Wednesday: Studying the Word
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 2nd of April 2025
Seventh-day Adventists owe much to William Miller for their understanding of Bible prophecy. While his understanding of key passages (such as Daniel 8:14) was not perfect, Miller’s methodology was, nonetheless, important, because it paved the way for the birth of our last-day remnant movement.
Read Matthew 5:18, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, and Luke 24:27. What do these verses teach us about the way we ought to approach Bible prophecy?
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
In some ways, studying the Bible is not unlike assembling a large jigsaw puzzle. If you gather just two or three pieces together, it is nearly impossible to discern the entire picture. Perhaps in those two or three pieces, you can see a horse, and so you conclude that you are assembling a picture of horses. But a few more pieces reveal a chicken and a cow, and then once you have assembled hundreds of pieces, you can finally see that you have been working on a picture of a landscape, which includes a city, a farm, and a range of mountains in the distance.
One of the central ways in which some Christians err in their study of the Bible is that they treat the Scriptures as a loose collection of sayings or proverbs that they can use to address a specific situation. Some will turn to the simple study guide at the front of a Gideons Bible, where they can find helpful verses on a number of topics, and assume that it represents the sum total of the Bible’s teachings on a given subject.
Unfortunately, they take the same approach to prophecy, lifting an individual text out of its context and comparing it to current events instead of the rest of the Bible. This, in part, has led to the constant stream of modern books on prophecy that have to be updated every few years because they were wrong on what they said was going to happen—and when.
That’s why it’s so important not merely to select some specific texts on any given topic but instead to study carefully everything the Bible says about that topic and to take into consideration the context in which it says it, as well. It is very easy to pull a passage out of context and make it say whatever we want.
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What has been your experience with those who use only certain selected texts to try to make their point about, say, the state of the dead? Or even the Sabbath? What is the best way to respond? |
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This lesson highlights the importance of studying the Bible holistically rather than isolating individual texts. It prevents misinterpretation and ensures that passages are understood within their broader biblical and historical context
People who use selective texts often do so to fit a preconceived idea. For example, on the state of the dead, someone might quote Ecclesiastes 9:5 "the dead know nothing" and stop there, claiming it proves annihilation or unconsciousness after death. But they might ignore John 11:25-26, where Jesus promises eternal life. Also in Luke 23:43, where Jesus tells the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in paradise," indicating an immediate post-death reality. Or Philippians 1:23, where Paul weighs "departing to be with Christ" against staying alive, framing death as a doorway, not a dead end.
When studying the bible, we should pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, center our study on Christ, analyze context (biblical, linguistic, historical, cultural) and engage both Old and New Testaments to avoid neglecting key insights.
Imagine a traveler lost in a vast, dark forest with no clear path ahead save darkness an uncertainty. The only thing he has is a small but powerful lamp that illuminates his steps. As he moves forward, the light reveals obstacles, guiding him safely through the dangers of the unknown terrain. If he neglects the lamp or refuses to use it, he stumbles, gets lost, and faces unnecessary hardship.
In the same way, the Bible serves as our guiding light in life that has many uncertainties. Psalm 119:105 describes God’s Word as a "lamp to our feet and a light to our path," showing us the way to walk in truth. Just as the traveler must rely on the lamp consistently to avoid getting lost, believers must study Scripture regularly to navigate life’s challenges wisely. Ignoring God’s Word can lead to confusion and spiritual stumbling, but when we engage with it daily, we gain clarity, strength, and direction.
Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, who diligently searched the Scriptures to confirm the truth, we are called to actively study and apply God’s teachings even more given our times when half-truths are many leave alone absolute lies. Just as a traveler trusts his lamp, we must trust in God's Word, allowing it to shape our decisions, strengthen our faith, and lead us toward a life of righteousness.
The study of Bible prophecy requires a careful, systematic approach that aligns with biblical principles rather than personal interpretations. Matthew 5:18 affirms that not even the smallest part of God's Word will pass away until all is fulfilled, reminding us of the reliability and continuity of Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 emphasizes that all Scripture is inspired by God and should be used for teaching, correction, and instruction in righteousness. Luke 24:27 shows how Jesus Himself interpreted Scripture holistically, demonstrating that prophecy should be understood in the context of the entire Bible.
A common mistake in studying prophecy is isolating individual verses to fit preconceived notions or current events rather than considering the full biblical narrative. Like assembling a puzzle, proper Bible study requires comparing scripture with scripture, recognizing patterns, and allowing the Bible to interpret itself. Many errors have stemmed from cherry-picking verses to support ideas about the Sabbath, the state of the dead, or end-time events, leading to confusion and doctrinal instability.
The best way to respond to those who misuse selected texts is with patience, wisdom, and a commitment to context. Instead of arguing, we should encourage a comprehensive study of Scripture, demonstrating how the Bible presents truth in harmony. By following Christ’s method of teaching, pointing people back to the totality of God’s Word, we can lead others to a clearer, more biblically sound understanding of prophecy.
Principle #4: Study the whole Bible on a topic, not just isolated verses. Study Bible passages within their context.
Courtney, I'm going to get "two birds with one stone," so to speak, as I build upon your astute observation. I apologize in advance that it will be a bit wordy. I don't like long winded remarks and we at ssnet generally discourage them because they often go unread and can discourage interaction.
The old saying, "a text out of context, is a pretext," is certainly true. People can twist the scriptures and/or take them out of their intended context to make the Bible support whatever they want it to convey. This is wrong and one of the reasons there are so many denominations. We need to be "Bereans" that rightly divide the words of scripture. (2 Tim 2:15) We must exegete, or read out what the author intended the verse to say, instead of putting our interpretation, or isogete, the text, making it say what we want it to say.(2 Peter 3:16)
Case in point,Daniel 8:14. When isolated out of it's proper context you can easily put your own spin (isogete) on the passage to come up with a number of different personal interpretations. Read the larger context. Daniel heard the angel's interpretation but didn't understand it, he only knew that it involved a long period of time and the thought of the Jewish captivity extending so long made him sick, probably both emotionally and physically. (Daniel 8:27) Daniel 9 begins with the longest recorded prayer in the Bible. Daniel is obviously wrestling with the prophetic interpretation of his dream previously given him by Gabriel. Gabriel is dispatched to help Daniel understand it. (Daniel 9:20-23) Gabriel was sent as a "tutor" to help Daniel discipher the "prophetic math problem" which troubled him.
We must stay with the larger context of a scripture passage which we struggle to understand, for very often, therein lies the interpretation. We need to know, to use a popular Paul Harvey colloquialism,"the rest of the story."
God can change His judgment but not His character. He can change His judgment on us because we can change, hopefully. If the Bible reflects God's character because it is His Word, it cannot contradict itself, as God cannot contradict Himself. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever! And He is love!