Here are some great thoughts I found regarding the Bible:
Scripture has everything you need to meet any and all situations of life so that you “may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). This is why you must study to show yourself approved unto God.
In other words, don’t neglect the process of application. But remember: Application must be based on correct observation and accurate interpretation of the Word of God.
Otherwise, you’ll slip into legalism, tradition that overrides truth or some aberrant
lifestyle that has an air of religion but is contrary to a correct relationship with God. The most effective application takes place as you go before the Lord and talk with Him about those things you have read, seen, heard and carefully studied.
As the Word of God, the Scriptures are, of course, the Word of God to man. But the Reformers repeatedly emphasize the truth that it is only through the grace of the internal operation of the Holy Spirit in heart and mind that the message of Scripture can be understood and appropriated. The Divine Spirit is both the author of Scripture and the interpreter of his own Word. “The scripture speaketh many things as the world speaketh,” William Tyndale, the honoured father of our English Bible instructs us; “but they may not be worldly understood, but ghostly and spiritually: yea, the Spirit of God only understandeth them; and where he is not, there is not the understanding of the scripture, but unfruitful disputing and brawling about words. The scripture saith, God seeth, God heareth, God smelleth, God walketh, God is with them, God is not with them, God is angry, God is pleased, God sendeth his Spirit, God taketh his Spirit away, and a thousand such like: and yet is none of them true after the worldly manner, and as the words sound.” After citing 1 Cor 2:11f and Rom 8:14 and 9, Tyndale proceeds: “Now ‘he that is of God heareth the word of God’ (John 8:1-7, and 43-47). And who is of God but he that hath the Spirit of God? Furthermore, saith he, ‘Ye hear it not because ye are not of God;’ that is, ye have no lust in the word of God, for ye understand it not; and that because his spirit is not in you. Forasmuch then as the scripture is nothing else but that which the Spirit of God hath spoken by the prophets and apostles, and cannot be understood but of the same Spirit, let every man pray to God to send him his Spirit.”
In answer to the objection that “the Scripture is not the voice of God, but the Word of God; that is, it does not proceed immediately from God, but is delivered mediately to others,” Whitaker offers this comment: “We confess that God hath not spoken by himself, but by others. Yet this does not diminish the authority of scripture. For God inspired the prophets with what they said, and made use of their mouths, tongues, and hands: the scripture, therefore, is even immediately the voice of God. The prophets and apostles were only the organs of God.” This assertion he supports by citing Heb 1:1-3 and 2nd Pet 1: All.
... back with more as I continue my study!
love, C'wick
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