My personal rules of thumb would have to be;
1)Do not read within any parentheses, brackets, or small crucifixes without first, fluidly reading text without them. Although these "explanations" presumably mean well, they often, indeed,
mislead.
2) Keep in mind that biblical texts were written long ago, and read more like Old English, as opposed to the modern version most often read in literature today.
3) Rather than veering wildly trying to make some sense of a particular piece; read a few verses and go back over them without leaning to hard on any preconceptions of the subject matter.
4)As with any reading that is unfamiliar, or seems difficult to decipher, look up words that you aren't sure about.
5)We all have a pretty good idea of what God wants us to do which is not sin at all. Keep that in mind while reading and it may clear some stuff up as well.
6)Also keep in mind that the vast majority of writings are double and triple entendres, so there are multiple meanings. Everything is related in the Bible, and is reciprocal as with existence. Thanks. Hope that helps. All praise is to God.
Thanks for the list. The fact the reader can have a method, a system, a check list is the underlying point of this thread.
How are we to know that we are applying ourselves to rightly divide the word of God if we do not a method to rightly divide the word of God?
There are many, many things to keep in mind when studying. One verse or passage is probably not the only passage on any particular subject, it could be, but if we are studying "love" John 3:16 and I Corinthians 13 are important but not the only passages dealing with "love"
when there are many clear verses on a subject, and one difficult verse, we must not exalt and opine on the difficult verse but learn how the one verse fits in the the many clear verses.
One example of an unclear verse being exalted above the many clear verses is Matthew 27:46
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Jesus' declaration does not fit with the many clear verses on Jesus' harmonious relationship with God.
"I always do the Father's will" Was Jesus doing the Father's will when he allowed himself to be arrested, tried, tortured, crucified, dying on the cross? Yes. He was doing what the Father said had to be done.
The why would God forsake him?
" I am not alone, but the Father is with me"
If the Father is with him, then the Father is with him.
"I and my Father are one" The son was about his Father's business, they were on the same page! How can you separate one?
The answer, the proper translation of the Hebrew/Aramaic words takes more typing than I will allow myself.
But is clear that the clear verses make more sense, Matthew 27:46 does not fit with the clear verses.
Since the answer requires more in depth work than I did on my own, I would refer the reader to VP Wierwille's and Dr George M. Lamsa's work on this subject.
