Daily Bible Nugget #306, John 5:24

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

My Comment:

The tenth proof of the doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture is that the Bible must be understandable for each individual is held responsible to hear and believe its message for himself (NTSK, Topic Number 1119, page 1598).

Notice Jesus doubly assures us that those who keep on hearing His Word and keep on believing on the One who sent him continue to have everlasting life. For this to work in an equitable manner, the Word which is being heard must of course be understandable to those who hear it in order for them to be able to believe it. The word Jesus gave, what he here terms “my word,” is now available in only one place–your Bible. Therefore, the Bible must be understandable in order for those who hear or read its message to believe it. That most surely proves the Perspicuity of Scripture, the doctrine that the Bible is understandable to the ordinary person who hears or reads its message.

I remember as a teenager how striking this verse was to me. Now, many years later, it amazes me how much more is taught in this verse than what I understood at the beginning of my Christian life. At first I was most impressed by the portion of the verse which states “and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” At that time I was taught that the perfect tense underlying “is passed” proved the doctrine of eternal security, for the perfect tense points to a past action with ever continuing results.

I later learned upon further study that the promise of “is passed” is contingent upon meeting the conditions specified at the beginning of the verse: he that keeps on hearing and keeps on believing is now having eternal life, the present tense verbs in the underlying Greek text emphasizing a continuing action, not a one-time single act of faith. Thus, the Bible teaches the absolute eternal security of the believer, not the unbeliever. Thus the doctrine widely taught and believed doctrine called “Once Saved, Always Saved,” or unconditional eternal security, is false to the Bible and is heresy and should not be taught.

Another important truth denied by some churches or denominations or religious organizations is the important fact that we have eternal life now, not merely after we die. And we can know for sure that we have eternal life in this present life and do not have to wait until after we die to find out whether we do or not.

I believe that the Council of Trent has an article which denies this truth. The present Roman Catholic Church’s doctrine is founded in large part upon what was decided or affirmed by the Council of Trent. Unfortunately, the Council of Trent was gravely mistaken on this issue if my memory of what it ruled on this issue is correct.

Well, so much for the validity of Church Councils and man-made creeds. If they agree with the Bible, fine. If they contradict what the Bible clearly affirms, they are of course mistaken. That is why it is best to go by the Bible alone and in its entirety. We can do that with the confidence that the Bible is understandable, and must be so for God to justly hold each of us individually responsible to hear and believe what it teaches. This constitutes the tenth proof of the Perspicuity of the Bible.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1172 for John 5:24.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1193 or in Logos 5 Bible software for John 5:24.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

John 5:24. Verily. ver. Jn 5:19. +Jn 1:51. +*Nu 5:22. +Mt 5:18. +Mk 14:18. He that. T#1119. **Jn 3:16, 18, 36. 6:40, 47. 8:51. *Jn 11:26. 12:44. **Jn 20:31. Mk 16:16. *Ro 10:11-13. **Ro 14:12. 1 P 1:21. **1 J 5:1, 11-13. heareth. +Jn 8:43. 12:37-40. +**Is 55:3. Mt 13:9. +*Mk 4:24. +*Lk 8:18. Ac 3:22. 10:22. Ro 8:17. He 3:7. my word. Gr. logos, Mk 9:32n. believeth. +*Jn 3:16n, Jn 3:36. **Jn 20:31. Ac 10:43. 13:39. +Ac 16:34. Ro 3:28. *Ro 4:5. Ga 3:22. Ep 2:8. 1 Tim 1:16. **1 Tim 4:10. Titus 3:8. He 6:1. *He 10:39. *1 P 1:21. **1 J 5:9-13. that sent me. ver. Jn 5:23, 38. hath. Eternal life is a present possession. ver. Jn 5:26, 39. +Jn 8:12. Lk 10:42. **1 J 5:13. everlasting. Gr. aionios, +Mt 18:8. Jn 3:15, 16. 6:68. **Ro 6:23. and shall not. **Jn 10:27-30. +*Jn 17:6. Ro 5:1, 2, 9. **Ro 8:1, 16, 17, 28-30, 33, 34. **Ep 4:30. 1 Th 5:9. *2 Th 2:13, 14. 1 P 1:5. *Jude 1:24. into condemnation. ver. Jn 5:29. Jn 3:18. **Ro 8:1. Re 20:11-15. but. Mt 18:8. *Col 1:13. *1 J 3:14. is passed. Gr. metabainō (S#3327g, Mt 8:34). FS144C1, +Ge 21:1. *Ps 37:28. Is 45:17. 51:6. Col 1:13. 1 J 3:14. from death. Lk 15:24. Ro 6:13. *Ep 2:1-3. +*James 5:20. 1 J 3:14. unto life. Ps 133:3. Pr 16:22. Ro 6:4. 2 Cor 5:15. Col 1:13. 2:13. 3:3. 2 Tim 1:1, 10. 1 J 3:14. *1 J 5:12.

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Daily Bible Nugget #305, Proverbs 8:9

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Proverbs 8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

My Comment:

The ninth proof of the doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture is that the Bible declares itself to be plain (NTSK, Topic Number 1118, page 1598).

If the Scripture declares that it is plain to him that understandeth, then a study of just who God says is the person who understandeth is very much in order. That study can be made by consulting the cross references given for this verse below. One of the most important of those cross references is made to Proverbs 28:5, “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.” A verse like Proverbs 28:5 links the ability to understand the Bible to personal character. Those who are evil won’t understand Scripture. Those who understand not judgment is a reference to those who do not understand justice, particularly God’s justice. Those who seek the Lord will understand Scripture.

The Scripture is right to those that find knowledge. There are many who are busily engaged in their attempt to literally “rewrite the script” that God has given by His own declaration in His Word. People, churches and denominations object to some doctrines plainly taught in the Bible, such as the doctrine of eternal punishment. They do not possess the understanding that Abraham clearly had when Abraham asked the significant question, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). Rather, they take it upon themselves to judge the supreme Judge, and contradict what He has explicitly revealed about what He plans to do (John 3:36). They take it upon themselves to rewrite God’s character, focusing on the comfortable attribute of God’s love, and ignoring or suppressing God’s attributes of justice and righteousness and holiness. The Seventh-day Adventists go astray on this issue today as did their founder Ellen G. White, as do the Jehovah’s Witnesses of the Watchtower Society, and no doubt many others, including those contemporary Evangelical writers and leaders who commend the message of books written by Edward Fudge, like his title The Fire that Consumes, in denial of unending conscious punishment in hell as spoken of by our Lord Jesus Christ most plainly (Matthew 25:46). Peter gave a severe warning against those who wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).

The message of the Scripture will be sufficiently plain to any reader who will read and study the Bible apart from denominational and cultic sources and commentary that “poison the well” by wresting the Scripture, by denying what it plainly means.

