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THE
NEW LIFE by
John Marshall
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Chapter
18 • BIBLE
STUDY
Even though the Scriptures pointed to the cruel death of Messiah,
they found it difficult to believe that the man who had shown
them that he had the power to give life to the dead, to give
sight to the blind and to control storms, could possibly be
killed on a cross. Hence their unbelief and their cowardice
when Jesus was arrested and slain. But now the risen Messiah
was making clear the things that had puzzled them, and giving
them a vision of the Kingdom that made them unafraid of the
hazards of persecution or the pains of death.
The Necessity of Study
We, too, need to have our understanding of the Scriptures
"opened" and for us this means the Old and the New
Testaments, for neither can be understood without the other,
as Mark made clear in his Gospel record: "The beginning
of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as it is written
in the prophets . . ." And as Jesus made clear to the
Jews: "Had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me
for he wrote of me . . ."
The primary means of study should be the Daily Readings. They
accustom us to the reading of both Testaments; they discipline
our concentration, and they daily join us in a world-wide
fellowship of reading and study that must give some satisfaction
to the Father, and to Jesus, who is with us to the end of
the world.
If we followed our undisciplined inclinations we would read
some books regularly and neglect others, and in consequence
our understanding of God's ways, and His plan, would be incomplete.
In some way, for example, Christ is to be found in all the
Scriptures, and through them all God reveals Himself and His
purposes.
It is by a studied reading, too, of the lives of the ancients
and of the ways in which God helped them to solve their problems,
that we learn more about ourselves and our own problems. And
in learning these things we prepare ourselves for the task
of ruling the nations in the Kingdom with divine wisdom, understanding
and compassion-for we, like Jesus, have to learn obedience
by the things that we suffer.
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References
Mark 1v1, John 5v46
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Chapter
18 • BIBLE STUDY
If two join in the reading it can be quite instructive for one to
read a chapter from the Authorized and the other to follow it with,
say the R.S.V. or N.E.B. Differences can then be discussed after
the chapter has been completed. Reading aloud is a good training
for young brethren who may be called upon to read in the ecclesia.
At present the standard of performance is not high. If more than
two take part in the readings, as in the case of a family, a common
practice is for five verses to be read by each.
The Problems that Arise
As the reading proceeds problems will arise. What is the meaning
of this or that word? This is particularly the case with the Authorized.
Version, but it is surprising how many obscure Bible words are defined
in a good English Dictionary, and it is useful to have one at hand
when doing the readings.
Sometimes, however, only a Concordance can help. What did the Lord
mean when, referring to Leviathan, he said to Job: "By his
neesings a light doth shine. And his eyes are like the eyelids of
the morning"? The Concordance shows that the word neesing means
sneezing and, appropriately, the Hebrew word for it is atishah!
Obscure words are not the only difficulties that arise: a verse,
or a number of verses may pose problems. This is where good marginal
references in a Bible can be useful. For example, when we read the
penetrating and lofty epistle of the imprisoned Apostle Paul to
the Ephesians we can understand him when he writes: "I therefore,
the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called." And we know what he means
when he stresses the unity of all things in the Father, through
Christ. But when he continues: "Wherefore he saith, when he
ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto
men", what is he trying to convey to us?
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References
Job 41v18, Eph 4v1, Eph 4v4-7
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