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The Depravity of Human Nature

Genesis 6:5 states, “And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” This verse underscores the inherent sinfulness of humanity, evident from the earliest chapters of the Bible. The pre-flood world was characterized by pervasive wickedness, illustrating humanity’s inability to achieve righteousness on its own. The heart, being the seat of thoughts and intentions, was entirely corrupt, demonstrating that apart from divine intervention, humans are inclined towards evil.

Similarly, Genesis 8:21, after the flood, reiterates this truth: “Jehovah smelled the soothing aroma and said to Himself, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.’” Even after such a cataclysmic event as the flood, which was intended to purge the earth of its corruption, the fundamental nature of humanity remained unchanged. This verse reinforces the notion that human beings, by their very nature, are prone to sin from a young age.

Jeremiah 17:9 further elaborates on the deceitful nature of the human heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” This passage reveals the profound depth of human depravity, emphasizing that the heart is not only deceitful but also desperately wicked. The rhetorical question “who can know it?” points to the inscrutability of human wickedness, suggesting that only God can fully comprehend the extent of human sinfulness.

The Necessity of Divine Guidance

Given the inherent sinfulness described in these verses, it becomes evident that humans cannot stand alone morally or spiritually. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” This instruction underscores the necessity of relying on God for guidance rather than trusting in one’s own understanding, which is flawed due to the deceitful nature of the heart.

Isaiah 55:8-9 supports this by declaring, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares Jehovah. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” This contrast between divine and human understanding highlights the superiority of God’s wisdom and the need for humans to seek his guidance.

The Role of the Holy Scriptures

The Bible serves as the ultimate source of divine guidance, providing the necessary direction to navigate the moral and spiritual complexities of life. Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” This metaphor illustrates the illuminating power of God’s word, which guides believers in their daily walk and protects them from the pitfalls of sin.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 affirms the sufficiency of scripture: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” These verses highlight the comprehensive role of scripture in teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, enabling believers to live godly lives.

The Importance of Christian Community

In addition to personal reliance on scripture, the Christian community plays a vital role in supporting believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” This passage underscores the importance of mutual encouragement and accountability within the Christian community, especially as the return of Christ draws nearer.

Ephesians 4:11-13 emphasizes the role of spiritual leaders within the church: “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Spiritual leaders are given to equip believers, build up the church, and promote unity and maturity in Christ.

The Example of Christ

Jesus himself modeled dependence on the Father and community. In John 5:19, Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” Jesus’ ministry was characterized by his complete reliance on the Father, demonstrating that even the Son of God did not act independently.

Furthermore, Jesus emphasized the importance of community among his disciples. In John 13:34-35, he commanded, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” This command underscores the centrality of love and mutual support within the Christian community.

The Guidance of the Spirit-Inspired Word

There is no indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers today. Instead, we are guided by the Spirit-inspired word of God. The words translated “understand” in 1 Corinthians 2:12 and 14 are best understood as meaning something other than simply acquiring a correct mental grasp of meaning. They refer rather to embracing these biblical truths as true. It is probably best to see the expressions “does not accept,” “folly,” and “not able to understand” as referring to various ways in which the unbeliever critiques the divine revelation. 1 Corinthians 2:14 does not mean the unbeliever cannot understand the Bible without the Holy Spirit. It means the unbeliever sees it as foolish and rejects its truths. The Christian is guided by having the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). How do we acquire the mind of Christ? By being biblically minded.

Becoming Biblically Minded

We become biblically minded by understanding that the Bible goes beyond surface reading—it requires a careful analysis of its genres, historical context, and language. This book serves as a foundational guide for such an examination, requiring no prior understanding of biblical languages or hermeneutics yet empowering the reader with a working knowledge of biblical interpretation. The multifaceted nature of biblical study and interpretation sheds light on how to discern the various biblical genres and understand the original meanings intended by the Bible authors from a conservative grammatical-historical perspective. But more than that, it guides readers on how to apply these timeless truths to their own lives.

This book is more than a guide; it’s an invitation to journey deeper into the realms of biblical understanding. It is a must-read for anyone who seeks to broaden their comprehension of the Bible, interpret its sacred teachings accurately, and apply its profound wisdom to everyday life.

Conservative Exegesis and Critique of Modern Biblical Criticism

Believer or unbeliever, the scriptures must be interpreted with the conservative, objective hermeneutical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation. They must follow a conservative approach to biblical exegesis while meticulously exposing and critiquing the fallacies and biases prevalent in modern biblical criticism. All forms of liberal-moderate biblical criticism are fundamentally flawed and speculative. The book argues that these critical methodologies constitute an ongoing assault on the Bible, reinforcing scholarly biases and distancing biblical interpretation from truth. The ultimate goal is to equip readers with a clear understanding of conservative exegetical principles and methods, demonstrating how these approaches are grounded in an unswerving commitment to the authority and inerrancy of scripture, thereby offering an antidote to the subjective and ideologically skewed practices of modern biblical criticism. It is also a warning: biblical criticism has opened the gates to a flood of pseudo-scholarly works whose influence has been to undermine people’s confidence in the Bible.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).