Something very wrong has developed among leaders and teachers in the church. Most of the problems in the church derive from its leaders. The most glaring problem observable in church leaders is their unwillingness, and/or inability, to measure their concepts and formulate their doctrine by the strict, objective standard of Holy Scripture. Leaders are pressured to give their church members the impression that "I am right; you can trust me" and "our church is right, don’t look elsewhere”. Without intending to do so, church leaders often search the Scripture for "proof texts" that will support their already settled conclusions. However, the only honest way to study the Bible is to read it, as much as possible, with absolute commitment to accept its demonstrable meaning, however much that meaning may cancel previously held convictions. Following that path is difficult, risky and potentially costly. Nevertheless, what one finds of truth, freedom, and real relationship with Jesus Christ, is more than worth the cost.
There is a correct methodology for learning Scriptural truth and ferreting one’s way through the morass of subjective silliness and falsehood that passes for Biblical scholarship in many circles. Such study requires time, effort, and above all, objectivity and willingness to change. We suppose that visitors to this web site are not religious professionals, and therefore may not be familiar with the methodology of effective, in-depth Bible study. Therefore, we offer this short study for those who might be interested in pursuing Biblical truth on their own, rather than entrusting their spiritual destiny to a pulpit professional.
How do we remove the blinders of ideological pre-conditioning that each of us brings to Scripture? The barest minimum of necessary components of objective Bible study will include:
- The text itself - What is the meaning of the actual words and phrases of the Bible, as defined by authoritative scholarship? No text of Scripture can possibly be "understood" without brutal honesty as to exact meaning of words and phrases. Every word must be understood, as nearly as possible, in exactly the way the writer and original audience understood that word.
- The historical situation of the text - Serious Bible study includes study of the times, places, cultural/political situation and events surrounding the people doing the writing, and the people receiving the writing.
- Interpretation of the text in light of its historical situation - True understanding of the Biblical text sees its words and phrases as applied specifically to the times, places, cultural/political situation and events surrounding writer and recipients. The words of Scripture cannot be treated as if they arose in a vacuum. Time, history and culture bind all Biblical text. Ignoring this fact, or devaluing its importance, spells doom for serious Bible study.
The Biblical text does not come to us in the form of timeless axioms. Every text was composed in a specific time/space framework. Thus, Biblical writers do not generally attempt to explain what, for them and their readers were common assumptions. Use of certain words, phrases and references was simply taken for granted because the writer knew the original readers would understand. The only way for us to understand likewise, is to put ourselves in that original situation if possible, through diligent historical study.
Our greatest problem if that we tend to read the Biblical text in light of our own modern historical/cultural situation. For example, when some people read references to the "naturalness" of long hair on women and "shamefulness" of long hair on men, 1 Corinthians 10, their conclusions show their confusion, and churches arise that require women to have a "veil" on their head when they enter the sanctuary. Likewise some misunderstand the point of the "foot-washing" episode of John 13, with the result that they believe Jesus to require that we go about literally washing each other’s feet, (as per vs. 12-15). Others will misunderstand Mark 16:18 to be Jesus’ "Great Commission" to build churches that specialize in drinking poison and handling poisonous snakes.
Considering the historical situation in which the text originates will help us to understand it as its original readers and authors understood it. This rule is especially important when studying the New Testament. The cultural environment of first century Palestine and surrounding areas was extremely complex The New Testament writers were primarily Jewish, but their audience was primarily Gentile. The original church was comprised entirely of Jews with a long history of commitment to Jehovah and His law-word. However, Gentile converts, with their long history of pagan idolatry, very quickly dominated the church. Though their mutual language was the Greek of the common person, their thought processes were entirely different. To understand what Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, for example, requires one to understand more than the Hebrew concept of things simply because the Gentile Roman Christians did not think like the Hebrew Christians. To understand New Testament writings, one must learn something about who the people were, and why and how they did things. One must learn to see things as first-century people saw them. Until one does the hard work necessary for such study, one is not qualified to form or state an emphatic opinion about "what the Bible says."
Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free", John 8:32. The "truth" that frees us is God’s word, John 8:3 and 17:17. Anything other than the truth of Scripture makes us slaves. Arriving at the truth is difficult because we must struggle against subjectivity, ignorance, predisposition, prejudice, peer influence, family ties, fear, etc. The path to truth, though difficult to follow, is nonetheless easily pointed to honest, thorough and objective Bible study.
The goal of Bible study is to find the "plain sense" of its statements. "Just take it for what it says" is an oft-repeated refrain. Every competing denominational "camp" uses the same phrase, each claiming to be the only ones who take the Bible "simply for what is says," understanding its "plain sense," while frequently occupying opposite sides of a doctrinal fence. Obviously, two opposing viewpoints cannot both be founded on the "plain sense" of Biblical statements. At least one, and perhaps both, viewpoints are wrong. So how does one truly arrive at the "plain sense" of Scripture? We can confidently "take the Bible for what it says”, but only if we can be sure we are truly reading exactly what it says!
Finding truth is possible. It requires hard work, honesty and spiritual integrity. First, we must admit that exegesis without presuppositions is impossible. Then we must labor diligently and honestly, at laying aside all presuppositions, so that we will be able to see what the Word actually says. The great "victory" we wish to win in this arena, is victory over presupposition and traditional, though erroneous conclusions.