PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE STUDY - 2

THE ACCURACY OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

In Acts 18v24-26,   Priscilla & Aquila took Apollos the great preacher aside and taught him the way of God "more perfectly."   The word means "accurately."   There is therefore a need to accurately interpret this book.   In 2nd Timothy 2v15  Paul wrote to Timothy commanding him to "be diligent, show thyself approved unto God, a workman not ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."   In 2nd Timothy 2 the believer is presented in seven different metaphors:

In verse  1    he is a son and exhorted to be strong in the grace in Christ.  

In verse  3    he is a soldier and is required to endure hardness.  

In verse  5    he is an athlete and must therefore play by the rules. 

In verse  6    he is a vinedresser and must first partake of the fruit. 

In verse 15   he is a student workman and must show diligent accuracy.  

In verse 21   he is a vessel and must be cleansed and fit for the Master's use.  

In verse 24   he is a servant and must be gentle and patient towards all.

It is in that context that Paul requires Timothy to show diligent accuracy in the presentation and interpretation of Holy Scripture.  He calls it the "word of truth" and it contains many divisions and many distinctions.   Distinctions between Jew & Gentile, Israel and the Church, different dispensations, two advents of Christ, two resurrections, five judgements, differences between law and grace, standing and state, salvation and rewards, profession and true faith.   Where these distinctions are not observed, confusion exists, and the profitability of the word is reduced.

Illustrations of the above are best found in the letter to the Hebrews:

• Hebrews 2v8     -     The writer argues from the authority of a single word "all."
• Hebrews 2v12   -     Quoting from Psalm 22v22 the writer argues from the expression   "my brethren," that it behoved the Son of God to put on the nature of man  .
• Hebrews 7v3     -     "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life."   The writer argues from silence, (that is what the bible doesn't say,) and builds a teaching upon it.   Thus God's word is important and accurate, not only of what it says, but in what it doesn't say.  
• Hebrews 8v8-13  -     Quoting from Jeremiah 31v31, the writer argues from the word "new" to establish that the old covenant has ended and the new covenant is in place.
• Hebrews 7v2     -       A note is made of the order of titles, first king of righteousness, and after that king of peace. 
• Hebrews 12v27  -     The writer interprets  Haggai 2v6  "yet once more signifying the removing of those things that are shaken ......"

With these and many other examples we note the minute attention to detail by the writers of Holy Scripture.   Expressions like  "the Lord spake unto Moses," "the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah,  Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Micah, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah etc.etc." all of these make this book authoritative for everyone today.   The writings are both accurate and authoritative in the realm of history, science, culture, language, prophecy, wisdom and doctrine, both as to the core message and also to the very words used.