That is why I encourage you to study the Bible using a plain text edition first.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 657 for Proverbs 8:9.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 699 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Proverbs 8:9.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Proverbs 8:9. all plain. Pr 1:7. 2:6. 4:11. *Pr 14:6. 15:14, 24. 17:24. 18:1, 2, 15. Dt 27:8. 30:11. Jb 26:3. **Ps 19:7, 8. *Ps 25:12-14. 27:11. 102:18. **Ps 119:98-100, 104, 105, 130. *Is 35:8. 42:16. **Is 45:19. Je 14:14n (point 5). Am 3:10 (*S#5228h). *Mic 2:7. Hab 2:2. *Mt 13:11, 12. Lk 10:21. *Jn 6:45. **Jn 7:17. **1 Cor 2:14, 15. +*Ga 1:8. 2 Tim 2:7. **James 1:5. +*James 3:17. 1 J 5:20. that understandeth. Pr 14:6. 17:10, +*Pr 17:24. 19:25. 20:5. 22:21. 26:2, 7, 11. +**Pr 28:5, 11. 1 Ch 15:22. Jb 6:24. **Ps 119:104n. Je 23:20. +*Da 11:33n. **+Jn 6:14 (T#1122). *Ac 8:30. right. Pr 2:7. 3:32. 4:2. 11:3, 6, 11. 15:19. Ps 45:1. Ec 12:10. to them. Is 8:16. find knowledge. Pr 11:27. 18:15. 1 K 13:18n (point 12). Ps 49:3. +*Ac 17:11.

Posted in Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions, False Religions, What the Bible says about itself | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Daily Bible Nugget #304, 1 John 2:27

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

My Comment:

The eighth proof of the Perspicuity of Scripture is that the Bible is understandable because it declares we have no need of a human authority to teach us.

This is a bold statement. The Apostle John wrote this to believers. The historical and cultural setting includes the fact that there were some teachers who were teaching new twists on doctrine. They had brought in this new doctrine–a teaching that involved moral apostasy–and tried to subvert the genuine believers who stayed faithful to the truth they had been taught whether by John or other apostolic authority. In this particular case the false teachers withdrew from the fellowship of the genuine believers. John said that marked them as being false from the beginning (1 John 2:19).

In our day we have all the apostolic teaching there is recorded and preserved to our time in one Book, our New Testament. The New Testament contains the only extant primary source documents about Christ and His teaching, and the teaching of His authorized Apostles and those who worked directly with them. Together with the Hebrew Scriptures originally revealed to the Jews and preserved in our Old Testament, this is the full extent of what has been written under Divine inspiration for our learning (Romans 15:4).

John writes that those who truly have been saved have an anointing that provides for them the understanding of Scripture so that they are in no need whatsoever of any other external official teaching authority. The final authority we all have is the Scripture–the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. That anointing which John mentions is the indwelling Holy Spirit which they–the ordinary Christians he was addressing–received upon placing their faith in Christ.

During the lifetime of the Apostles the Church as directly led and taught by them could indeed be considered the pillar and ground of the truth, and in that sense constituted the official teaching authority (1 Timothy 3:15). Now that none of the original Apostles is alive upon earth today, we have instead of the Church the Divinely inspired writings providentially preserved in the New Testament, together with the Old Testament, as the official source of our doctrine, and the final teaching authority.

The Apostles warned in their writings not to depart from the faith delivered once for all to the saints (Jude 1:3). Believers in that day were warned that immediately after the apostles were no longer present that false teachers would come in to draw away disciples from the church to themselves (Acts 20:29, 30; 1 Timothy 4:1).

The absolute test of truth is found in Galatians 1:8, 9. True doctrine must fully correspond with the doctrine the Apostles placed for us under divine inspiration found in our Bibles.

Any attempt to introduce new doctrine allegedly developed since the time of the Apostles is apostasy.

This must not be confused with the interesting fact that it is possible to study the Bible carefully enough to discover truth in the Bible that has been there all the time but is now more accurately understood than ever before, far as we know. For example, our understanding of Bible prophecy may well be greater than the understanding possessed by either the Church Fathers or the Protestant Reformers. I believe our understanding of the Bible doctrine of the Atonement of Christ today, though this new more accurate understanding is presently not widespread, is far greater than in previous generations of Bible students and scholars. Our understanding of the doctrine of God, particularly including the doctrine of the Trinity, is greater now than what has been recorded in the writings of the first Christian centuries. The doctrine of the Trinity, though the word itself does not occur in the Bible, is an example of a doctrine derived by means of necessary inference yet directly from the Bible.

Therefore, the Perspicuity of the Scripture is proven on the basis that the Bible declares we have no need of an official teaching authority outside of or beyond Scripture itself according to 1 John 2:27. Thus, as to ultimate authority, the Bible is our teacher, not the Church. What any church teaches must always be carefully checked against what the Bible teaches.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1474 for 1 John 2:27.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1493 or in Logos 5 Bible software for 1 John 2:27.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

1 John 2:27. the anointing. FS22D5L, +Ps 45:7. See on ver. *+1 J 2:20. *1 J 3:24. Ex 28:41. 29:7. 30:26. 37:29. 40:13. Le 2:1. 7:35. 8:12, 30. Nu 7:43. 18:8. **1 S 16:22. 1 Ch 16:22. +*Ps 23:5. 92:10. 105:15. 133:2. Is 10:27. Ezk 16:9. Mt 25:4. *Jn 1:16. 3:34. *Jn 4:14. *Ac 10:38. 2 Cor 1:21. Ep 4:30. 1 Th 4:9. *1 P 1:23. *2 J 1:2. received of. Westcott notes that the Greek construction employed here (lambanein apo) emphasizes the source (as also 1 J 3:22; 3 J 1:7; Mt 17:25); the construction lambanein para (Jn 5:41, 44; 10:18; 2 J 1:4; Re 2:27; Mk 12:2; Ac 2:33; 3:5; 17:9; 20:24; James 1:7; 2 P 1:17) to emphasize the giver. 1 J 3:22. Mt 17:25. Lk 11:13. *Jn 1:16. Ac 2:38, 39. 5:32. 3 J 1:7. abideth in you. FS101, +Dt 32:42. +1 J 3:24. **1 J 5:10-13. Jn 15:7. +*Ro 8:9, 14, 16. need not. Ye have no need whatever (Lange). 1 J 4:1. Jn 2:25. 16:30. +*Ga 1:8n. 2 Cor 9:1. 1 Th 1:8. 4:9. %He 5:12. Re 2:2. any man teach. T#1117. ver. *1 J 2:20, 21. +**Pr 28:5. +*Is 8:20n. *Is 54:13. **Je 31:33, 34. Ezk 14:10n. Jn 6:45. *Jn 14:26. *Jn 16:13. %Ac 8:31n. **Ro 14:12. Ga 1:8n. *He 8:10, 11. 2 P 1:20n. but. 1 Cor 2:13. *Ep 4:21. **1 Th 2:13. 1 Tim 2:7. *2 P 1:16, 17. +*Jude 1:3. same anointing. +=Ex 28:41. Jn 14:16, 17. 2 Cor 1:21. teacheth you. Present tense, active voice, indicative mood verb. The application and interpretation of the truth is continuous (Westcott). T#841. Ps 25:5, 12. +*Ps 32:8. +*Ps 119:12, 18, 102, 104. *Ps 143:10. *Pr 1:23. 11:9. Is 30:21. 35:8. 54:13. Lk 12:12. Jn 6:45. +*Jn 14:26. *Jn 16:13, 14. 1 Cor 2:10, 14. Ep 4:20. Titus 2:12. of. Gr. peri. or, concerning. all things. Mt 13:11. +*Jn 14:26. 1 Cor 2:12. Col 2:10. +*Col 3:16. +**2 Tim 3:15-17. +*Jude 1:3. is truth. +Jn 14:17. 16:13. and is no lie. As Antichristian teaching (JFB). ver. 1 J 2:21. even as. Gr. kathōs (S#2531g). The use of kathōs marks this idea of a definite and fixed standard (Westcott). ver. 1 John 2:6, 18. 1 J 3:2, 3, 7, 12. hath taught you. Aorist tense, active voice, indicative mood verb. The first teaching contained implicitly all that is slowly brought to light in later times. … This clause excludes all ‘developments’ of teaching which cannot be shewn to exist in germ in the original message; and at the same time leaves no room for the inventions of fanaticism. That which was taught first is the absolute standard (see Westcott). Ac 11:26. Ga 1:6-9. +*Jude 1:3. ye shall. ver. *1 J 2:28. Jn 6:56. **Jn 8:31, 32. *Jn 15:4-7. *Col 2:6. abide. FS101, +Dt 32:42. ver. 1 J 2:24. Jsh 2:19. 2 S 7:3. +*Ps 119:33. Pr 3:21. +*Jn 8:31. 15:4, 9. +*Ac 11:23. +*Ac 13:43. +**Col 1:23. him. or, it. The personal reference cannot be questioned in ver. 1 J 2:28, and that must decide the interpretation here. Christ—God in Christ—is the subject constantly present to the mind of the Apostle (see Westcott). ver. 1 J 2:5. Jn 15:4. *Col 2:7, 8.

