We ran across an article recently, entitled: βYes, the Bible is a Confusing Book.β
The article did not even attempt to dispel this βconfusion,β or in any way help its readers to understand the Bible. It did not suggest even one basic rule of interpretation. Nor did it explain why the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles constantly exhorted men to study the Bible.
The Bible is indeed a very large Book, so that the greatest of us will never understand it all. Moreover, it is Godβs Book and must necessarily contain much that is βhard to understand.β But this makes it the greater challenge to the believing heart to seek divine aid in exploring its depths and the greater joy when precious stones are brought up from this exhaustless mine.
God does not reward lazy and indifferent Christians with light from His Word, but confusion invariably vanishes as we prayerfully obey His command:
βStudy to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truthβ (II Tim. 2:15).
In studying the Bible there are basic distinctions to be observed; e.g., between the twelve apostles and Paul, the apostle for this age; between the βgospel of the kingdomβ and the gospel for our day: the βgospel of the grace of God,β etc., but meantime there are many passages of Scripture so plain and simple that a child can understand them and no theologian can explain them away. For example, in John 3:35,36, we read:
βTHE FATHER LOVETH THE SON, AND HATH GIVEN ALL THINGS INTO HIS HAND.
βHE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.β
At the other end from the spiritual poverty experienced by those who deem the Bible βa confusing Book,β we have what St. Paul, by divine inspiration, calls βall [the] riches of the full assurance of understandingβ (Col. 2:2). source
