The New Testament Scriptures quote the Old Testament Scriptures over 200 times. According to God the Holy Spirit, the Holy Bible is the authority in all matters. God’s written Words in the Bible are self-sufficient and self-explanatory; not needing our boring and confusing theological and denominational systems to supposedly “clarify” (not mystify!) the word of God. Church tradition, human viewpoint (philosophy), hunches, inner impressions, and long-held ideas, our past experiences, have no relevance or authority if God does not substantiate them in His written word, the Holy Bible.

“For what saith the Scriptures?” is a question rarely asked today in Christian circles, yet it is the question the Holy Spirit, through Paul, asked in these verses. We are to appeal to the Scriptures for our answers.

“what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness,” (Rom. 4:3)

In the minds of the Peter and Paul, we must appeal to the Holy Scriptures, for they alone are the issue.

 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: ²⁰Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ²¹For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but (by) holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:19-21)

God the Holy Spirit speaks to us through His written Word, by quickening it to our spirit, as revelation, teaching us using those words we read (1 Cor. 2:13). Are we really listening to what He has already said in the Holy Bible, or, as much of Christendom today demonstrates, are we merely interested in doing and believing ‘whatever we want?’ Do we really care about what God’s Word says, as much as we claim to?

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  Everything that God wants us to know and do, He has already given us in His written word, the Holy Bible, and He preserved it through history so we can have it in our language and study it for ourselves! It’s then our responsibility, our privilege, to “search the Scriptures” as Jesus Christ Himself said in John 5:39. You as a believer are equipped to ‘understand’ and ‘enjoy’ the Bible.

We ought not to cling to perverted theological beliefs and denominational biases. These add to the confusion that should have been minimized by what we learn in His word. We need to understand and enjoy the Bible, so that our faith can rest in the word, and in the word alone. When “the Spirit of truth” reveals truth to your understanding it is an ‘ah ha’ moment and that revelation becomes part of you, never to be lost. Paul wrote;

“(I Paul) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: ¹⁸  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,” (Ephesians 1:16-18)

We should want to have answers to our Bible questions as they are drawn from all of the Bible, taking special care to note the ‘context’ of each and every verse. This means we need to note:

1) who is the author of the Bible passage or verse in consideration,

2) to whom is that author writing,

3) what is the author writing,

4) to be applicable to who and,

5) for what time or in what age?

While most groups and churches likely emphasize point 3) above, it is quite sad that most often points 1, 2 and 4 are usually ignored or not sufficiently stressed. This then leads to a critical misapplication of the verses we read. We need to consider all three points when attempting to understand a Bible verse or passage. All three are keys to Bible understanding are necessary to answer Bible questions.