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Daily Bible Nugget #303, Romans 1:7

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

My Comment:

Who would have ever thought that God would address a book to all of us very ordinary people? Yet that is just exactly what He has done. The Bible says so, many times over. Notice Paul addressed his letter, our book of Romans, to people he calls saints. That word has been taken over in some quarters and exclusively applied, it would seem, only to such very holy people that the Church has declared them saints–as if leaving the rest of us out of the picture. That is not what God has done. God has repeatedly addressed His Book to the ordinary person. Christians were all called saints when Paul wrote his most important letter to have come down to us, the book of Romans. Saints are, more literally, holy ones. They are holy ones because they have placed their faith in the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus has made them whole again, made them into new creatures in Christ, now possessed of a new nature by the not just forgiveness of their sins, but as the word in Greek often translated “forgive” actually means, the removal of sins.

But the point is, the book of Romans or the Bible as a whole was not addressed to kings, priests, or religious leaders, but to very ordinary Christian believers, people every bit like you and me. This has a profound meaning.

The Perspicuity of Scripture is proven by to whom the Bible was actually addressed! Since it was addressed to very ordinary people, it can be understood by very ordinary people. And that is good news indeed. It is also Proof Seven for the Perspicuity of Scripture. Remember, “perspicuity” is a fancy word used to express the simple idea that the Bible declares itself understandable.

Since the Bible is understandable, this ought to be an encouragement to you to read it.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1271 for Romans 1:7.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1292 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Romans 1:7.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Romans 1:7. To all. FS13, +Ep 3:14. The salutation commenced in verse 1 is resumed. T#1116. Ac 15:23. *1 Cor 1:2. 2 Cor 1:1. Phil 1:1. *Col 1:2. James 1:1, 2. *1 P 1:1, 2. 1 J 2:7, 12-14. Jude 1:1. Re 2:1, 8, 12, 18, 29. 3:1, 7, 14, 22. that be in. Ep 1:1. Phil 1:1. Col 1:1. Rome. ver. Ro 1:15. +*Ac 2:10. 28:16. +2 Tim 1:17. beloved of God. Ro 5:8. 8:39. *Ro 9:25. *Dt 33:12. Ps 60:5. Song 5:1. Ep 1:6. *Col 3:12. 1 Th 1:4. 2 Th 2:13, 14. *1 Tim 6:2. 1 J 4:10. called. ver. +Ro 1:6. Ro 8:28. 1 Cor 1:2. *Col 3:15. *1 Th 4:7. *He 3:1. *1 P 1:15. *2 P 1:3. to be. FS63K, +Ge 37:13. saints. or, holy ones, hagios, not “saints” as in the OT sense of consecration or separation, and so ceremonial or declarative. The term is used here in the moral or regenerative sense of persons made holy or Christlike (Lavender NT, fn. d). Ro 16:15. Ex 19:5, 6. Le 11:44. *Le 19:2. Ps 16:3. Hab 1:13. Ac 9:13, 32. 1 Cor 1:2. 7:14. +2 Cor 1:1. Ep 1:4. He 13:12. Grace. T#1542. Ro 3:24. 16:20. Ex 33:13. *Nu 6:23-27. 1 Ch 29:10. Ps 108:6. 1 Cor 1:3, etc. 1 Cor 16:23. 2 Cor 1:2. *2 Cor 13:14. Ga 1:3. Ep 1:1, 2, 7. *Ep 2:7, 8. Phil 1:2. 4:23. Col 1:2. 1 Th 1:1. 5:28. 2 Th 1:1, 2, 12. 3:18. 1 Tim 1:2. 6:21. 2 Tim 1:2. 4:22. Titus 1:4. 3:15. Phm 1:3, 25. *He 4:16. 13:25. 1 P 1:1, 2. *1 P 5:10. *2 P 1:2. +2 J 1:3. Jude 1:2. Re 1:4, 5. 22:21. peace. FS171I9B, +Is 57:19. See on +*Ro 5:1. Ge 43:23. Jg 6:23. 19:20. Ezr 4:17. Ps 85:8. *Ps 122:6. Da 4:1. Lk 19:42. 24:36. *Jn 14:27. 20:19, 26. *Ga 5:22. 6:16. **Phil 4:7. 1 Th 1:1. 1 Tim 1:2. 2 Tim 1:2. 1 P 5:14. +2 J 1:3. God our Father. *Ro 8:15. *Mt 5:16. +*Mt 6:8, 9. Lk 11:2. *Jn 20:17. *2 Cor 6:18. Ga 1:4. 4:6. Phil 4:20. *1 Th 1:3. 2 Th 1:1. *1 J 3:1. and the Lord. +*Jn 5:23. +**Ac 7:59, 60. 1 Cor 16:23. *2 Cor 12:8-10. *2 Cor 13:14. Ga 1:3. 6:18. *Ep 6:23, 24. *Phil 4:13, 23. *1 Th 3:11-13. 5:28. 2 Th 2:16, 17. 3:16, 18. 2 Tim 4:22. Phm 1:25. Re 22:21.

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Daily Bible Nugget #302, Romans 10:17

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

My Comment:

The sixth proof for the Perspicuity of Scripture is found in Romans 10:17, which states that the Bible is understandable because it is the source of faith.

As you either hear the Word of God in Scripture, or read the Scripture for yourself, you really will discover that the Scripture produces faith in your life. For me, I was not expecting anything unusual as I first read the New Testament seriously. I was not looking for saving faith, or even salvation, for at the time I did not realize I was not saved. But God through His written Word by means of the working of His Holy Spirit brought me to saving faith and a personal knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ as I have mentioned here many times. If you will receive the truth of God’s Word as you read it, God can and will do the same for you so that you can absolutely know that you have everlasting life (John 5:24; 1 John 5:13).

But notice what this proves. The Bible is understandable! It could not produce saving faith if it were not understandable.

