WHO CAN UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE?
THOMAS I.
E. VILLARUBIA
MILLIONS OF BOOKS filled with information and
inspiring words have been and continue to be printed. There are books on
mathematics and science, and on history of nations and lives of people. There are
books of fiction, books on politics, economy, religion, and the like. Such
books can be read, interpreted, or understood by anyone who has the adequate
educational background and training.
But one book stands out above all the others. More copies
of it has been sold than any other work of literature ever printed. Even today,
it has been sold by the millions yearly. This book is the Bible. Why is the
bible so popular?
The Bible is the word of God, the Gospel of salvation. It
teaches man all he needs to know on how to lead a life of peace and posterity.
The Bible also teaches morals as well as how man should deal with his
fellowmen. It bears words of inspiration for those in extreme hardship and
gives advice to those who have found success in life. It even explains why the
world is as it is today and has prophecies of what could be expected in the
future. But above all, it teaches how man can be reconciled with God in order
to attain salvation.
IS THE BIBLE AN OPEN BOOK?
Many professing Christians think that the Bible is just
like any other book that can be read and interpreted by just anyone. It is
regarded by many as an “open book,” and that by just reading it one can find
what needs to attain salvation. We have seen how television commercials invite people
to “read the Bible and get to know Jesus” and confidently proclaim that, “all
you need is the Bible.” We see and hear televangelists saying that one does not
need to join any organized religion but to read the Bible for an understanding
regarding man’s salvation.
In view of this, we must address this important question:
Is it true that the Bible is an open book? There is only one Bible, teaching
only one message of salvation and the righteous way of serving God. But why are
there so many interpretations which have given rise to different religious
denominations, sects, religious practices, and beliefs? If anyone can easily
understand the Bible, as many people would suppose, then everyone should have
the same interpretation and understanding of its message. But this is not so.
Why?
NOT OF ANY PRIVATE INTERPRETATION
Apostle Peter himself says “that no prophecy of Scripture
is of any private interpretation” (II Pt. 1:20, New King James Version). To say
that the Bible is an open book, that it can be interpreted by just anyone, is
contrary to what Apostle Peter stated as written in the Bible itself.
The misconception that anybody can freely give his own
interpretation of the Bible is one of the causes of the existence of different
religions with varied beliefs on God, with different religious practices, and
with contradicting beliefs on how to attain salvation. The common mistake of
people today is that they read the Bible, assume that they understand what they
have read, and give their own private interpretation. As one can clearly see
today, this has led many people into confusion.
PHILIP AND
THE EUNUCH
Is there any proof that the Bible cannot be
understood by just anybody? The following biblical narrative, involving Philip
and a eunuch will enlighten us:
“Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise
and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza’.
This is desert.
“So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a
eunuch of great authority under Candance the queen of the Ethiopians, who had
charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was
returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
“Then the Spirit said to Philip. ‘Go near and overtake
this chariot’.
“So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet
Isaiah, and said ‘Do you understand what are you reading?’
“And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?”
(Acts 8:26-31, Ibid.)
What took place between Philip and the eunuch clearly
shows that the Bible cannot simply be read and understood. What then is needed
for someone to understand the Gospel? One needs guidance. The eunuch himself
said, “How can I [understand], unless someone guides me?”
Verse 26 and 29 state that an angel of the Lord had sent
Philip to that eunuch. This further shows that God wants those who read the
Bible to be properly guided, otherwise God would not have sent Philip to the
eunuch. God would have let the eunuch read on and understand the Bible by
himself.
WHO CAN GUIDE PEOPLE?
Since we know that one must be guided in order to
understand the Gospel, it is important to know who can guide man in
understanding it. According to our Lord Jesus Christ, who was given the
understanding of the Gospel?
“And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the
mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things
are done in parables.” (Mk. 4:11, King James Version)
According to the testimony of Christ, there are people
given the understanding of the Gospel. These are the same people who have the
authority to guide man in understanding the Bible and in helping him find the
right path, service, and relationship with God. They can do so because they
understand the message contained in the Holy Scriptures which has been hidden
in mystery. To whom was Christ speaking when He said, “Unto you it is given the
mystery of the kingdom of God.?” He was speaking to those whom He was preparing
to send to propagate the Gospel, namely, His Apostles (cf. Mk. 4:10, Ibid.)
How are those who were given the understanding of the
Gospel distinct from those who were not? What is the proof that only they can
understand the words of God? Apostle Paul wrote:
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to
Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
“That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the
word of reconciliation.
“Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God
were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to
God.” (II Cor. 5:18-20, NKJV)
Those who were given the understanding of the Gospel are
identified as “ambassadors.” Only these ambassadors for Christ are given the
ministry of reconciliation and the word of reconciliation. He did not say the
words and the ministry of reconciliation have been given and committed to all.
Therefore, only those who were sent are given the words of reconciliation or
the understanding of the Gospel.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING GOD’S MESSENGER
How important is the role of God’s messengers in
giving the proper understanding of the Gospel? This is what we can read:
“For the lips of a priests should keep knowledge, and
people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of LORD of
hosts.” (Mal. 2:7, Ibid.)
Messengers of God have the exclusive understanding or
knowledge regarding the message of God. It is from them that men ought to seek
instruction. What else is the value of receiving God’s message from His
messengers? This is written:
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
(Eph. 1:13-14, Ibid.)
The role of God’s messengers is indispensable. In hearing
and believing the message brought by the messenger of God, one is sealed with
the Holy Spirit. And how important is it to be sealed with the Holy Spirit?
This is “the guarantee of our inheritance until redemption of the purchased
possession.” Those who listen to the messengers sent by God are guaranteed
salvation.
DESTRUCTION OF THE IGNORANT
What would befall those who persist on trying to
understand the Bible without the guidance of God’s messengers? This is written:
“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these
things, in which are some things hard to understand, which those who are
untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest
of the Scriptures.” (II Pt. 3:16, Ibid.)
Those who persist in trying to understand the Bible by
themselves, that is, without the guidance of God’s messengers, will bring upon
themselves destruction. Since they are ignorant of the message of the
Scriptures, they would only “twist” its message.
Can those considered as biblical scholars but who are not
messengers understand the Bible? The Bible says, “always learning and never
able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (cf. II Tim. 3:7, Ibid.). Indeed,
they may study diligently but they will become confused. They will never
understand the truth and even lead others into confusion if they try to teach their
own private interpretation. Christ calls them “Blind leaders of the blind” (cf.
Mt. 15:14, Ibid.)
Since the Bible is not an open book, one must not take it
upon himself to interpret it according to his own wisdom. To do so would not
only lead him to confusion but would make him forfeit his salvation as well.
What one needs to understand the Bible and find out the requirements for
salvation are God’s messengers.
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