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Methods of Bible Study
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Methods
of Bible Study
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Bible
Study:
Presuppositions,
Principles,
and
Methods
1.
Preamble
This
statement
is addressed
to all
members
of the
Seventh-day
Adventist
Church
with
the
purpose
of providing
guidelines
on how
to study
the
Bible,
both
the
trained
biblical
scholar
and
others.
Seventh-day
Adventists
recognize
and
appreciate
the
contributions
of those
biblical
scholars
throughout
history
who
have
developed
useful
and
reliable
methods
of Bible
study
consistent
with
the
claims
and
teachings
of Scripture.
Adventists
are
committed
to the
acceptance
of biblical
truth
and
are
willing
to follow
it,
using
all
methods
of interpretation
consistent
with
what
Scripture
says
of itself.
These
are
outlined
in the
presuppositions
detailed
below.
In
recent
decades
the
most
prominent
method
in biblical
studies
has
been
known
as the
historical-critical
method.
Scholars
who
use
this
method,
as classically
formulated,
operate
on the
basis
of presuppositions
which,
prior
to studying
the
biblical
text,
reject
the
reliability
of accounts
of miracles
and
other
supernatural
events
narrated
in the
Bible.
Even
a modified
use
of this
method
that
retains
the
principle
of criticism
which
subordinates
the
Bible
to human
reason
is unacceptable
to Adventists.
The
historical-critical
method
minimizes
the
need
for
faith
in God
and
obedience
to His
commandments.
In addition,
because
such
a method
de-emphasizes
the
divine
element
in the
Bible
as an
inspired
book
(including
its
resultant
unity)
and
depreciates
or misunderstands
apocalyptic
prophecy
and
the
eschatological
portions
of the
Bible,
we urge
Adventist
Bible
students
to avoid
relying
on the
use
of the
presuppositions
and
the
resultant
deductions
associated
with
the
historical-critical
method.
In
contrast
with
the
historical-critical
method
and
presuppositions,
we believe
it to
be helpful
to set
forth
the
principles
of Bible
study
that
are
consistent
with
the
teachings
of the
Scriptures
themselves,
that
preserve
their
unity,
and
are
based
upon
the
premise
that
the
Bible
is the
Word
of God.
Such
an approach
will
lead
us into
a satisfying
and
rewarding
experience
with
God.
2.
Presuppositions
Arising
From
the
Claims
of Scripture
a.
Origin
(1)
The
Bible
is
the
Word
of
God
and
is
the
primary
and
authoritative
means
by
which
He
reveals
Himself
to
human
beings.
(2)
The
Holy
Spirit
inspired
the
Bible
writers
with
thoughts,
ideas,
and
objective
information;
in
turn
they
expressed
these
in
their
own
words.
Therefore
the
Scriptures
are
an
indivisible
union
of
human
and
divine
elements,
neither
of
which
should
be
emphasized
to
the
neglect
of
the
other
(2Peter
1:21;
cf.
The
Great
Controversy,
v,
vi).
(3)
All
Scripture
is
inspired
by
God
and
came
through
the
work
of
the
Holy
Spirit.
However,
it
did
not
come
in
a
continuous
chain
of
unbroken
revelations.
As
the
Holy
Spirit
communicated
truth
to
the
Bible
writer,
each
wrote
as
he
was
moved
by
the
Holy
Spirit,
emphasizing
the
aspect
of
the
truth
which
he
was
led
to
stress.
For
this
reason
the
student
of
the
Bible
will
gain
a
rounded
comprehension
on
any
subject
by
recognizing
that
the
Bible
is
its
own
best
interpreter
and
when
studied
as
a
whole
it
depicts
a
consistent,
harmonious
truth
(2Tim.
3:16;
Heb.
1:1,
2;
cf.
Selected
Messages,
Book
1,
19,
20;
The
Great
Controversy,
v,
vi).
(4)
Although
it
was
given
to
those
who
lived
in
an
ancient
Near
Eastern/Mediterranean
context,
the
Bible
transcends
its
cultural
backgrounds
to
serve
as
God's
Word
for
all
cultural,
racial,
and
situational
contexts
in
all
ages.
(1)
The
sixty-six
books
of
the
Old
and
New
Testaments
are
the
clear,
infallible
revelation
of
God's
will
and
His
salvation.
The
Bible
is
the
Word
of
God,
and
it
alone
is
the
standard
by
which
all
teaching
and
experience
must
be
tested
(2Tim.
3:15,
17;
Ps.
119:105;
Prov.
30:5,
6;
Isa.
8:20;
John
17:17;
2Thess.
3:14;
Heb.
4:12).
(2)
Scripture
is
an
authentic,
reliable
record
of
history
and
God's
acts
in
history.
It
provides
the
normative
theological
interpretation
of
those
acts.
The
supernatural
acts
revealed
in
Scripture
are
historically
true.
For
example,
chapters
1-11
of
Genesis
are
a
factual
account
of
historical
events.