So, though this may be contrary to what you have been taught, though it be contrary to what some churches teach, the Bible itself declares it is understandable. I have now furnished you six specific proofs from the Bible that establish that the Bible claims to be understandable. The doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture, therefore, is firmly established.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1290 for Romans 10:17.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1311 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Romans 10:17.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Romans 10:17. faith. ver. Ro 10:8, *Ro 10:14. **Ro 1:16. *Lk 16:29-31. *1 Cor 1:18-24. Ga 3:2, 5. Ep 2:8. *Col 1:4-6. **1 Th 2:13. *2 Th 2:13, 14. *He 4:2. *James 1:18-21. *1 P 1:23-25. *1 P 2:1, 2. by hearing. T#888. **Ro 1:16. Jb 42:5. Ps 18:44. *Ps 19:7, 8, 11. *Ps 119:105, 130. Pr 6:23. 8:33, 34. Is 2:3. 55:2, 3, 10-12. *Mk 4:24, 25. Lk 9:11. Jn 1:37. **Jn 5:39. 6:63. **Jn 20:31. Ac 4:4. 10:22, 36-43. 15:7. +**Ac 17:11, 12. 1 Cor 1:21. *Ga 3:2, 5. Ep 1:13. Col 1:6. He 4:2. *James 1:21. *2 P 1:19. *Re 1:3. and hearing. FS16, +Ge 1:27. +*Je 23:28, 29. *Mk 4:24. Lk 8:11, 21. +*Lk 11:28. *2 Cor 2:17. **He 4:12, 13. Re 1:9. by the word. Gr. rhēma (S#4487g), Mk 9:32n. T#1115. ver. Ro 10:8. *Pr 4:20-22. **1 Th 2:13. +**2 Tim 3:15-17. *James 1:18. *1 P 1:23. of God. Lk 3:2. **Lk 4:4. Jn 3:34. **Jn 8:47. Ep 6:17. He 6:5. 11:3. 13:7. **1 P 1:25. Significant ancient authorities support the alternate reading “of Christ,” but Gifford cites Meyer, De Wette, Lange, Philippi, etc., who “agree in regarding it as a gloss intended to define more precisely the meaning of “by the word of God.” Furthermore, if the alternate reading is accepted, it is the only occurrence of rēma Christou in the New Testament. Jn 5:38. 8:37. Col 3:16. 1 P 1:11. 1 J 1:10.

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Daily Bible Nugget #301, James 1:18

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

My Comment:

The fifth proof of the Perspicuity of Scripture is found in James 1:18, which states we have been born again, born of God, with the word of truth in the Bible.

I saw an interesting discussion on a new website devoted to discussing Bible questions and theology. The discussion thread that caught my attention immediately was about prevenient grace, a Bible subject sometimes advanced by Arminian theologians in opposition or in contrast to irresistible grace, a theological subject often advanced by Calvinistic theologians. You will find neither term (“prevenient,” or “irresistible”) in the Bible itself. The concept behind “prevenient grace” is most clearly seen at Philippians 2:12, 13 and here at James 1:18 with James 4:8. The idea is that as anyone draws near to God, God will draw near to that person in grace, with the Holy Spirit at work to prepare and open the heart (Acts 16:14) when the Word of God in the Bible is heard or read (James 1:18).

Well, I didn’t enter the discussion I saw. I could see that too many presuppositions based upon Calvinism and a lack of information available to the participants would make the discussion of the subject difficult to advance in line with what the Bible itself teaches. The biggest and likely fatal mistake made by the Calvinists is the failure to carefully observe the grammar underlying the proof texts Calvinists use to support their position.

But in any case, there is nothing in the Bible, rightly interpreted in accordance with the underlying grammar, that would support the idea of irresistible grace. God’s grace and God’s love may indeed be resisted and is resisted by anyone who refuses to come to the light (John 3:19; John 5:40; Acts 7:51). It is a matter of the personal will and personal choice to believe the provision for our salvation that God has declared in the Gospel. To be saved, we must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). It is a command to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 3:23).

Grammatically speaking, commands are given in the imperative mood. Thus by the imperative mood God is appealing to the will of man to obey to receive the benefit obedience brings. God’s provision of salvation has been made for all (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15; 1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 2:2). The benefits of that provision are reserved for those who meet and fulfill the stipulated conditions (John 3:16; John 5:24; John 10:27). Jesus made it very plain that “narrow is the way,” and “few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).

The perspicuity of Scripture–the understandability of Scripture–is proven by the fact that God uses His written Word in the Bible to bring us to saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:18).

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1447 for James 1:18.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on pages 1465-1466 or in Logos 5 Bible software for James 1:18.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

James 1:18. Of his own will. or, Having willed. Gr. boulemai (S#1014g, Mt 1:19). Je 31:3. Da 11:3. Mt 20:15. **Jn 1:12, 13. **Jn 3:3-5. Ro 4:17. +*Ro 8:29-31. 9:15-18. 12:2. +1 Cor 12:11. Ep 1:5, 19. 2:4, 5. Phil 1:29. Col 1:20, 21. 1 Th 4:3. *2 Th 2:13, 14. Titus 3:5. He 6:17. 8:10. *1 P 1:3, 23. 4:2. 1 J 4:10. begat. Gr. apokueō (S#616g, ver. James 1:15). T#1114. Nu 11:12. Dt 32:18. Ps 7:14. 22:9. 80:18. 87:4-6. 89:26, 27. +*Ps 119:50. Mt 13:38. Mk 4:8. Ro 8:14. 1 Cor 4:15. Ga 4:19. *Titus 2:14. *Titus 3:5, 6. *1 P 1:3, 23. 2 P 1:4. 1 J 2:29. 3:9. 5:1, 18. with. ver. +*James 1:21. *Is 55:11. 1 Cor 4:15. Ep 1:12. **1 Th 2:13. +*2 Tim 3:15. **1 P 1:23. *1 J 3:9. the word of truth. ver. James 1:21, 22, 23. 1 S 9:27. Ps 17:4. 19:7. +*Ps 119:43, 160. *Ec 12:10. Da 10:21. Mt 4:4. Jn 6:63. 17:7, 8, 17. **Ro 10:17. 2 Cor 6:7. Ep 1:13. 5:26. Phil 2:16. **Col 1:5. 2 Tim 2:15. *He 4:12. 10:26. 1 P 1:23, 25. that we. Ep 1:12. +*Ep 2:12. firstfruits. Ex 4:22. 22:29. 34:26. +*Le 23:10, 17. 27:26. Nu 15:20. 18:12. 28:26. Dt 18:4. 26:2, 10. 2 Ch 31:5. Ne 10:35. Je 2:3. Ezk 20:40. 44:30. Am 6:1mg. Ro 8:19-23. 11:16. 16:5. 1 Cor 15:20, 23. 16:15. *He 12:23. *Re 14:4. of his creatures. Nu 8:17. Ps 8:5, 6. Ro 8:16-21. 1 Cor 6:2, 3. 1 Tim 4:4.

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Daily Bible Nugget #300, 1 Peter 2:2

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

My Comment:

The fourth proof of the Perspicuity of Scripture is found in 1 Peter 2:2, which states the Bible should be desired with the same eagerness that newborn babies desire their milk. Since the Bible is milk for spiritual babes, it must be understandable!

Therefore anyone can take up the Bible, particularly the New Testament, and read it for himself or herself and profit by growing spiritually in their faith in God and Christ.

It is probably best to start reading the Bible using a plain text Bible. That way you are sure to get the unadulterated truth. If you are altogether new to Bible reading, starting with the Gospel of Mark is a good option because it is the shortest of the four Gospel accounts of the life of Christ we are privileged and blessed to have.

After you finish Mark, read the Gospel of John next. The Gospel of John is well worth reading over repeatedly. I used to read three chapters a day from John so that I could finish its 21 chapters each week. In a month I read it four times. My goal was to know the Gospel of John so well that I could think through its contents chapter by chapter and know accurately the main things found in each chapter.

If you are already somewhat acquainted with the Bible and spiritual things, go ahead and read the New Testament straight through from Matthew to Revelation. That is what I did as a teenager, and before I completed my second reading of the New Testament I found and accepted Christ as my Savior while delivering newspapers on Saturday morning, November 7, 1953.

