers of the same, but they were not paying attention to detail. I was like this for many years. Okay, I was a stud student of the word; I was studying the word; I’d been taught well, and yet I wasn’t paying attention to a lot of detail, and I was overlooking certain things, and that’s why I came to some conclusions that many people come to. Traditions within the the the the charismatic Full Gospel uh non-denominational circles, there’s Traditions that we we conclude because we’re not paying attention to details, and this subject is going to challenge you to pay attention to details so that we come to the fullness of the truth of um uh what the word is trying to communicate to us. Okay, look at it, John 5:39, “You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.” You, Jesus is correcting the Pharisees because they’re pursuing the scriptures, and Jesus pointed out that the the the profitability of scriptures is actually concerning himself; it’s pointing to him, but they’re missing it because they’re not paying attention to detail. This is what Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16, isn’t it? Okay, Paul’s letter to the church in Colossa. Uh, look at the instruction he gives them in Colossians chapter 4:16, he says, “When this epistle is read among you, cause it to be read also in the church in the L the leans, and that ye likewise read the epistle uh uh from Laodicea.” So the instruction is implying that they were to read the whole letter; that’s not talking about a few verses in the beginning of their service. Okay, a lot of people want a few Bible reading, a few verses, and then let’s get worshiping and let’s get have some encouragement and let’s pray for each other. You know, we we we we we overvalue things which shouldn’t be overvalued, and we tend to undervalue the te the correct teaching of the word. So they were not to read a portion; they were not to read a chapter; they were not to read a verse in order to understand Doctrine; they had to read the whole letter. Okay. In the book of Acts uh there was a record of the noble men in Berea, Acts 17:1, Acts 17:1, “There were more noble than those in theis um these were more noble than those in the thessalonica in that they received,” listen to that word, “they received the word with all Readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures Daily whether those things were so.” Okay, so the word “received” is implying that they welcomed or accepted. What did they welcome or accept? The word that they had been given through Paul. This shows the same attitude of the Pharisees um in that the people in but the people in Berea, that’s it’s a it’s a different attitude than the Pharisees. The Pharisees just heard, and it kind of didn’t take it to heart, but the Bereans paid attention to the details; that means they welcomed the message. You have had that as well. I’ve been teaching things, and people will not pay attention to the details because it sounds different to what they’ve heard always, so then they rejected. We need to pay attention to details. You know, in Acts chapter 17, verse 11, that says the word “noble,” you know, this this refers to a high ranking societal rank um uh it could have been by birth or whatever; it’s not referring to a spiritual virtue. So “noble Bereans” isn’t talking about um um uh they were higher than any other believers; this is talking about learned people in the community. Okay, the word “searched” is implying that they searched to know. Okay, they did a thorough investigation to make sure that what Paul was saying was true. I want to encourage you to do the same as we dig into this lesson or this subject. Make a thorough investigation of what we’re talking about. I’ve had people arguing with me on different things in the past, and it’s been funny for me sometimes because I know they’re not studying it out; they’re listening to what does that one say? What does this one say? What does because they don’t hold the word of God above the man of God, so they want to know what does the man of God have to say about this, the one, whatever their favorite teacher is, but they don’t go to the word and and let the word speak for itself. Okay, so uh let me look here, let me look here. So the approach of the Pharisees uh in their search of the the the scriptures was that they were argumentative. Okay, they were argumentative; they argued with Jesus, while the the the the attitude of the Bereans was that they wanted to discover the truth, and so what Paul delivered to them, they didn’t just reject it; they actually investigated it. Okay, so in reading the scriptures, we need to pay attention to the following: we need to pay attention to a diligent reading of statements and statements that are surrounding that what we’re reading. Okay, we need to have a close examination of um uh the author of these statements and and sometimes Paul isn’t the author of a statement in in in his own letter; sometimes he’s quoting Moses, and we need to go and look at what is Moses saying. Okay, so takes a bit of effort to study the word properly. What we need to also consider what the statement is for, or the implication of that statement, when we’re studying the word, and we need to consider to whom the statement was directed and is directed, because we cannot read it in isolation. So in Bible reading, the literal should be taken as literal, and the figurative should be taken as figurative. I want you to write that that down. CU, that’s very important. In Bible reading, the literal needs to be taken as literal, and the figurative needs to be taken as figurative, and that is where a lot of people go wrong with their Bible study, and that’s what we’re going to get to in our next lesson. Before we finish off this lesson, I want to encourage you to just stop after this lesson and take a moment to think about what um stands out for you and start to even consider how is what I’m presenting different to what you how you’ve approached the word and how you’ve approached Bible study up until now. Okay, we’ll be back in the next lesson.