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How should we use the Bible? Should we give our own meaning to what is written? Are we free to form our own conclusions and to decide what it is that God means?
| I Cor. 4:6 NKJV |
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| 6Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. (Holy Bible: New King James Version. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982.) |
How should we use the Bible? Paul said, "learn in us not to think beyond what is written." If you need to supply your own meaning or provide speculation, then you are thinking beyond what is written. If you cannot get your point across by using direct quotes from the Bible, then more often than not, your message is not God's message.
What is an example of this?
| Matt. 4:6 NCV |
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| 6The devil said, “If you are the Son of God, jump down, because it is written in the Scriptures: ‘He has put his angels in charge of you. They will catch you in their hands so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.’” (The Holy Bible: New Century Version. Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1993.) |
What Scripture did the Devil quote? Psalm 91:11-12.
Why did the Devil quote this? What was the Devil trying to convince Jesus to do? The Devil said, "jump down". Notice that the Devil was trying to use God's words to justify what he was asking Jesus to do.
However, did the passage the Devil quoted actually say that Jesus should jump down or was that just his own conclusion?
| Ps. 91:11-12 NCV |
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| 11He has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go.12They will catch you in their hands so that you will not hit your foot on a rock. (The Holy Bible: New Century Version. Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1993.) |
Did the passage say that Jesus should kill Himself? No it did not, rather the Devil gave his own meaning to what was written.
This is what we need to avoid when using the Bible. We must conform to what is written, not the other way around.
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