So much for the sincere but mistaken claims of Pope Francis which I just read today. Apparently he does not believe anyone can become a Christian on their own. They cannot become a Christian unless they are part of a church. I think he had in mind part of his church, for he said to be a Christian a person must be baptized, and be taught further by being catechized, and a partaker of the sacraments of his church. I think he has a few things mixed up. His idea is fine for those who want to become Roman Catholics. But being Roman Catholic does not necessarily equate to being Christian unless you have personally come to Christ in repentance and prayer believing His word and promise of salvation. This is not accomplished by baptism or catechism or partaking of sacraments.

To me, the most mistaken aspect of what Pope Francis said was that he did not believe there are any what he called “laboratory Christians.” I think what he meant by that expression is what I would term “independent Christians” who have found true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ simply by reading and believing His written word in the Bible. That is what happened to me, and no words of any Pope can reverse the truth of what happened to me on Saturday, November 7, 1953, where I turned to Christ in faith and received His salvation without the assistance of any other person other than the Holy Spirit speaking through God’s Word.

I am thoroughly disappointed by the remarks of Pope Francis. His statements demonstrate to me that he may have religion, but I am concerned that he may not truly have Christ. No Bible-believing, born-again Christian would claim what he claimed or deny what he denied in those remarks. I am being very kind to Pope Francis. I have long prayed that he might see the light and encourage the members of his church to more regularly and deeply engage in Real Bible Study. More of them would be sure of going to heaven if they did.

Reading the Bible will change your life for the better. It will also change your destiny for all eternity if you will both read the Bible and believe it.

The Bible is most certainly understandable, for it is milk for newborn babes, designed to help them grow spiritually.

If a baby refused to eat any food, without food it would die. So for anyone who thinks they are a Christian. If you do not feed regularly upon God’s Word in the Bible, you either are or will shortly become spiritually dead. Feeding yourself spiritually is far more important than watching television or otherwise finding entertainment. Reading the Bible regularly for yourself is, in the light of eternity, one of the most important things you can do. Start reading your Bible today!

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1457 for 1 Peter 2:2.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1474 or in Logos 5 Bible software for 1 Peter 2:2.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

1 Peter 2:2. newborn. Gr. artigennētos (S#738g, only here), just born, that is, (figuratively) a young convert (Strong). The terms Peter uses do not imply he is addressing new converts, but demonstrate how all believers should have the same desire for God’s Word as a newborn baby has for its mother’s milk. 1 P 1:3, 23. Jn 1:13. Ep 4:24. 1 Tim 3:6. babes. Gr. brephos (S#1025g, Lk 18:15). T#1113. *1 P 1:23. =Le 22:11. Is 28:9. 40:11. +*Mt 11:25. *+Mt 18:3. 19:14. *Mk 10:14, 15. Lk 1:41n. 2:12, 16. 9:47. 10:21. +Lk 18:15, 16. Jn 21:15. Ac 7:19. Ro 2:20. *Ro 6:4. *1 Cor 3:1, 2. 14:20. +**2 Tim 3:15. desire. or, earnestly desire. Gr. epipotheō (S#1971g, Ro 1:11), to dote upon, that is, intensely crave possession (lawfully or wrongfully) [Strong]. Peter states we should desire the Word of God just like a newborn baby desires milk. I think a fair inference to be drawn from Peter’s statement is that just like a newborn baby would die if it never gets milk, so anyone who does not feed on the written Word of God in the Bible will die spiritually. A further proper inference no doubt would be that anyone who has no desire to seriously feed on the written Word of God in the Bible is spiritually dead. *Jb 23:12. Ps 42:1. 84:2. 112:1. +*Ps 119:30, 31, 72, 131, 140, 165. Pr 2:1-6. %Is 58:2. Je 3:15. %Je 6:10. **Je 15:16. Mt 5:6. 13:23. *Ac 8:31n. 10:33. **+Ac 17:11. 2 Cor 7:11. Phil 2:26. the sincere. or, spiritual. or, pure. or, guileless. Gr. reasonable. Gr. adolos (S#97g, only here), undeceitful, that is, (figuratively) unadulterated (Strong). ver. 1 P 2:1. *Ps 19:7-10. +*Ps 119:40. +*Mk 4:24. +*Lk 8:18. Jn 10:5. Ro 12:1g. 2 Cor 4:2. milk. Gr. gala (S#1051g, 1 Cor 3:2). Is 28:9. 55:1. 66:11. Jl 3:18. *1 Cor 3:2. 9:7. *1 Tim 4:6. %*He 5:12, 13. 6:1. of the word. Gr. logikos (S#3050g, only here and Ro 12:1, “reasonable”), rational (“logical”) [Strong]; spiritual or rational, as opposed to literal and ceremonial (Vincent). The milk to be found in the Word of God is in the highest sense “reasonable.” See 1 P 3:15 (CB). It is the Word of God, not tradition, “which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” Rather than contending so much for what is clearly not essential to faith in Christ, true Christians, Bible believing ones, encourage others to get into the written Word of God in the Bible for themselves so that they can come to know Jesus Christ in a personal way and have a life-giving relationship with Him that results in genuine belief that brings eternal life. Only the Bible provides the spiritual food necessary for spiritual growth and “works effectually” (1 Th 2:13n) in those who believe. *1 P 1:25. =Ex 16:15. +*Ps 119:50, 140. +Mt 4:4. Lk 8:15, +*Lk 8:18. Jn 3:12. +*Ro 10:17. 2 Cor 2:17. 4:2. Col 1:5. +**1 Th 2:13. 1 Tim 4:6. He 6:9n. +*James 1:21. grow. Gr. auxanō (S#837g, Mt 6:28). T#1048. 2 S 23:5. *Jb 17:9. Ps 19:11. +*Pr 4:18. *Ho 6:3. *Ho 14:5, 7. *Mal *4:2. Mt 13:23. Mk 4:8. Lk 8:15. +*Ac 20:32. Ep 2:21. *Ep 4:15. Phil 3:12. Col 1:6, +**Col 1:10. 2:19. *1 Th 2:13. 4:1, 10. 2 Th 1:3. +**2 Tim 3:16, 17. +*2 P 1:5-11. **2 P 3:18. thereby. Ac 11:14. Ep 4:13. *Col 1:6, 10.

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Daily Bible Nugget #299, 2 Timothy 3:17

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

My Comment:

The third proof that the Bible is understandable, proof of the perspicuity of the Scriptures, is what is stated at 2 Timothy 3:17, the Bible equips for every good work.

From the time I first read the New Testament seriously as a teenager, this verse stood out clearly to me. To me this verse showed that the Bible is sufficient to perfectly equip us for all good works.

This means that if we learn what the Bible says, we need look to no other authority, no other teaching authority, beyond its pages, as might be claimed to exist in an institution, such as a church or denomination, or religious organization. In a similar vein of thought, John taught the readers of his first letter at 1 John 2:20, 27, that his readers did not have any need to follow the teaching of anyone else. Paul taught his readers in the churches of Galatia that they must not allow any new source of teaching that differed from what Paul had already taught them to influence their belief or practice. Paul placed a strong curse against those who would teach his converts in Galatia any new doctrine (Galatians 1:8, 9). Jude urged his readers to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3).

