Bible Basics

Can We Understand It?

For the past several weeks we have been studying the origin, transmission and translation of the Bible in an attempt to show the Scriptures to be literally the word of God. But even if one grants that the Bible has be faithfully transmitted and translated is it not a fact that it is so completely shrouded in mystery that supernatural guidance is essential to understand it? Absolutely not! Neither is man so hopelessly corrupt that he cannot understand it without God’s help. The fact is, God has given us His revelation so that we can read it and know His will. When Jesus gave the parable of the sower He made it clear that the seed sown on the good ground represented the heart of an individual that “hears the word and understands it” (Matt. 13:23). Such individuals possess an “honest and good heart” that desires and is able to receive God’s word (Luke 8:15). Not only so, Paul proclaimed that he wrote God’s revelation so that “when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). Later in the same letter to the Ephesians he admonished, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). Any person with an honest and good heart that wants to understand can, with honest and deliberate study, comprehend the essential truth of God’s word.

                                                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

Bible Basics