My intention in this series is to call attention to the fact that no religious group is entirely correct in its understanding of the Bible. Of course, no individual person can be entirely correct in his or her understanding of the Bible either.

I personally believe that this fact demonstrates that all claims made by any group of Christians to be exclusively the only “One True Church” are therefore proven false.

Logically, this is so because to make the claim of infallibility or to claim to teach the precise doctrines taught by Jesus and His Apostles necessitates that such teaching conforms to what Jesus and His Apostles originally taught. To differ with what they taught as found in the New Testament invalidates the claim.

An example of a position taken by some mistaken groups is that they:

7A. Deny the right of private or individual judgment and interpretation of Scripture as contained in the Bible.

A. Proverbs 18:1-2

Pro 18:1  Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
Pro 18:2  A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. (KJV)

I have  placed the following note for this text in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

Through desire, etc. or, He that separateth himself seeketh, according to his desire, and intermeddleth in every business. Isaac Leeser translates, “He that separateth himself (from God) seeketh his own desires; at every sound wisdom is he enraged.”

Ralph Wardlaw observes that the verse is variously rendered, such that opposing translations express an opposite meaning. Wardlaw argues that since this verse is in contrast with verse two, this verse must be taken in a positive sense of a man who loves and pursues knowledge, whereas verse two speaks of the man who undervalues and despises it. Wardlaw explains “Through desire”—that is, the desire of knowledge—”a man having separated himself”—that is, having retired and secluded himself from interruption by the intrusion of companions and the engagements of social life—”seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom” (Ralph Wardlaw, Lectures on The Book of Proverbs, vol. 2, pp. 170, 171).

To suggest this verse teaches that the individual has no authority to read and understand Holy Scripture independently of the authority of a religious organization, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain in their claim to be Jehovah’s exclusive vehicle of divine truth as the “faithful and wise servant” (Mat 24:45), is unacceptable, being in conflict with the direct teaching of Scripture elsewhere regarding the right of private judgment (Gal 1:8 note) and the perspicuity of Scripture (+*Pro 8:9, +*Isa 8:20 note). Job 23:12, Jer 15:16, 1Pe 2:2.

B. Acts 17:11

Act 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (KJV)

Who are the “these”? This account tells how listeners from a town called Berea responded in a better way (were “more open-minded,” NET Bible; were “much nicer,” CEV) than did those in Thessalonica, a town where Paul and those ministering with him had to flee because of persecution. Notice what the Bereans did: when they heard Paul’s message about the Bible, they searched the Scriptures to verify whether what he was teaching agreed with what the Bible says. When they found the Bible agreed with what Paul was teaching, they believed Paul’s message.

I think there are some very important lessons to be learned from this account of Paul’s ministry and the response of his hearers:

First, they took the time to really listen. They paid close enough attention that they could remember what Paul taught–remember enough so when they checked it out in the Bible they were able to verify the truth of what Paul taught.

Second, the Bereans had access to the Bible for themselves. This means that even back in those days, Bibles were available to the people to read. If you read the New Testament carefully you will find many incidental examples that show just how much the average person in Israel knew, at least collectively. I suspect they knew more than a good many Christians and many of our spiritual leaders do today.

Third, the Bereans were literate enough that they could read the Bible for themselves. This is an interesting and important concept. The greatest motivation for pursuing education in early American history was that it was felt important to teach children how to read so that they could read the Bible for spiritual profit and for their salvation. Now, in the United States, we have foolishly abandoned this motivation in public education by largely removing the Bible from our schools–and we wonder why children and young people and our society as a whole are spiritually and morally illiterate, by and large.

Fourth, the Bible is proven to be understandable, for the Bereans were able to read the Scripture; they were able to confirm the validity of Paul’s message; they came to faith in Jesus Christ as a result.

Fifth, the practical utility of searching the Scripture to arrive at doctrinal truth is demonstrated by the experience of the Bereans.

If we are wise and noble like the Bereans, we will follow their highly commended example and do the same.

If we are foolish, as are most of the people in our culture today, we will ignore–at our eternal peril–the message of the Bible, and go about our business using precious time–precious and very short in the light of eternity–for less worthwhile interests and pursuits.