(3)
The
Bible
is
not
like
other
books.
It
is
an
indivisible
blend
of
the
divine
and
the
human.
Its
record
of
many
details
of
secular
history
is
integral
to
its
overall
purpose
to
convey
salvation
history.
While
at
times
there
may
be
parallel
procedures
employed
by
Bible
students
to
determine
historical
data,
the
usual
techniques
of
historical
research,
based
as
they
are
on
human
presuppositions
and
focused
on
the
human
element,
are
inadequate
for
interpreting
the
Scriptures,
which
are
a
blend
of
the
divine
and
human.
Only
a
method
that
fully
recognizes
the
indivisible
nature
of
the
Scriptures
can
avoid
a
distortion
of
its
message.
(4)
Human
reason
is
subject
to
the
Bible,
not
equal
to
or
above
it.
Presuppositions
regarding
the
Scriptures
must
be
in
harmony
with
the
claims
of
the
Scriptures
and
subject
to
correction
by
them
(1Cor.
2:1-6).
God
intends
that
human
reason
be
used
to
its
fullest
extent,
but
within
the
context
and
under
the
authority
of
His
Word
rather
than
independent
of
it.
(5)
The
revelation
of
God
in
all
nature,
when
properly
understood,
is
in
harmony
with
the
written
Word,
and
is
to
be
interpreted
in
the
light
of
Scripture.
3.
Principles
for
Approaching
the
Interpretation
of Scripture
a.
The
Spirit
enables
the
believer
to accept,
understand,
and
apply
the
Bible
to one's
own
life
as he
seeks
divine
power
to render
obedience
to all
scriptural
requirements
and
to appropriate
personally
all
Bible
promises.
Only
those
following
the
light
already
received
can
hope
to receive
further
illumination
of the
Spirit
(John
16:13,
14;
1Cor.
2:10-14).
b.
Scripture
cannot
be correctly
interpreted
without
the
aid
of the
Holy
Spirit,
for
it is
the
Spirit
who
enables
the
believer
to understand
and
apply
Scripture.
Therefore,
any
study
of the
Word
should
commence
with
a request
for
the
Spirit's
guidance
and
illumination.
c.
Those
who
come
to the
study
of the
Word
must
do so
with
faith,
in the
humble
spirit
of a
learner
who
seeks
to hear
what
the
Bible
is saying.
They
must
be willing
to submit
all
presuppositions,
opinions,
and
the
conclusions
of reason
to the
judgment
and
correction
of the
Word
itself.
With
this
attitude
the
Bible
student
may
come
directly
to the
Word,
and
with
careful
study
may
come
to an
understanding
of the
essentials
of salvation
apart
from
any
human
explanations,
however
helpful.
The
biblical
message
becomes
meaningful
to such
a person.
d.
The
investigation
of Scripture
must
be characterized
by a
sincere
desire
to discover
and
obey
God's
will
and
word
rather
than
to seek
support
or evidence
for
preconceived
ideas.
4.
Methods
of Bible
Study
a.
Select
a Bible
version
for
study
that
is faithful
to the
meaning
contained
in languages
in which
the
Bible
originally
was
written,
giving
preference
to translations
done
by a
broad
group
of scholars
and
published
by a
general
publisher
above
translations
sponsored
by a
particular
denomination
or narrowly
focused
group.
Exercise
care
not
to build
major
doctrinal
points
on one
Bible
translation
or version.
Trained
biblical
scholars
will
use
the
Greek
and
Hebrew
texts,
enabling
them
to examine
variant
readings
of ancient
Bible
manuscripts
as well.
b.
Choose
a definite
plan
of study,
avoiding
haphazard
and
aimless
approaches.
Study
plans
such
as the
following
are
suggested:
(1)
Book-by-book
analysis
of
the
message
(2)
Verse-by-verse
method
(3)
Study
that
seeks
a
biblical
solution
to
a
specific
life
problem,
biblical
satisfaction
for
a
specific
need,
or
a
biblical
answer
to
a
specific
question
(4)
Topical
study
(faith,
love,
second
coming,
and
others)
c.
Seek
to grasp
the
simple,
most
obvious
meaning
of the
biblical
passage
being
studied.
d.
Seek
to discover
the
underlying
major
themes
of Scripture
as found
in individual
texts,
passages,
and
books.
Two
basic,
related
themes
run
throughout
Scripture:
(1)The
person
and
work
of Jesus
Christ;
and
(2)the
great
controversy
perspective
involving
the
authority
of God's
Word,
the
fall
of man,
the
first
and
second
advents
of Christ,
the
exoneration
of God
and
His
law,
and
the
restoration
of the
divine
plan
for
the
universe.
These
themes
are
to be
drawn
from
the
totality
of Scripture
and
not
imposed
on it.
e.
Recognize
that
the
Bible
is its
own
interpreter
and
that
the
meaning
of words,
texts,
and
passages
is best
determined
by diligently
comparing
scripture
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