STUDY TO KNOW AND TO DO (John 7: 16-17)

"Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only" (James 1: 22-23).

STUDY GOD'S WORDS  (I Corinthians 2: 13-14)

"We (the inspired) speak in the words which…the Holy Spirit teaches" (I Corinthians 2: 13).

Word–for-word translations contain the only accurate record.  Use a standard translation – American Standard, King James, or New King James.  Avoid all that add man's words.

STUDY TO "RIGHTLY DIVIDE" SCRIPTURE

The only way to know we are approved of God is to rightly divide or "cut straight" the Scriptures (II Timothy 2: 15); working to properly distinguish books and verses, the Old Testament and the New (Romans 7: 1-6; Galatians 3: 24-25).

STUDY TO DETERMINE THE "SENSE" OF  SCRIPTURE

In Nehemiah's day, "They read in the book of the law of God distinctly and gave the sense" (Nehemiah 8:8). Search in Bible concordances and in Bible dictionaries for word meanings and similar passages.  Do not rely on English dictionaries for Bible words.  The Bible was originally revealed in Hebrew and Greek.

STUDY PRAYERFULLY ASKING GOD FOR WISDOM

"If any lack wisdom let him ask of God" (James 1: 5).  "Wisdom is the common sense to put into practice the principles and instructions given us in the revelation of God's word"  (J. W. Roberts).

STUDY FOR SALVATION ( John 20: 30-31; I John 5: 13)

"The holy Scriptures are able to make thee wise unto salvation" (II Timothy 3: 15).

PRINCIPLES OF UNDERSTANDING IN BIBLE STUDY

STUDY CLEARER MORE EXACT SCRIPTURES TO AID IN UNDERSTANDING THE MORE DIFFICULT ONES.

Never base your understanding on one or two obscure passages.  We may "twist" (wrest) Scriptures to our own destruction (II Peter 3: 16).

STUDY ALL THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ON A SUBJECT OR WORD

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (II Timothy 3: 16ff). Do not allow one verse to over-ride what is said in other verses.  Satan did that to Jesus in Matthew 4:6-7!

STUDY TO DETERMINE GOD'S POINT OF VIEW, NOT TO REINFORCE YOUR OWN POINT OF VIEW

Some are "ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth" ( II Timothy 3: 7).  "Let GOD be True and Every man a Liar!" (Romans 3:4).

STUDY WITHOUT STRIVING TO ESTABLISH SOME "NEW THING." That is what the Athenians did in Acts 17: 11.

STUDY WHAT GOD HAS REVEALED.  LEAVE THE "SECRET THINGS" TO HIM.

"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us"  (Deuteronomy 29: 29).

Beware of imaginary conclusions!

Larry Albritton