8/31/2016

HowcanIunderstandandapplyScripture?|InstituteinBasicLifePrinciples

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GivingtheWorlda"New"ApproachtoLife!

HowcanIunderstandandapplyScripture?
UnderstandandApplyScripture
liveaccordingtotheWordofGod
AllScripturemustbediligentlystudiedandaccuratelyapplied.TheBiblesays,Studyto
showthyselfapproveduntoGod,aworkmanthatneedethnottobeashamed,rightly
dividing[expoundingcorrectly]thewordoftruth(IITimothy2:15).Beyedoersofthe
word,andnothearersonly,deceivingyourownselves(James1:22).

ConsidertheContext
Aspartofathorough,accurateapplicationofScripture,itiswisetoaskquestionssuchas
these:
Towhomwasitwritten?Bywhom?
Whatwerethecircumstances?
Whataretheprecisemeaningsofthewordsintheoriginallanguage?
WhatrelatedScripturesmightprovideadditionalinsights?

MeditateonthePassage
StudyingtoshowourselvesapproveduntoGodinvolvesmorethansimplylearningthe
facts.Meditationonthetextisthenextstep.OnlyasyoumeditateonScriptureaverse,
severalverses,orapassagewillyoubegintoseeunderlyingprinciplesthatcanbe
appliedinyourlife.InPsalm119:99,thepsalmisttestified,Ihavemoreunderstanding
thanallmyteachers:forthytestimoniesaremymeditation.

DiscoverOneInterpretationandManyApplications
ThereisonlyoneinterpretationofScripture,butthereareunlimitedapplicationsof
Scripture.TheHolySpiritwillguideyouintoalltruthandshowyouhowtoapplyGods
Wordinyourlife.(SeeJohn16:1315.)
InICorinthians9:714,theApostlePaulpresentedanapplicationofateachingintheOld
Testament.HeemphasizedtherightofministersoftheGospeltoreceivealivingwage.To
supporthisinstruction,hecitedDeuteronomy25:4:Thoushaltnotmuzzletheoxwhenhe
treadethoutthecorn.Atfirstglance,itmayappearthatthisversehadnothingtodowith
thesubjectathand.However,uponcloserexamination,itisclearthatDeuteronomy25:4
offersanexcellentillustrationoftheprinciplePaulwasteaching.

UnderstandChristsCommands
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8/31/2016

HowcanIunderstandandapplyScripture?|InstituteinBasicLifePrinciples

PaultoldTimothythathebasedsounddoctrineontwothings:Christsownwordsandthat
whichleadstoChristlikeliving.(SeeITimothy6:3.)ApowerfulwaytoapplyScriptureisby
firststudyingChristswords,includingthecommandsHegavetous,andthenfindingtheir
foundationintheOldTestamentandapplicationintheNewTestamentEpistles.Discovering
thisthreefoldwitnesswillincreaseyourunderstandingoftheBible.(SeeII
Corinthians13:1.)
Forexample,JesusspokeofhonoringparentsinMatthew15:4:Godcommanded,saying,
Honorthyfatherandmother:and,hethatcursethfatherormother,lethimdiethedeath.
HisstatementechoesExodus20:12:Honorthyfatherandthymother:thatthydaysmay
belonguponthelandwhichtheLordthyGodgiveththee.TheApostlePaulreinforcedthese
conceptsinEphesians6:13:Children,obeyyourparentsintheLord:forthisisright.
HonorthyfatherandmotherwhichisthefirstcommandmentwithpromiseThatitmaybe
wellwiththee,andthoumayestlivelongontheearth.

ForFurtherStudy
CommandsofChrist
CharacterQualities

Command24:HearGodsVoice
Command44:KeepMyCommandments
Command5:HonorGod'sLaw

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RelatedQuestions
HowcanI"engraft"God'sWordintomylife?
WhataretherewardsofmeditatingonScripture?
WhatisthemostcriticalstepofmeditationonScripture?

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