The Word of God
INDEX
"For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." Psalms 119:89
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But still ye will say, I cannot understand it. What marvel? How shouldest thou understand, if thou wilt not read nor look upon it?
Take the Book into thine hands, read the whole story, and that thou understandest not, read it again, and again:
if thou can neither so come by it, counsel with some other than it better learned.
Thomas Cranmer |
Reading the Holy Scripture
TRUTH, not eloquence, is to be sought in reading the Holy Scriptures; and every part must be read in the spirit in which it was written. For in the Scriptures we ought to seek profit rather than polished diction.
Likewise we ought to read simple and devout books as willingly as learned and profound ones. We ought not to be swayed by the authority of the writer, whether he be a great literary light or an insignificant person, but by the love of simple truth. We ought not to ask who is speaking, but mark what is said. Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord remains forever. God speaks to us in many ways without regard for persons.
Our curiosity often impedes our reading of the Scriptures, when we wish to understand and mull over what we ought simply to read and pass by.
If you would profit from it, therefore, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and never seek a reputation for being learned. Seek willingly and listen attentively to the words of the saints; do not be displeased with the sayings of the ancients, for they were not made without purpose.
— By Thomas À Kempis
Great Messages
The Authority And Inspiration 0f The Holy Scriptures by Robert Smith Candlish 
The Infallibility Of Holy Scripture by Robert Smith Candlish
The Word A Sword by Charles H. Spurgeon
The Word, the Work and the World by T. Austin-Sparks
The Scriptures and Obedience by A. W. Pink
God's Word In Our Heart by Andrew Murray
The Sword of the Spirit by Charles H. Spurgeon
The Word Our Only Rule by John Calvin
Reading the Scriptures by John Angell James
A Student of the Word by George Kulp
The Scriptures and the World by A. W. Pink
It is Written by George Kulp
The Word Made Flesh by Robert Murray M'Cheyne
God's Word in Our Hearts by Thomas Manton
The Milk of the Word by Andrew Murray
Christ, The Bread of Life by Arthur W. Pink
Hold Fast the Form of Sound Words by J. C. Ryle
Mending the Bible by T. DeWitt Talmage
A Godly Man is a Lover of the Word by Thomas Watson
Search the Scriptures by George Whitefield
The Knowledge of Jesus Christ the Best Knowledge by George Whitefield
The Bible - God's Holy Book
Author Unknown
This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions immutable.
This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.
It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter.
Christ is its subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.
It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully.
It is given to you in life, will be open in the judgement, and be remembered forever.
It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy precepts.
Helpful Studies
The Book of James With Synopsis
The Heroes Of Faith by A. W. Pink
Science Proves the Accuracy of the Bible Source Unknown
The Bible Book by Book by J. B. Tidell
God's Inspired Word by James H. Brookes (1830-1897)
How to Get the Most from Reading your Bible by Thomas Watson
Highlights of the Bible by Ray Stedman
Scientific Accuracies of the Bible Source Unknown
Study the Bible Topically by R. A. Torrey
Bible Facts Source Unknown
The Authority and Inspiration of the Scriptures by B. B. Warfield
Reading and Searching the Scriptures by Thomas Boston
Rules of Interpretation by Charles Hodge
If every man has the right, and is bound to read the Scriptures, and to judge for himself what they teach, he must have certain rules to guide him in the exercise of this privilege and duty. These rules are not arbitrary. They are not imposed by human authority. They have no binding force which does not flow from their own intrinsic truth and propriety. They are few and simple.
1. The words of Scripture are to be taken in their plain historical sense. That is, they must be taken in the sense attached to them in the age and by the people to whom they were addressed. This only assumes that the sacred writers were honest, and meant to be understood.
2. If the Scriptures be what they claim to be, the word of God, they are the work of one mind, and that mind divine. From this it follows that Scripture cannot contradict Scripture. God cannot teach in one place anything which is inconsistent with what He teaches in another. Hence Scripture must explain Scripture. If a passage admits of different interpretations, that only can be the true one which agrees with what the Bible teaches elsewhere on the same subject. If the Scriptures teach that the Son is the same in substance and equal in power and glory with the Father, then when the Son says, "The Father is greater than I," the superiority must be understood in a manner consistent with this equality. It must refer either to subordination as to the mode of subsistence and operation, or it must be official. A king's son may say, "My father is greater than I," although personally his father's equal. This rule of interpretation is sometimes called the analogy of Scripture, and sometimes the analogy of faith. There is no material difference in the meaning of the two expressions.
3. The Scriptures are to be interpreted under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which guidance is to be humbly and earnestly sought. The ground of this rule is twofold: First, the Spirit is promised as a guide and teacher. He was to come to lead the people of God into the knowledge of the truth. And secondly, the Scriptures teach, that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. ii. 14.) The unrenewed mind is naturally blind to spiritual truth. His heart is in opposition to the things of God. Congeniality of mind is necessary to the proper apprehension of divine things. As only those who have a moral nature can discern moral truth, so those only who are spiritually minded can truly receive the things of the Spirit.
The fact that all the true people of God in every age and in every part of the Church, in the exercise of their private judgment, in accordance with the simple rules above stated, agree as to the meaning of Scripture in all things necessary either in faith or practice, is a decisive proof of the perspicuity of the Bible, and of the safety of allowing the people the enjoyment of the divine right of private judgment.
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Andrew Murray
