In the previous study, you learned how the Bible was created. However, knowing how the Bible was created is pointless if we can’t understand what the Bible is telling us. Therefore, understanding God’s Word is essential to these studies and a fundamental part of being a child of God.

1.) What is the purpose of the Scriptures?

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2Timothy 3:16

Doctrine – A belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by a group or school.

Reproof – To voice or convey disapproval

Correction – To remove, remedy, or counteract an error

Instruction in righteousness – To teach moral uprightness.

2.) What is the expected outcome of the Scriptures?

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2Timothy 3:17

God’s ultimate design of the Scriptures is to shape our lives so that our characters will be aligned with God’s character—perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works.

Hermeneutics

In order to understand God’s Word, you need to know how to interpret its texts. The process of interpreting God’s Word is called Hermeneutics.

While hermeneutics can be a complex system of methodologies and perspectives, it requires that we take all that’s written on a subject before coming to a conclusion. This prohibits us from reading one or two verses and deriving a whole belief system from them. So if you are studying about heaven, try to gather everything that’s been written on the subject and then come to your conclusion with study and prayer.

At the core of understanding the Scriptures are these four components: Who, What, When, and Where.

Who is speaking, and who is being spoken to?

Imagine you are at work, and the manager stands in front of the whole department and says, “I need you to have that report on my desk by 9 am tomorrow.” Even though you may understand what they are saying, it is still imperative to know who the request was directed towards. In this same manner, you also must understand that when studying God’s Word, we must take note of who the Bible is addressing. 

The Bible may be addressing a specific person or group of people, and the command or request only pertains to that person or group. For example, God told his servant Hosea to “Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms...” (Hosea 1:2). Well, this command was specific to Hosea, and we should not take this request as universal, or every man of God would be required to marry a prostitute.

In like manner, God’s address to a certain person or group can also be a universal rule that everyone must follow. For example, in Exodus 20, God commanded Israel not to kill (Exodus 20:13). Even though God spoke these words to Israel, they were universal. So when you study God’s Word, first ask yourself: Who is God talking to?

What are the circumstances surrounding the Scripture(s)?

Understanding the circumstances surrounding a Scripture or chapter helps provide the context necessary to understand God’s Word. For example, in Leviticus 19:27, God told Israel, “Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.” Without context, this statement may seem strange, but once we understand that Pagan nations often practiced this shaving ritual, we can better understand why God would make this statement.  Knowing the circumstances around a statement helps us have a clearer understanding of God’s Word.

When in history is the statement being made or when is the statement applicable?

Another important component of understanding the Bible is knowing when a statement was made and when that statement is fulfilled. After Adam and Eve had sinned, God told the serpent, “…I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Although God made this statement soon after Adam and Eve’s initial sin, the statement was fulfilled centuries later when God’s Son died for our sins. Being mindful of WHEN can really give us a greater awareness of what the Bible is telling us.

Where is the geographical location?

Sometimes the location can help us better understand the Bible. An example of this is found in Daniel 11. Embedded within this chapter are a King of the North and a King of the South. Without knowing the geographical location, it becomes challenging to understand where the North and South were located. Location is a vital part of Bible hermeneutics.

You are well on your way, but there’s more you must learn when it comes to understanding the Word of God. Therefore, we will continue this study in the next lesson.