To suggest that the Bible does not teach that it is “sufficient” is to contradict what Paul has written here by Divine Inspiration. To attempt to get around what Paul here proclaims by redefining “sufficiency” into “formal sufficiency” and “material sufficiency,” which I first learned of in my discussion here with Dave Armstrong, I believe is reading a distinction into this text of Scripture that is not there, and was not there or understood in such a manner by those to whom this letter was written. I wonder if such a distinction is an idea introduced into the text by a church intent on disobeying the Bible by its inclusion of Tradition in a manner to add to what is in the Bible to justify some beliefs and practices which are not found in or are even contrary to the New Testament.

In order for the man of God, or any Christian believer, to be perfect or complete, thoroughly furnished or prepared or equipped for the work God wants done, the Bible must be understandable, and it most certainly is for those who will read and study it.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1414 for 2 Timothy 3:17.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1435 or in Logos 5 Bible software for 2 Timothy 3:17.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

2 Timothy 3:17. the man of God. Dt 33:1. Jsh 14:6. Jg 13:6, 8. 1 S 2:27. 9:6-8, 10. 1 K 12:22. 13:1, 4-8, 11, 12, 14, 21, 26, 29, 31. 17:18, 24. 2 K 1:9-13. 4:7, 9, 16, 21, 22, 25, 27, 40, 42. 5:8, 14, 15, 20. 6:6, 9, 10, 15. 7:2, 17-19. 8:2, 4, 7, 8, 11. 13:19. 23:16, 17. 1 Ch 23:14. 2 Ch 8:14. 11:2. 25:7, 9. 30:16. Ezr 3:2. Ne 12:24, 36. Ps 90:1, title. See on **Ps 119:98-100. Je 35:4. +1 Tim 6:11. 2 P 1:21. perfect. or, fitted. Gr. artios (S#739g, only here), fresh, that is, (by implication) complete (Strong). Jb 36:4. 2 Cor 13:9. %**+Ep +4:11-14. Phil 3:15. James 1:4. throughly furnished. or, perfected. or, equipped. Gr. exartizō (S#1822g, only here and Ac 21:5), to finish out (time); figuratively to equip fully (a teacher) [Strong]. FS41, Ge +10:1. Holy Scripture is the only source of doctrinal and spiritual authority for the Christian. This passage teaches the sufficiency of Scripture: Scripture furnishes all that the Christian must know to be saved and to grow in grace, and tells us all we need to know to live a life which is well pleasing to God. No source of doctrine or revelation outside of Scripture is valid, for such a source would be adding to the written word of God, which is absolutely forbidden by Scripture (+*Re 22:18). Cardinal John Henry Newman thinks otherwise. He states: “The Church would always be the living teacher. It is a mistake to limit ‘Christ’s word’ to the written word only or to suggest that all his teachings were reduced to writing. The Bible nowhere supports either notion.” And that is not what this text of Scripture claims. This text of Scripture teaches the Bible is sufficient to equip the man of God, and sufficient to bring a person to salvation. Cardinal John Henry Newman is attacking a “straw man” and himself asserting a false claim. This is an example of the heresy Paul warned us against (Ac 20:29, 30). The Church is not our teacher: the Bible is. That is not to say that a church may not teach about Jesus Christ, for genuine churches focus upon the balance of truth given us in the New Testament and Scripture as a whole, but we are to test the truthfulness of all teaching by checking it against what is written in the Bible. Cardinal Newman further states: “It is quite evident that this passage furnishes no argument whatever that the sacred Scripture, without Tradition, is the sole rule of faith; for, although sacred Scripture is profitable for these four ends, still IT IS NOT SAID TO BE SUFFICIENT.” (Newman, Inspiration, p. 131). Apparently, Cardinal Newman simply did not know how to read the Bible accurately. The very passage Cardinal Newman is discussing is the central Bible text which asserts THE ABSOLUTE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE! For him to flat-out deny the teaching of this text shows he simply had an axe to grind, and was not properly conveying the meaning and teaching of this Bible text. This is the chief text in the entire Bible on the subject of the sufficiency of Scripture. To deny this, as Cardinal Newman did, shows an inability to read the Scripture and take it for what it most plainly says. The claim of the Roman Catholic Church to possess additional teaching from Jesus Christ in the form of unwritten Tradition not found in the New Testament is not true (2 Th 2:15n). Such a claim by the Roman Catholic Church is heresy. It is also a lie. This very text of Scripture teaches we must go by Scripture alone. This is a position logically derived from the statements of the Bible itself, starting here (see also Ps 119:104, 105, 130. Is 8:20. Je 23:28. Mk 12:24. Jn 5:39. **Jn 20:31. Ac 17:11, 12. 1 Th 5:21n. 1 P 2:2. 2 P 1:19. 3:18). The Bible as we now have it is complete: there are no additional sources available today which contain genuine communications from Jesus, his original twelve disciples, or the Apostle Paul, that are essential and necessary for a person to have saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, words which legitimate scholarship agrees are genuine and from the time of Christ. All we have, and all we need, is contained in the 27 primary source documents of our New Testament, and the 39 books of the Old Testament, and nowhere else. Dave Armstrong, noted Roman Catholic apologist, affirms two types of sufficiency: material sufficiency and formal sufficiency. Roman Catholics affirm material sufficiency: that the Scriptures contain all the truths necessary to believe to be saved, but deny formal sufficiency, that the Bible is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice even over the Church and Tradition, which is what Cardinal Newman was denying. T#1112. +*2 Tim 2:21. Ne 2:18. **+Ps 119:104, 113, 128. +**Is 8:20n. *Je 23:28. Mt 13:52. +Lk 6:40. +*Ep 4:11-14. good works. +2 Tim 2:21. Ex 35:29. Mt 20:2. 26:10. +Mk 14:6. Jn 15:16. Ac 9:36. Ro 12:2. *2 Cor 9:8. **Ep 2:10. 1 Tim 5:10. Titus 1:16. **Titus 2:14. 3:1, 8. *He 10:24. +**1 J 2:3n.

Posted in Daily Bible Nuggets, Dave Armstrong Discussions, Doctrinal Discussions, What the Bible says about itself | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Daily Bible Nugget #298, 2 Timothy 3:16

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

My Comment:

The Bible itself declares and teaches that it is understandable or perspicuous. The perspicuity of Scripture is proven because the Scriptures are profitable. The Scriptures would hardly be profitable if they could not be understood!

This does not mean that every verse or passage in the Bible is equally understandable to all readers or students. The subject matter likely to be the most important for every Bible reader, such as basic salvation issues, is surely most clear.

If the Bible is so clear, then why do not all Bible readers see the Bible alike? The Bible declares that there must be heresies as a test to sort out who really believes God and His written Word and who does not (1 Corinthians 11:19).

I have taken the effort here to provide accurate teaching from the Bible, using the Bible itself as much as possible to demonstrate what the Bible teaches. You will notice I have made much use of cross references.

Cross references are essential to Bible study. The Bible does not teach about a subject systematically all in one place. To discover what the Bible teaches, you must take into account all that the Bible says about a subject or doctrine you are studying. A concordance can be used to track down many of the other places where a subject is mentioned, but you will miss many important passages about a subject if you only use a concordance. The carefully selected cross references I have shared here lead to many other passages of Scripture on the same theme which express the subject using different words.

People who have not studied the Bible using cross references cannot begin to imagine the many rich teachings they have missed by not consulting cross references carefully.

Reading the Bible through, and reading the Bible over, even over and over, are good things to do. But just reading the Bible is not the same as Bible study.

