Featured Using Study Tools

2 Timothy 2:15-18 (NASB)
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have gone astray from the truth,
Here we see we are to be "diligent" to accurately handle the "word of truth." Do we need to hold a man-made degree in Greek to study and share the results of our study? Or do we need to possess "Gnostic knowledge" bestowed in accredited schools? Do we believe in the "priesthood of believers" or in the "priesthood" of Greek speakers or Latin speakers or Hebrew speakers?

Do we need a degree in Greek to use a "Lexicon" written in English, or use an "Exhaustive Concordance" written in English or a "Reverse Interlinear" written in English? Or could we simply use our discipleship training on how to study God's word?

When we see claims by those who apparently do not study that you need a degree to study and share, beware such views are the antithesis of Christ's teachings.

To be "diligent" refers to us being earnest or zealous toward the accomplishment of something. In 2 Timothy 2:15, the idea is to study God's word zealously, and not simply accept unverified views of scripture.

Luke 8:15 (NASB)
“But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

Are we open to the message of God's word, and can we "hold it firmly" without careful study so we are not blown about by every wind of doctrine?

How are we to "make disciples" teaching them "all Christ commanded" if we have not learned what those commands are? Do we thirst for the pure word of God, or are we happy to walk in the furrows of other people?

 

More than 60 published translations already exist.
There is no reason for many bible students to learn Hebrew of Greek, when understanding can be obtained from existing translations and study tools.

Nothing wrong with using the NKJV as your primary study bible. Other good comparison bibles are the WEB (World English Bible) and the NET (New English Translation).

I agree we should put our understanding of the textual message in our own words. For example, here is my interpretative translation of John 3:16.

God loved humanity in this way, He gave His uniquely divine Son so that everyone believing into Him, will not perish but have everlasting life. ​

My primary study bible is the NASB, but the first two scrubs I perform is to remove any italicized words and insert the more literal footnoted choices.

For example in your NKJV, if you look at James 2:5, if you remove the italicized "to be" from the text the whole message is changed, from being rich in faith when chosen, to not being rich in faith when chosen.

 

One of the best study tools is an Exhaustive Concordance for your primary study bible.

Starting with an English word found in your NKJV, you can find where that same English word also appears in other verses, and in each case, the number of the Hebrew or Greek word translated. So say you look up Easter, and you see it does not appear in the NKJV, but the same Greek word meaning Passover appears in several other verses. Thus a little study using just this one tool will give you the opportunity to conclude the Jewish Passover and not the KJV's Easter is in view in Acts 12:4

 

1) Please provide an example referencing a verse and state what is hidden unless a person has taken at least a semester of Greek.

2) A "good education in the field" is no protection from a commentary spewing falsehood.

3) We agree, well educated "scholars" often hold significantly different views, thus views passed down from others provides no certainty of truth.

4) We agree, if we rely on the views of others, and do not discern for ourselves what scripture says (or at least what we think scripture says based on our study) we are not relying on "best evidence."

 

Yes!! Translations that change verbs into nouns (administering versus governor) alter the text. A Greek participle is used as a verbal adjective in this verse, thus "while Quinirius was administering Syria" is to be preferred. Correctly translating the participle allows for the census to have taken place before Quinirius became governor, assuming he acted in an administrative position beforehand.

 

Thanks but I did not see any "definition" of "some education in Greek" thus nothing wrong with our "how to study the bible" classes as part of our leadership mentoring outreach in our local churches.

Often, it is not a lack of "education" but a lack of "due diligence" that results in error. We are to study to show ourselves approved.

 

Folks, this person makes one negative statement after another, all false and none quoting me.

No "real scholar" has objected to my "interpretive translations" which reflect my understanding of the meaning of the verse.

No one else is required to have their posts "peer reviewed" before sharing. The suggestion is utter nonsense.

Did I ever claim my views were as good as "the experts?" No quote will be forthcoming. I do state that experts disagree and therefore in those cases either one of them or both of them are wrong. This is not rocket science.

Many times the claim is made by Calvinists that I do not understand something. But that "ad homenim" is the standard method used to undercut all those who disagree.

I do repeatedly state bible students do not need degrees to study the bible, but they need training in how to study the bible. How to use a "reverse interlinear" or an "exhaustive concordance" or "lexicons." English dictionaries, bible dictionaries and books presenting the cultural of the times are also needed.

And in summary I say those who only use and adopt views from the dark ages usually do not even know how to study the bible. Often they cannot even do a word search!!

 

You mean like substituting a verb for a noun? Or changing "apo" to "pro" ( since to before). Training in bible study does not say to replace the actual meaning with one you like.