Growth Understanding the Word

[netchaplain]

What explains Scripture? It is the Spirit of God alone. His power can unfold any part of the Word of God. Do you ask if I mean to say that it is of no importance to know languages, understand history and so on? I am not raising a question about learning; it has its use. But I deny that history is the interpreter of Scripture.

And if there are Christians who know the history of the world, or the original tongues of Scripture, it is the Lord Jesus Christ that has to do with their spiritual intelligence, and not their knowledge or learning. Besides, even if men are believers, it does not necessarily follow that they understand all Scripture.

Real entrance into God’s mind, in Scripture, supposes that a person watches against the “old man,” desires the glory of God, has full confidence in His Word, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit. The understanding of Scripture is not a mere intellectual process. The mind is only the vessel, not the power. The power is the Holy Spirit, acting upon and through the vessel; but it must be the Spirit that gives one to know the things of God (1 Cor 2:11). “They shall be taught of God.”

There is a great difference in the measure of the teaching, because there is much difference in the measure of dependence upon the Father. The important thing is to bear in mind that the understanding of the Word of God depends much more upon what is moral than what is of the mind; upon a single eye to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit can never give us anything to save us from the necessity of dependence and waiting upon our Father, but that He does give us.

We find Daniel expressing in humbleness of mind his unfitness for receiving such communications. First, one like the similitude of the sons of men touches his lips, and he is instructed to speak unto the Lord. He confesses his weakness, that there is no strength left in him. But “there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, and said, “O man, greatly beloved, fear not. Peace be into thee; be strong, yea, be strong.”

Men, until they are thoroughly established in peace, until their hearts know the real source of strength, are not capable of profiting by the Word of God. Here we find Daniel set upon his feet, his mouth opened, his fears hushed, before the Lord can open out the Word to him. His heart must be in restful peace in the strength of the Lord, and in the presence of his Father.

Anxiety of spirit, the want of settled peace, has more to do than people think with the little progress that they make in understanding much of God’s Word. It is not enough that a man have life and the Spirit of God; but there must be a breaking down of the flesh (flesh - old man; sinful nature – NC) and simple, peaceful resting in the Lord Jesus – the knowing of who and where we are in Him.

- W M Kelly


GRACE CROWN – MJS
http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

 

[OzSpen]

What explains Scripture? It is the Spirit of God alone. His power can unfold any part of the Word of God. Do you ask if I mean to say that it is of no importance to know languages, understand history and so on? I am not raising a question about learning; it has its use. But I deny that history is the interpreter of Scripture.

And if there are Christians who know the history of the world, or the original tongues of Scripture, it is the Lord Jesus Christ that has to do with their spiritual intelligence, and not their knowledge or learning. Besides, even if men are believers, it does not necessarily follow that they understand all Scripture.

What place does understanding Hebrew grammar of the OT and Greek grammar of the NT have in interpreting Scripture?

 

[netchaplain]

Hi OS - Thanks for your reply. Knowledge of the Scriptures is first, before learning to understand them according to God's wisdom, which of course comes only by the Spirit of God as we apply ourselves to "Search the Scriptures" (John 5:39). Of course there can be no understanding of the Word without knowledge of them first, and God uses the original languages to relay it.

The article explains that knowledge of the original Biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek) is necessary for accuracy of the Scriptures, from which the Word is translated; but understanding the Scriptures (regardless how well the knowledge) comes only by the Author of the Scriptures--the Holy Spirit: "the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God"; "not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth (1 Cor 2:11, 13).

God's blessings to your Family!
Bob

 

[Kathi]

I have had problems with understand some of Scripture in the Bible.That is why I need a good Bible Study to go along with it.I am very careful about the Bible Study I use because I want it to be compatible with my belief.

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

To have faith in Yhwh means giving up faith in one's own belief, no matter what denomination or church or anything one may be in. The false church has profited greatly , in money , in power, and in human souls(destroying them), because people seek/sought verification of their belief instead of seeking the truth no matter what the price. Jesus told every one of His disciples the same thing, not dozens of different things (like the dozens of different doctrines today). The lack of unity and lack of union with Yhwh in Yeshua is somewhat because of all the different teachings/doctrines/beliefs that are contrary to Scripture, to Truth, and to Yhwh's Design,Plan, and Purpose in Yeshua.

There is only one faith, one immersion, one truth, and Yhwh and Yeshua's ecclesia are not divided into all the different groups like the denominations are.

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

.......... Knowledge of the Scriptures is first, before learning to understand them according to God's wisdom, which of course comes only by the Spirit of God as we apply ourselves to "Search the Scriptures" (John 5:39). Of course there can be no understanding of the Word without knowledge of them first, and God uses the original languages to relay it.

