Christian Publishing House Blog
Apologetic Defense of the faith, the Bible, and Christianity
God has placed within each person’s heart a need for spiritual sustenance. He has provided for this need with his Word, which is literally more essential than physical food and literally more precious than any material resource.
In discussions concerning interpretations of the Bible, we often hear the phrase, “you took that out of context.” In fact, we often hear that in discussions outside the Bible, as when the media quotes a politician and the politician feels he or she has been unfairly treated. In its popular usage, the phrase seems simply to mean, “You got that wrong.”
Knowledge of the original languages can get you even farther. If you have the opportunity to learn the languages, take it. If you have learned the languages, use every opportunity to deepen your knowledge of them. If neither, learn to use responsibly the various study tools now available to help you in your study of God’s Word.
How many times have we been in church listening to the preacher do a good job expositing (explaining) the text? At some point, he says “Now, what the Greek actually says is…” At that pronouncement, the congregation grows a little quieter and a little more attentive. Why is that?
Many a one who is eagerly asking, “What method shall I pursue in my Bible study?” needs something that goes far deeper than a new and better method.
John 5:39-40 Updated American Standard Version (UASV) 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness about me. 40 And yet you do not want to come to me that you may have life.
The Bible gives us answers to questions about this life and the one to come, which can be found nowhere else, and offers illumination to its readers. Those who take in this life-saving knowledge are freed from the misunderstandings of life that dominate billions of others.
Not one day should ever pass without our considering the Word of God. Bible reading and personal Bible study does not guarantee that we will become more spiritual, more faithful, more knowledgable but the opposite, lack thereof, is guaranteed.
One of the most often stated half-truths that we learn early on in our Christian walk is that in-depth Bible knowledge does not necessarily equal spiritual maturity. However, that is only half of the truth. The other half of that truth is that a lack of more in-depth knowledge equals spiritual immaturity.
This blog article will discuss how we get the Word of God down into our hearts and how we can grow spiritually. In line with the model Jesus provided, a Christian who wants to grow spiritually will not be satisfied with a superficial knowledge of the Bible. He will regularly dig deeply into its contents, realizing that “solid food is for the mature.” (Heb. 5:14)