Precise, accurate, and thorough are three words that should describe our study and interpretation of the Bible. We must be accurate – careful to ensure that the things we say are true; we must be precise – careful to be specific about the meaning of Scripture; and we must be thorough – seeking to dive as deep as the text goes.

Looking at science, here is how this would play out:

• It is accurate to say the Sun is far from the Earth, but it is not very precise.
• It is precise to say the Sun is 10,947.763 miles from the Earth, but it is not very accurate.
• To be precisely accurate, the Sun is a long way from earth – 1 Astronomical unit, or 92,955,807 miles.
• To be a little bit more thorough, we might note that this is the perfect distance to sustain human life. Much closer and we would be too hot. Much farther and we would be too cold. We could also note that while 93 million miles is a great distance, it’s still nowhere near as great as the distance between the Sun and Jupiter or Neptune or Pluto (and FYI, I’m still bummed about the whole Pluto fiasco). And the distance fades to a tiny speck if we compare it to the distance between the Earth and the Andromeda Galaxy (some 2,500,000 light-years away).

When it comes to Bible study we must be accurate in our observations, precise in our details, and thorough in our study. We will only grow in our knowledge of God’s Word, and the things revealed through God’s Word, when all three parts are present.

Take, for example, Revelation 22:18-19:
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

• It is roughly accurate to say, “By this verse we see that anyone who adds or takes away from this book is cursed.”
• It is more precise to say, “John warns the reader of Revelation that if anyone adds or takes from the book of Revelation, he will be cursed.”
• Adding a bit of thoroughness, we can observe that the books of the Bible were originally independent works and John would have written the warning as applying to “this book I have written”, the book of Revelation. Nonetheless, we could say that the principle applies to all of Scripture, even if this verse does not directly apply. We are not to tamper with God’s Word. Note 2 Corinthians 2:17, 4:2.

(Note that in the example I’m by no means trying to say everything there is to say about the verse; I’m limiting myself to the scope of the verse’s application.)

Now, why am I saying all this?

I think we have a tendency to settle for accuracy without showing much concern for precision or thoroughness. When we do this, we can only arrive at a partial – and often distorted – understanding of Scripture which means our ability to walk in obedience will be limited. We also leave others with the impression that the Bible is not worth careful, attentive study and that people can claim to love Scripture without actually interacting deeply with the things taught in Scripture.

If we are to be people of the book – and we absolutely should be people of the book – then we must labor daily to arrive at a precise, accurate, and thorough understanding of all the verses of the Bible. We will never get there, but that’s no excuse to be caught neglecting the Bible.

A few years ago I went through a gospel Harmony and put together a list of biblical events from the Passover observance to the ascension of Christ. Events take place in three “chapters”: From the Table to the Cross; The Crucifixion of Jesus; and The Resurrection of Jesus. It is a useful guide to see the events and related Scripture from each of the gospels pertaining to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Events of the Cross

Today, I’ve put together a briefer guide giving an overview of the events of Holy Week. This is highly summarized in order to fit everything on one page, but can provide a good, quick reference point.

Events of Holy Week

Shared this one during my sermon this morning. The book of Ephesians summarized… in verse.

Ephesians chapter one, Paul’s only just begun.

He shows us what God’s done through Jesus Christ his Son.

Redemption! We’re set free! With God we’ve harmony!

Ephesians chapter two, by grace, through faith, it’s true!

Dead in your sins were you, but God, he brought us through;

Salvation full and free, Christ paid the price for me!

Ephesians chapter three, we’ve unity, you see!

The cross joined you to me, to show eternally,

The glory, the power, the love, of God Almighty above!

Ephesians chapter four, God’s opened up the door

Given workers to the chore of making something more

Of the people he has called till Christ is all in all!

Ephesians chapter five, to walk like Christ we’ll strive

To put aside all drive of the flesh in our lives.

With bride and groom we see that Christ has cherished me!

Ephesians chapter six, the devil’s evil tricks,

Cannot begin to nix our Lord’s mighty fix!

Put on his armor, saints! Your surety never faints!

Ephesians is God’s gift so we’re not left adrift

But Christ will us uplift and bridge the terrible rift

Thus, as you come and go, serve Christ and in him grow!