The article explains that knowledge of the original Biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek) is necessary for accuracy of the Scriptures, from which the Word is translated; but understanding the Scriptures (regardless how well the knowledge) comes only by the Author of the Scriptures--the Holy Spirit: "the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God"; "not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth (1 Cor 2:11, 13).

God's blessings to your Family!
Bob

When I was a youngster, aions (it seems) ago , (almost half century), all I had to read was the RSV of the Bible. Oh, KJV was around of course, but the believers around me didn't focus on one or the other, so neither did I... We never had arguments about the Scripture, as we simply loved the Truth in Christ Jesus and delighted in Him; we were as one, as much as I've ever seen since then.

I devoured the RSV, reading Yhwh's Word day and night all hours without thought of time. Genesis through Revelation, even the genealogies were delightful reading in my 'first love' of Yhwh in Yeshua and being immersed in Him all the time.

With no strife nor stress, I read in english, and Yhwh taught me in spirit, what He meant. It is so very different from what men teach (and have taught for 2000 years in the church that's been seeking world domination since 312a.d.). Hebrew and Greek and Aramaic was no barrier (for Yhwh the Creator, how could it be?)....... the Truth simply and beautifully flowed from Yhwh to His disciples at the time He appointed, and the same is still true today. He is Totally Amazing !

 

[Gary]

I have had problems with understand some of Scripture in the Bible.That is why I need a good Bible Study to go along with it.I am very careful about the Bible Study I use because I want it to be compatible with my belief.

If I only listened to the things I wanted to hear, how would I know if what I was hearing was true? I've changed my stance on many things over the years. Not because someone told me I was wrong, but because I wanted to know if what I believed was true or not.


Acts 17
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.


Jesus said, "If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a ditch".
.

 

[OzSpen]

Hi OS - Thanks for your reply. Knowledge of the Scriptures is first, before learning to understand them according to God's wisdom, which of course comes only by the Spirit of God as we apply ourselves to "Search the Scriptures" (John 5:39). Of course there can be no understanding of the Word without knowledge of them first, and God uses the original languages to relay it.

The article explains that knowledge of the original Biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek) is necessary for accuracy of the Scriptures, from which the Word is translated; but understanding the Scriptures (regardless how well the knowledge) comes only by the Author of the Scriptures--the Holy Spirit: "the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God"; "not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth (1 Cor 2:11, 13).

God's blessings to your Family!
Bob

Bob,

I agree with your emphasis that we need the Spirit of God to each us from Scripture and with other dynamics. I'm grateful for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit who speaks to us.

However, without scholars knowing the grammar of the the Hebrew and Aramaic, we would have no Old Testament in English. The same applies to the NT. Without those who understand Greek grammar, there would be no English NT translation.

Oz

 

[iLOVE]

Jesus disciples did not understand the scriptures and thy spent three years with Him. The same with the grace man himself Paul. However when they were filled with the Holy Spirit...oh my!!!!!! When they spoke the spirit of God moved!!!!!

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds[b] I will remember no more.”[c]
13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:10-13 NKJV

Notice what God has promise. He says I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, 5 times. Our job is to believe v.12 so He can do what He has promised.

 

[Blain]

You know in my short time of being a christian i have come to know some things about the bible. First off we can compare the bible to an onion or the earths crust there are many many layers which is why you can read it a thousand times and still discover amazing truths.

second the bible is the very heart of god, he poured his entire being his entire love for us into its making. therefore its an extremely valuable treasure and should be treated as such which means be careful as to how you use scripture using it to mock or condemn someone is dangerous.

Third there is more power flowing inside every page than there is in the sun or the supposively big bang. a single scripture can change the most evil and corrupt person black stone heart to a briliantly shining gold one. A single scripture can be used to defeat an entire army of demonic spirits a single scripture can heal as well.

4th is that to truly understand scripture the you need two things- the holy spirit and a heart full of Gods love. without these two things it doesnt matter how much scripture you know their secrets will always be hidden from you. God knew the best place to hid something is in plain sight where only his own could find it

 

[netchaplain]

Bob,

I agree with your emphasis that we need the Spirit of God to each us from Scripture and with other dynamics. I'm grateful for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit who speaks to us.

However, without scholars knowing the grammar of the the Hebrew and Aramaic, we would have no Old Testament in English. The same applies to the NT. Without those who understand Greek grammar, there would be no English NT translation.

Oz

Hi OS - Yes, that is the crux of my comment and thanks for your reply.

God's blessings to your Family!

 

[netchaplain]

You know in my short time of being a christian i have come to know some things about the bible. First off we can compare the bible to an onion or the earths crust there are many many layers which is why you can read it a thousand times and still discover amazing truths.

second the bible is the very heart of god, he poured his entire being his entire love for us into its making. therefore its an extremely valuable treasure and should be treated as such which means be careful as to how you use scripture using it to mock or condemn someone is dangerous.

