Can We Understand the Bible?

by juliaf from www.sxc.hu

           The email was clear.  The boss would be away on vacation next week and he had a list of duties he needed me to carry out for him.  I read the list and understood each task; I knew I could do it.  Before leaving work, my wife texted a list of grocery items and asked me to stop by the pharmacy and get a prescription filled.  I understood her list and the pharmacist understood the doctor’s request.  Later that evening, I read a newspaper and a book.  The authors all communicated a message to me which I understood.  Before bed, I grabbed my copy of God’s word, commonly called the Bible.  I read it and understood its message of joy, peace, righteousness, and salvation.

            Sadly, many in our world have no problem believing the first part of my story.  They believe a boss’ email, a wife’s text, a doctor’s prescription, or an author’s writing can be understood, yet they say the Bible cannot.  This belief when honestly considered leads to some reprehensible conclusions about God, Jesus, and the Apostles.  

            If the Bible cannot be understood, then God failed in communicating a message of salvation (2 Tim. 3:14-16).  To believe such ultimately makes God to be cruel and a twisted jokester.  You see, to say the Bible cannot be understood is to say that God wrote a book telling about how His son died for the sins of humanity and what mankind must do to come live with him in Heaven, but it is impossible to understand.  It is akin to a wealthy father revealing to his children in his will a mass hidden fortune, but leaving them no instructions on how to find it.  If it is impossible to understand the Bible, then God failed to do what a boss, wife, doctor, and author can do.

            If the Bible cannot be understood then Jesus lied.  Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mat. 4:4).  Six times he used the phrase “have you not read” to rebuke those who should have known the Old Testament scriptures.  He saw the scriptures as authoritative and identifying Him as the Messiah (John 5:28-29, 46).  He said the “scriptures cannot be broken” (John 10:35).  He viewed himself as accomplishing and fulfilling scripture (John 19:28).  He expected people to understand scripture (Mat. 4:1-11; Luke 16:31; 24:19-34).  He said that you will find the truth by abiding in the Word of God (John 8:31-32).

            If the Bible cannot be understood then the Apostles deceived.  Paul called the scriptures “holy” and said a child could understand them.  It is through knowing the scriptures that one is made “wise for salvation through faith” (2 Tim. 3:15).  He said “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  Paul even told the Ephesians to “understand what the will of the Lord is” (5:19).  Peter viewed the Bible as being written by “holy men of God” who “spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21).  Peter saw the Word as providing salvation and living and abiding forever (2 Pet. 1:22-25).

            So, when many today disparage the Scriptures saying you cannot understand their true message, they often neglect to consider what that says about God, Jesus, and the Apostles.  Some Christians are quick to avoid doctrinal convictions, because they have adopted the relativistic culture’s message that the Bible cannot be understood.  They see the search for objective truth useless and advocate just taking the Bible as a love letter.  This view costs people their souls!  God didn’t fail, Jesus didn’t lie, and the Apostles didn’t deceive.  The Bible can be understood.  Doctrine does matter.  The scriptures must be understood and obeyed!

            Does this mean that we understand every verse or have the proper interpretation on all the Bible?  Certainly not!  In fact, Peter said that Paul wrote some things that were hard to understand (2 Pet. 3:16).  Even the most learned scholar can only offer a plausible interpretation, or two or three options to some difficult texts.  But, the gospel message of what God did and what man needs to do to be saved is clearly revealed in Scripture.  It requires us to “be diligent” as a worker before God in studying and rightly dividing the Scriptures (2 Tim. 2:15).  And that might be just the problem!  When the Bible isn’t understood, the problem is not God’s, Jesus’, or the Apostles’.   Rather it is our failure to read and study.  God wrote the Bible to you and for you.  You can understand it, and in fact, we will give an account of our obedience to it on the day of judgement (John 12:48).