People, churches, denominations, and religious organizations that think they have the correct view about what the Bible teaches are actually quite mistaken because they have not done their homework thoroughly enough. That is a big part of why there are those disconcerting differences of opinion about what the Bible teaches. Those differences could be greatly reduced if everyone would subject their preferred understanding against what the Bible itself teaches. If more of us would make the Bible our final authority in matters of doctrine and practice, there could and would be more unity in the body of Christ.

The first proof of the doctrine of the perspicuity of Scripture is that the Bible is understandable even to a child (2 Timothy 3:15). The second proof of the doctrine of perspicuity is that the Bible is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16). No matter what others may claim, the Bible declares it is profitable, and that demonstrates the Bible must be understandable for it to be so.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1414 for 2 Timothy 3:16.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1434 or in Logos 5 Bible software for 2 Timothy 3:16.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

2 Timothy 3:16. All scripture. Each of the NT writings as we have them today were recognized as divinely inspired and authoritative by the original recipients; the canon of the NT did not await the decisions of the Council of Hippo, 393 AD and of Carthage, 397 AD. These Councils did not determine Canonicity but merely affirmed what had already been recognized since the last book, the Book of Revelation, was written. Thus the Roman Catholic Church did not give us either the Bible or the NT. *2 S 23:2. Ps 102:18. +*Ps 119:160. Mt 21:42. 22:31, 32, 43. 26:54, 56. *Mk 12:24, 36. *Jn 10:35. Ac 1:16. 28:25. Ro 3:2. +**Ro 15:4. Ga 3:8. **1 Tim 5:18. He 3:7. **He 4:12. James 2:23. 1 P 2:6. **+2 P 1:19-21. 3:16n. is. FS63B3, +Ge 2:10. This grammatical construction involves two predicate adjectives connected by and. The Revised Version (1881) changes one of these predicate adjectives to an attributive position, which is incorrect. The Revisers do not misconstrue this construction in the other passages where it occurs. For the same grammatical construction see Ro 7:12. 1 Cor 11:30. 2 Cor 10:10. 1 Tim 1:15. 2:3. 4:4, 9. He 4:12, 13. In the Authorized Version text this “is” is given in italics, showing there is no word for it in the Greek, and it has therefore to be supplied. The Revised Version (1881) omits this “is,” and reads “Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable,” thus suggesting that some Scriptures are not inspired. The American Standard Version (1901) follows the Revised Version (1881); the New American Standard Version (1960) gives this rendering as a possibility in its margin. There are nine other passages which present exactly the same construction in Greek, and not one of these has been altered by the Revisers (of 1881). Had they done so in the same manner as they have done in this case, the result would have been as follows: Ro 7:12, The holy commandment is also just. 1 Cor 11:30, Many weak are also sickly. 2 Cor 10:10, His weighty letters are also powerful. Similarly with the other passages, which are 1 Tim 1:15 (the faithful saying is also worthy of all acceptation). 1 Tim 2:3 (this good thing is also acceptable). 1 Tim 4:4 (every good creature of God is also nothing to be refused), 1 Tim 4:9. He 4:12 (the living word of God is also active), He 4:13 (all naked things are also opened). “It is true that the A.V. rendering is given in the margin of the R.V., but it is difficult to see why that should be disturbed” (Companion Bible). This is another instance where the Scripture’s own teaching about itself has been adversely affected in some modern translations (see Jn 5:39n and Jn 8:31). +*Ps 119:89. Jn 5:39. 8:31. given by inspiration of God. or, God-inbreathed. Gr. theopneustos (S#2315g, only here), divinely breathed in (Strong). The Scriptures found in the Bible alone are absolutely divinely inspired by God. T#40. Ex 20:1. Dt 4:8. *Dt 29:29. 2 S 23:1, 2. 2 K 17:13. 2 Ch 34:21. 36:21. Ne 9:30. Jb 32:8. 36:4. +**Is 8:20n. Je 1:9. *Je 36:1, 2. *Ezk 1:3. Zp 1:1. Zc 7:12. Ml 4:4. Mt 1:22. Lk 1:70. 24:44. Jn 1:23. +*Jn 5:39. *Jn 10:34, 35. 14:26. 16:13. 19:36, 37. 20:9. Ac 1:16. 3:18. 7:38. 13:34. 28:25. Ro 1:2. 3:2. 4:23. 9:17. +*Ro 15:4. 1 Cor 2:4-10, 12, 13. 6:16. 9:10. 14:37. Ga 1:11, 12. 3:8, 16, 22. 4:30. 1 Th 1:5. **1 Th 2:13. He 1:1, 2. 3:7. 9:8. 10:15. **2 P 1:18-21. 3:16. 1 J 4:6. Re 14:13. 22:19. and is profitable. or, useful. or, beneficial. FS52A2. Correspondence (Extended Alternation) F/S 372. Extended alternation when there are still only two series, but each series consists of more than two members. Here, four members may be discerned: The Word of God is profitable (statement) for (A) doctrine, (B) reproof, (C) correction, (D) instruction; therefore (consequence), (A) preach the word, (B) reprove, (C) rebuke, (D) exhort. This figure occurs frequently throughout Scripture, but since the format of the Treasury does not lend itself to the display of this structure, only this example is given. See the margins of the Companion Bible for additional examples. Passages cited as illustrating this figure in F/S 368-372 are Ps ch. 66, 72, 132. Ro 2:17-20. 1 Th 1:2-10 with 1 Th 2:13-16. 1 Th 4:13—5:11. T#1024, T#1111. *Ps 19:7-11. +**Ps 119:97-104, 130. *Je 23:22, 32. +*Mic 2:7. *Ac 20:20, 27. Ro 4:23. +**Ro 15:4. 1 Cor 12:7. Ep 4:11-16. **+1 Th 2:13. +1 Tim 4:8. for doctrine. or, teaching. The teaching we are to believe about Jesus Christ, God, the plan of salvation, all doctrinal teaching, is to be based upon the content God provides in the Bible. A natural corollary ought to be evident: we are not to believe any doctrine that does not correspond with the teaching of the Bible, and we are not to get our doctrine from any source but the Bible (1 Th 5:21n). See on ver. *2 Tim 3:10. Dt 6:4-9. **+Ps 119:97-100. +*Is 8:20n. 28:9. +**Is 29:24. 1 Cor 14:6. **+1 Tim 4:6g, 1 Tim 4:13, 16. *1 Tim 5:17. *Titus 2:12. for reproof. The original word bears the meaning “correction,” “censure,” “conviction.” *2 Tim 4:2. Ps 38:14. 39:11. +*Ps 141:5. *Pr 6:23. 15:10, 31. *Jn 3:20. 16:8-11. Ac 2:37, 38. 16:30, 31. *Ep 5:11-13. 1 Tim 5:20. Titus 1:9, 13. 2:15. He 11:1g. for correction. The word literally means “restoration to an upright or a right state; hence correction and improvement” (Frank E. Gaebelein, The Christian Use of the Bible, p. 33). **+Ps 119:9. *Je 23:29. *Da 12:3. Jn 21:15-17. *Ga 6:1, 2. for instruction. Gr. paideia (S#3809g, Ep 6:4). FS41, +Ge 10:1. Gaebelein cites Thayer (Lexicon, p. 473), “whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, especially by correcting mistakes and curbing passions; hence instruction which aims at “increase of virtue,” thus “education in righteousness” (The Christian Use of the Bible, p. 34). +*2 Tim 2:25. Dt 4:36. Ne 9:20. **+Ps 119:7-11. *Pr 4:10-13. +*Mt 13:52. Ac 18:25. Ro 2:20. +**Ro 15:4. 2 Cor 10:3-6. *Titus 2:11-14. in righteousness. +*Ex 18:21. +**Le 19:2-4, 9-18, 20, 26-37. +*Dt 16:20. +**Ps 15:2-5. +*Is 66:4. +*Je 10:2. 22:13, 16. +*Je 48:10. +*Ezk 16:49. +*Am 8:5. +**Mic 6:8. +**Mal 3:5. +*Mt 23:23. +*Lk 16:10. +*Ac 6:3. +**1 Cor 6:9-11. **Titus 2:11-14. *He 5:13. +*He 12:14. James 2:23. **1 J 2:15-17.