Picked this up from Frank Turk. We used it with our Christmas reading last year and again this year. A good way to say more from Scripture about Christ. I’ve included the text from Frank Turk with Scripture references added in.

Today is an exciting day for those who love Logos Bible study software as Logos releases version four of its popular software.

A few months ago Logos invited a number of users to participate in a private beta. In this post I will evaluate my experience with Logos 4, note many of the new and enhanced features, and discuss a few of the drawbacks. This is a lengthy post but feel free to jump around using the guide below.

Read the rest of this entry »

In his commentary on Ephesians, John Calvin has much to say about the believer’s necessary reliance upon the Word of God. Calvin did not hesitate to bring accusations against those who abused Scripture and often those abusers were found in the Catholic church. But while reading his comments the impression is left that his criticisms could easily apply to today’s abusers of the Word. Below are some of his comments on Ephesians 4:14:

There will always be impostors, who make insidious attacks upon our faith; but, if we are fortified by the truth of God, their efforts will be unavailing. Both parts of this statement deserve our careful attention. When new sects, or wicked tenets, spring up, many persons become alarmed. But the attempts of Satan to darken, by his falsehoods, the pure doctrine of Christ, are at no time interrupted; and it is the will of God that these struggles should be the trial of our faith. When we are informed, on the other hand, that the best and readiest defense against every kind of error is to bring forward that doctrine which we have learned from Christ and his apostles, this surely is no ordinary consolation.

With what awful wickedness, then, are Papists chargeable, who take away from the word of God everything like certainty, and maintain that there is no steadiness of faith, but what depends on the authority of men! If a man entertain any doubt, it is in vain to bid him consult the word of God: he must abide by their decrees. But we have embraced the law, the prophets, and the gospel. Let us therefore confidently expect that we shall reap the advantage which is here promised, — that all the impostures of men will do us no harm. They will attack us, indeed, but they will not prevail. We are entitled, I acknowledge, to look for the dispensation of sound doctrine from the church, for God has committed it to her charge; but when Papists avail themselves of the disguise of the church for burying doctrine, they give sufficient proof that they have a diabolical synagogue.

Note in the first paragraph that which is our defense against “new sects, or wicked tenets”. Calvin says that “the best and readiest defense against every kind of error is to bring forward that doctrine which we have learned from Christ and his apostles”. Where do we gain this insight into the mind of Christ and his apostles? Does it come from man’s authority and teaching? Hardly. In the second paragraph Calvin directs his criticism against those in the Catholic church who undermine people’s confidence in Scripture by claiming that right faith can only come through the authority of men – meaning the authority of bishops and popes.

This takes place today in slightly different manner. Many are they who “take away from the word of God everything like certainty”. A preacher will undermine the authority of Scripture by professing humility and claiming that he is not sufficient to the task of delivering the one true understanding of the text and it must be left to each individual’s subjective feeling to determine the meaning of the text. Rather than appealing to the authority of the Pope, such men appeal to the authority of every individual appetite. Such men are masters of telling you when your interpretation cannot possibly fit the Bible – very often criticizing the teachings that do, in fact, reflect God’s truth – but will shy away when pressed to deliver the universal meaning of the text.

So we must keep in mind the instruction and the warning given in the second paragraph: “We are entitled… to look for the dispensation of sound doctrine from the church, for God has committed it to her charge…” Calvin tells us that God has committed the church to dispensing sound doctrine and those who are part of the church are granted the freedom to look for sound doctrine in the preaching of the church. When a church fails to deliver sound doctrine, it says something awful about that church: “…but when Papists avail themselves of the disguise of the church for burying doctrine, they give sufficient proof that they have a diabolical synagogue.”

Dr. Ronald Meeks of Blue Mountain College. See the great things you can get from a Christian college? Dr. Meeks was one of my undergrad professors and continues to influence my teaching and preaching. Currently, I am using material from his Old Testament class in my series of sermons Covenant: The Old Testament Story.

Psalm 70:4-5

May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, “God is great!”
But I am poor and needy;
hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay!

Matthew 14:22-27

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (ESV)

Can there be any more wonderful resolution to a situation than this? To see ghosts in the night and yet find out that it is none other than our Savior? How many ghosts have come our way at the hand of God and we never took the time to recognize the work he was doing through them? How many terrors have consumed us where God stood behind them?

To all of that Jesus says, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”