The following  Biblical Rules  are strictly followed in order to ensure that only the biblical truth will be taught in this website.

Rule-1.    All interpretations belong to God.

In Genesis 40:8, this is written:  

And they said to him,  "We each have dreamed a dream,  and there is no interpreter of it."   And Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please." (Genesis 40:8 NKJV)

The same verse in other versions of the bible:

They said to him, "We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them." And Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me." (NRSV)

They replied, "We have each had a dream, but there is no one to interpret it." "Are not interpretations God's business?" Joseph asked them. "Tell me about them." (NJB)

Why all interpretation belong to God?

In the following verses these are also written:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV)

for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter, 1:21, NKJV)

Interpretations belong to God because it is God's words that are written in the bible.

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Rule-2.    No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of personal interpretation.

This is what Apostle Peter wrote in  II Peter1:20-21:

 First of all, you must understand this: No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever originated through a human decision. Instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (ISV)

The same verse in other versions of the bible:

Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God. (NAB)

"Knowing  this first,  that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation,  for prophecy never came by the will of man,  but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (NKJV)

According to Apostle, everyone must first understand that " no prophecy in the scripture is a matter of personal interpretation", because no prophecy ever originated through a human decision; but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

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Rule-3.    Only God's words can interpret God's words.

This is what Apostle Paul wrote  in I Corinthian 2:13:
Apostle Paul cited this unmistakable characteristic of a Holy Spirit inspired Preachers—like the apostles—with a  unique method of teaching. 

When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. (New Living Translation)

The same verse from the other versions of the Bible:

These are the things we are saying. We are not using human ideas of wisdom which man taught us. Instead, we are using words which the Spirit teaches. We explain Spiritual things with Spiritual words. (1 Corinthians 2:13, International English NT)

"This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." (I Cor. 2:13, New International Version)

These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:13, NKJV)

In telling you about these gifts we have even used the very words given to us by the Holy Spirit, not words that we as men might choose. So we use the Holy Spirit's words to explain the Holy Spirit's facts. (1 Corinthians 2:13, Living Bible)

Only God's words written in the Bible can interpret God's words written in the Bible.

This unique Biblical rule is clearly explained in the above verse as rendered by the different versions of the Bible.

• "we use the Holy Spirit's words to explain Spiritual truths" (New Living Translation) or

• "we explain Spiritual Things with Spiritual words" (International English) or

• "expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." (NIV).

• "comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (NKJV)

• "we use the Holy Spirit's words to explain the Holy Spirit's facts." (Living Bible)

Thus, passages or verses are used to explain other passages or verses related to the subject being discussed because such passages or verses are words of God and are therefore spiritual things.

• This unique method is not based on human wisdom but on what the Holy Spirit teaches. 
• This is the only acceptable and the right way of teaching the scriptures that is guaranteed not to result in error. 

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Rule-4.    God does not contradict Himself.

Spiritual words when used to explain Spiritual truths or Spiritual things

• will not result in contradiction,

• will not result in inconsistency

• will not result in disagreement with the Biblical Truth. 

This is the unique way the Holy Spirit teaches.

In using this unique method of teaching, nothing is added to or taken away from the word of God. There must be no contradiction between the different verses of the Bible because "spiritual things or spiritual truths  are always expressed in spiritual words". 
I Corinthian 2:13, is worth repeating:

"This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." (I Cor. 2:13, New International Version)

4a.  Why is it that Holy Bible contain no contradiction?

In the following verses it is explained:

and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is given by 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.   II Timothy 3:15-17 (NKJV)

"Knowing  this first,  that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation,  for prophecy never came by the will of man,  but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (II Peter1:20-21 (NKJV)

In it's original form the Bible contains no contradiction because:

• "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" ( II Timothy 3:15-17).

• There are no contradictions between the different verses of the Bible because "spiritual things or spiritual truths  are expressed in spiritual words" (I Cor. 2:13).

• This is because God is the ultimate author of all the books and letters in the Bible though it was spoken and/or written by the Prophets, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles as they were inspired and moved by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter1:20-21). 

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Rule-5.    No difficulties would arise if we simply follow what is written in the Bible and not allow our limited human intellect and wisdom to speculate "What God will do and will not do".

In Deuteronomy 29:29, this is written:

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and to our children forever, to observe all the words of this law. (NRSV)

The same verse in the New International Version of the Bible:

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. (NIV)

Let us be satisfied with what is written in the Bible and not worry on "what God will do and will not do" for there are secret things that belong to Him. Let us pay attention to what is written in the Bible because these are the things revealed to us. These are the things that belong to us and to our children to observe and obey forever.

Speculating on "what God will do and will not do" will lead us to false beliefs that are not written in the Bible. Surely, these false beliefs will lead us to damnation and not to salvation on the Day of Judgment.

5a.  What is  Apostle Paul's counsel to those who speculate on "what God will do and will not do" and on "the secret things that belong to our Lord God"?  In  I Corinthians 4:6,  Apostle Paul warns us not to go beyond what is written:

"Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself  and Apollos for your benefit,  so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying,  "Do not go beyond  what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. (New International Version)

The same verse in other versions of the Bible:

Brothers, I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will stop boasting about one person at the expense of another. (International Standard Version)

My brothers, it is because of you that I have taken Apollos and myself as examples of these things, so that in us you might see that it is not wise to go farther than what is in the holy Writings, so that no one of you may be lifted up against his brother. (The Bible in Basic English)

Apostle Paul admonish the early Christians "Not to go beyond what is written in the Holy Scriptures". , in other words, "We should simply follow what is written in the Bible".  This is to avoid difficulties in understanding the words of God.

5b.  What does "do not go beyond what is written" mean?

"Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it;  you shall not add to it nor take away from it. (Deuteronomy 12:32, NKJV)

You shall not add to it nor take away from it.

5c.  How much or how little should not be added to or diminished from,  the commandments of God?

I tell you the truth, until the heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Mathew 5:18, NIV)

Not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

How does God consider this transgression?

Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven,  but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Mathew 5:  19. NIV)

Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

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 5d.  Is the truth written in the Bible sufficient to bring man to salvation?

The following verses gives us the answer:

"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of  His disciples, which are not written in this book;   but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:30-31, NKJV)

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.  It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. (2 Tim. 3:16-17, NLT) 

What is written in the Holy Bible is enough for us to believe that Jesus is the Christ,  the Son of God, and that believing what is written we may have life in His name.    All Scriptures inspired by God and is complete in every way because it is God's way of preparing us and making us fully equipped for every good thing that God wants us to do.

5e.  What is the consequence of speculating or going beyond what is written?

In Revelations 22:18-19 and Revelations 21:8,   Apostle John gave us this warning:

"For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:  If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;    and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy,  God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this book." (Revelations 22:18-19 NKJV)

"But the cowardly,  unbelieving,  abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone,   which is the second death." (Revelations 21:8 NKJV)

God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;  God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this book." They shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone,  which is the second death."

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Please Continue Lesson ► C - Determining Contradictions And Inconsistencies
 

04/28/2009 09:52 AM

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