Many believe the Bible can not be understood, or that it is outdated.....

1. BASIC Principles of Christianity
UNDERSTANDING
THE BIBLE
Lesson 2

2. INTRODUCTION
 Many believe that the
Bible cannot be
understood. But God
has given us the Bible
for that very purpose.
The fact that you are
taking the time to look
at this study about the
Bible, proves that you
have a desire to know
more about the Bible.
 Read:
Ephesians 5.17
II Timothy 3.15

3. YOU CAN KNOW
 The Bible continues to be the world’s best
seller.
 It is loved in life and cherished even more
in death.
 Yet, it is abused, misused, misrepresented,
misunderstood and ignored.

4.  The problem of studying and
understanding the Bible is usually not a
difficulty in interpretation, but rather a
lack of information or willingness to
consider the facts.

5.  The differences between individual
interpretation, church groups or between
theory and practice is not the inability to
understand, but may be a refusal to
respect the Bible’s authority.
– I. A BIBLICAL INTRODUCTION
– II. WHY PEOPLE DO NOT SEE THE
BIBLE ALIKE
– III. PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETING THE
BIBLE

6. A BIBLICAL INTRODUCTION
 The Old Testament was written in the
Hebrew language and
 The New Testament was written in the
Koine Greek and some Aramaic.

7.  The Old Testament is divided into: The
Pentateuch, History, Poetry, Prophets.
 The New Testament contains: The Life of
Christ, Pauline Epistles, Other Letters, and
the book of Revelation.

8.  Translations & Versions are intended to keep
our modern changing languages correct with
the original languages.

9. WHY PEOPLE DO NOT SEE THE
BIBLE ALIKE
 A lack of knowledge – Romans 10:1-3
 Pre-conceived ideas – II Thessalonians 2:11-12
 Deception – II Corinthians 11:3; I Timothy 4:1-
2
 The wisdom of men – I Corinthians 1:22-24
 The problem of sin – II Corinthians 4:3-4

10. A lack of knowledge
Romans 10:1-3
“Brethren, my heart's desire and my
supplication to God is for them, that they
may be saved. For I bear them witness that
they have a zeal for God, but not according
to knowledge. For being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and seeking to establish their
own, they did not subject themselves to the
righteousness of God.”

11. Pre-conceived ideas……
II Thessalonians 2:11-12
“And for this cause God sendeth them a
working of error, that they should believe a
lie: that they all might be judged who
believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.”

12. Deception ………
II Corinthians 11:3
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds
should be corrupted from the simplicity and
the purity that is toward Christ.”

13. I Timothy 4:1-2
“But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times
some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through
the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in
their own conscience as with a hot iron; forbidding
to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats,
which God created to be received with thanksgiving
by them that believe and know the truth.”

14. The wisdom of men ………
I Corinthians 1:22-24
“ Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks
seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ
crucified, unto Jews a stumbling block, and
unto Gentiles foolishness; but unto them that
are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

15. The problem of sin ………
II Corinthians 4: 3-4
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled
in them that perish: in whom the god of this
world hath blinded the minds of the
unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God,
should not dawn upon them.”

16. PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETING
THE BIBLE
 The definition of words – Example (Baptism)
 Realize the different Biblical periods – Hebrews
9:15-17
 Examine the grammatical construction of the
Scriptures – John 5:58
 Analyze the purpose and plan of the book –
Example (Revelation)
 Consider the whole context – John 13:3-17
 Look at parallel passages – Matthew 28:18-20;
Mark 16:15-16

17. The definition of words ……
 Baptism  The word baptisma - rendered
“baptism”, occurs in the New
Testament twenty-two times.
 Baptidzo – “to dip, immerse, submerge,
plunge, sink, overwhelm, wash,
cleanse”
 Baptismos – “a dipping in water”
 Baptistas – “one that dips, a baptizer”

18. Realize the different Biblical
periods ………
 Hebrews 9:15-17  “And for this cause he is the mediator
of a new covenant, that a death having
taken place for the redemption of the
transgressions that were under the first
covenant, they that have been called
may receive the promise of the eternal
inheritance. For where a testament is,
there must of necessity be the death of
him that made it. For a testament is of
force where there hath been death: for
it doth never avail while he that made it
liveth.”

19. Examine the grammatical
construction of the Scriptures ..
 John 8:58  “ Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Before
Abraham was born, I
am.”

20. Analyze the purpose and plan of
the book ………
 Example
(Revelation)
 John describes the book as “the
revelation of Jesus Christ, which
God gave to him to show to his
servants what must soon take
place”
 Practical purpose was to strengthen
the courage and faith of the early
Christians with a message of hope
and victory.
 Author clearly states and repeats
that the time of these events was
quite near. (1:1; 1:3; 3:11; 22:6, 7,
10, 12, 20)

21. Consider the whole context …
 John 13:3-17  Turn to John 13: 3-17
and read aloud.

22. Look at parallel passages …
 Matthew 28:18-20  “And Jesus came to them and
spake unto them, saying, All
authority hath been given unto
me in heaven and on earth. Go
ye therefore, and make disciples
of all the nations, baptizing
them into the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit: teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I
commanded you: and lo, I am
with you always, even unto the
end of the world.”

23.  Mark 16:15-16
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to the whole
creation. He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall
be condemned.

24. TIDBITS
1. The Bible consists of 66 books:
 39 Old Testament Books
 27 New Testament Books
2. The Old Testament was given to the Jews
3. The New Testament is given to all the
world.
4. God has given us the entire Bible for life.
5. First part He intended to be replaced by the
second part.

25. Thank You For Your Interest!!!
 If you found the Basic Principles of Christianity series
educational and informative …
 Feel free to drop us a note and let us know what you thought
of this lesson series – we will be glad to hear from you.
Kevin Wilson
kmwilson.hpcc@gmail.com
or
k.mark.wilson@gmail.com

26. YOU MAY NOW PROCEED
TO
LESSON 3
A STARTING POINT