Third there is more power flowing inside every page than there is in the sun or the supposively big bang. a single scripture can change the most evil and corrupt person black stone heart to a briliantly shining gold one. A single scripture can be used to defeat an entire army of demonic spirits a single scripture can heal as well.

4th is that to truly understand scripture the you need two things- the holy spirit and a heart full of Gods love. without these two things it doesnt matter how much scripture you know their secrets will always be hidden from you. God knew the best place to hid something is in plain sight where only his own could find it

Hi Blain - Thanks for the sensitive reply!

God's blessings to your Family!

 

[netchaplain]

If I only listened to the things I wanted to hear, how would I know if what I was hearing was true? I've changed my stance on many things over the years. Not because someone told me I was wrong, but because I wanted to know if what I believed was true or not.


Acts 17
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.


Jesus said, "If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a ditch".
.

Hi Gary - Thanks for your well-instructed reply.

God's blessings to your Family!

When I was a youngster, aions (it seems) ago , (almost half century), all I had to read was the RSV of the Bible. Oh, KJV was around of course, but the believers around me didn't focus on one or the other, so neither did I... We never had arguments about the Scripture, as we simply loved the Truth in Christ Jesus and delighted in Him; we were as one, as much as I've ever seen since then.

I devoured the RSV, reading Yhwh's Word day and night all hours without thought of time. Genesis through Revelation, even the genealogies were delightful reading in my 'first love' of Yhwh in Yeshua and being immersed in Him all the time.

With no strife nor stress, I read in english, and Yhwh taught me in spirit, what He meant. It is so very different from what men teach (and have taught for 2000 years in the church that's been seeking world domination since 312a.d.). Hebrew and Greek and Aramaic was no barrier (for Yhwh the Creator, how could it be?)....... the Truth simply and beautifully flowed from Yhwh to His disciples at the time He appointed, and the same is still true today. He is Totally Amazing !

Hi HN - Thanks for your interesting and heartfelt reply.

God's blessings to your Family!

 

[netchaplain]

Hi iL - Good to see your reply again and thank you for it. To me, I notice the Scriptures the Apostles had difficulty understanding were those Jesus indicated concerning His resurrection (John 20:9).

"For as yet they knew not the Scripture,.... Meaning not some particular passage of Scripture, but the writings of the Old Testament in general, and the various places in it, which spoke of the resurrection of Christ, either in a way of type, or prophecy; such as Genesis 22:3 and though our Lord had often referred to some of them, at least as in Matthew 12:40 yet such was the dulness of the disciples, or such their prejudices in favour of the Messiah being to continue, and set up a temporal kingdom, that even John, who leaned on his breast, and Peter, who was so inquisitive and desirous of knowing our Lord's meaning in everything, did not understand the sense of His words, nor of those places of Scripture He had reference to, "that He must rise again from the dead." JG

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

If I remember, they didn't understand the Tanakh, the Torah, as to all the many references to Messiah directly about Yeshua HaMashiach.
Then, after their minds were opened, after Yeshua gave them understanding, (literally),
then they were all able to prove from the OT that Yeshua is the Messiah.
How many people today can do that ? (prove that Yeshua is the Messiah in any way, and especially from the OT as Yeshua Himself and the disciples could and did )
Not with the point of understanding Scripture(which no one can do themselves), but everlastingly seeking ABBA and finding LIFE from HIM through and in YESHUA of Whom all the Scriptures speak. Him , in Person, Yeshua the Messiah, Whom many of the authorities and scholars rejected when He was with them, and Who almost all reject today.

 

[phil marriner]

The scriptures testify about Christ. The truth is within you , Christ is within you keep seeking knocking and asking and he will teach you all things himself he is the living word and cannot be found in a book.

 

[OzSpen]

The scriptures testify about Christ. The truth is within you , Christ is within you keep seeking knocking and asking and he will teach you all things himself he is the living word and cannot be found in a book.

John 17:17 NIV states, 'Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth'. How does this sit with your statement?

 

[phil marriner]

Yes i agree Christ is the way and Truth" that scripture testifies to him being so. So make him Lord of your life , get to know him,seek him, keep knocking and asking and he will reveal himself to you

 

[OzSpen]

Yes i agree Christ is the way and Truth" that scripture testifies to him being so. So make him Lord of your life , get to know him,seek him, keep knocking and asking and he will reveal himself to you

How does this relate to what I stated at #17? Do you not identify the Scripture as the Word of God which contains 'words' of God to all humanity?

At #16 you wrote that Christ 'is the living word and cannot be found in a book'. This is not what I found. I read the book of Scripture and in it found Jesus Christ who then became my Lord and Saviour. It began with Jesus revealed in the Scripture. Yes, Christ is in me, 'the hope of glory', and he is real to me, but it started with the book of Scripture and the revelation of Christ.

 

[phil marriner]

Yes of course i dont mean that . The scriptures testify about Messiah, now we search for him the real living Messiah , the one we heard and read about