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Daily Bible Nugget #297, 2 Timothy 3:15

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

My Comment:

Does the Bible teach that it is understandable? Most definitely it does. The Bible must be understandable or it could not be taught to children! That doesn’t mean that a child can understand everything in the Bible. It certainly does mean that a child can understand the Bible well enough to recognize his or her need of salvation, and through faith in Christ Jesus can be made wise unto salvation.

That is plainly what this text of Scripture at 2 Timothy 3:15 says.

There are individuals, groups, churches, denominations, and religious organizations who argue otherwise.

One popular argument is that their church or organization is the only authorized teaching authority available today. Nonsense. The Holy Spirit is the authorized teaching authority when it comes to understanding the Bible.

Another argument is that even among those who believe in the perspicuity of Scripture–the fancy term for saying the Bible says it is understandable to the ordinary hearer or reader–among those who believe this doctrine there are serious differences about what the Bible teaches even about basic issues.

That argument is a non-issue, because when two interpreters of the Bible disagree about what the Bible says or means, the differences can be carefully studied out to determine whose view, if either, is correct. Usually, by doing Real Bible Study as advocated here the correct answer can be found from the Bible.

For example, I have placed 23 Rules of Interpretation in the October, 2010 archives found at the right. A correct interpretation does not violate any of those rules or principles.

A very well-known poster, Dave Armstrong, raised the issue of baptism on this site as an example of an issue upon which sincere people come to different conclusions.

I thanked him for choosing that example (because thanks to my elderly friend, Uncle Frank, I have had the opportunity to study the issue extensively). We discussed issues about baptism for a brief time, and I sincerely believe I demonstrated my point, particularly about disagreements over John 3:5. Mr. Armstrong posted a segment from Marvin Vincent’s excellent work, Word Studies in the New Testament, in refutation of my claim. Well, go read the discussion yourself if you have the patience to follow an extended, detailed argument, or if you have had experience in forensic debates in school or college (it is posted to the right in the Category, “Dave Armstrong Discussions”). I believe I fully refuted the position of Mr. Marvin Vincent on that subject at John 3:5. I was on the debate team for Cass Technical High School when I was a student there and was a member of the two-person debate team which won the city championship in debate. I also participated in debate for four years in college. So I am interested in debate, if you have not already noticed!

My point was, and I believe I demonstrated my point completely, that for most issues about which there are differences, a careful study of the Bible evidence will indicate what the correct view ought to be.

Therefore, I affirm that the Bible is understandable, because the Bible itself says it is understandable, and must be if it can be taught to children such that they can be brought to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on pages 1413-1414 for 2 Timothy 3:15.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1434 or in Logos 5 Bible software for 2 Timothy 3:15.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

2 Timothy 3:15. from. *+2 Tim 1:5. Ge 17:7. +*Ge 18:19. 41:38, 46. Ex 10:2. 12:26, 27. 13:8, 14-16. *Dt 4:9, 10. *Dt 6:6, 7, 9, 20-25. *Dt 11:19. 31:13. 32:46, 47. Jsh 24:15. 1 S 1:27, 28. 2:11, 18, 19, 26. 3:1. 17:33, 37. 1 K 18:12. 2 K 10:1. 11:12, 21. 1 Ch 27:32. 2 Ch 24:1, 2. +*2 Ch 26:4. *2 Ch 34:1-3. +*Jb 1:5. Ps 34:11. *Ps 71:5, 17. 74:20. **Ps 78:1-8. 103:13. 105:8, 9. +*Ps 119:9, 33, 105. Pr 1:7. 4:7. *Pr 8:17. 9:10. 13:24. *Pr 17:10. **Pr 22:6. 23:13, 14. 30:17. 31:1. *Ec 12:1, 13. Is 10:19. +*Is 28:9, 10. +*Is 38:19. 49:23. Zc 8:5. Mt 11:16-18. Lk 1:15. *Lk 2:40, 49. Jn 7:14, 15. 21:15. +*Ep 6:4. child. Gr. brephos (S#1025g, Lk 18:15), an infant (properly unborn) literally or figuratively (Strong). T#1071, T#1110. **2 Tim 1:5. Nu 3:15. Dt 31:12. 1 S 1:27, 28. Ps 34:11. Pr 31:28. Song 8:2. Mt 19:14, 15. Mk 10:14. +*Lk 18:15 (*S#1025g, infants). **Ac 16:1, 2. *Ep 6:4n. 1 Tim 5:10. known. Gr. oida, Jn 8:55n. T#1065. +*2 Tim 2:15. **Dt 17:19. 31:12. Pr 18:15. +**Mk 12:24. the holy. Gr. hieros (S#2413g, only here and 1 Cor 9:13), sacred (Strong). **Dt 17:19. *Da 10:21. +Mt 21:42. *Mt 22:29. +*Lk 24:27, 32, 44, 45. +*Jn 5:24, 39, 46. 15:3. Ac 3:18, 24. 10:43. +*Ac 17:2. Ro 1:2. *Ro 10:17. +**Ro 15:4. *Ro 16:26. +*1 Cor 15:3, 4. Col 1:5, 6. *Col 3:16. 1 Th 1:5. **1 Th 2:13. *James 1:18. *1 P 1:23. **2 P 1:20, 21. 3:16. scriptures. Gr. gramma (S#1121g, Lk 16:6). Ps 147:19. Pr 4:4. **+Is 8:20n. Je 8:9. +*Lk 16:29. Ac 8:28. +**Ac 17:11. Ro 2:18. 3:2. Ga 3:8. Col 3:16. which are able. Gr. dunamai (S#1410g, Mt 3:9). *Ps 19:7. +*Ps 119:99. Da 9:2. +**Jn 5:39, 40. +*Ac 10:43. *Ac 13:29, 38, 39. **+1 Th 2:13. +**James 1:21. 1 P 1:10-12. **1 J 5:11, 12. Re 19:10. wise. Gr. sophizō (S#4679g, only here and 2 P 1:16), to render wise; in a sinister acceptation, to form “sophisms,” that is, continue plausible error (Strong). T#1023. *Dt 4:6. +*Ps 19:7. 49:3. 111:10. +*Ps 119:24, 98, 99, 130. Pr 1:2. 2:7. 14:8. 22:20. 28:26. +*Da 11:33. +*Da 12:3. Lk 11:36. +**Jn 5:39. Ro 16:19. 1 Cor 1:30. Col 2:3. James 1:21. unto salvation. **Jn 20:30, 31. +*Ro 1:16. *Phil 2:12, 13n. 2 Th 2:13. 1 Tim 1:15. *1 P 1:8-11. through faith. Ro 3:22. 4:5. **Ro 10:17. **He 11:6. 1 P 1:5. which is in. **Jn 14:6. **Ac 4:12. Ep 1:13. +1 Tim 1:14. Christ Jesus. +Ac 19:4.

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