Scripture Strategy Summary

The Eternal's Word to Man Kind

As believers, we want to build our relationship with the One Most High and grow closer to Him. As with any relationship, the one with the Almighty grows by spending time together and getting to know each other better. One of the best ways we have to do this is to read His words that are written to us which are recorded in Scripture. Also, there are many philosophies, cultures, and ideas that want to take our attention away from the Almighty and have us forget the truth about creation and life. Be knowing and understanding His word, we can stand strong in the truth and resist what is false. Finally, by learning about the physical and spiritual aspects of life and covenant relationship the Almighty has with mankind, one can better understand how to live in His blessing.

Defend the Authority of Scripture

The Scriptures are the authoritative and accurate word from Elohim to mankind and it is correct in describing both the physical and spiritual aspects of life. We must greatly know and understand it so we can act rightly and not be deceived by the enemy through inaccurate doctrine, twisting of Scripture, or false prophets. Scripture is the authoritative and accurate word of Elohim to mankind. The majority of Scripture is written in a literal and straightforward style. It is correct in describing the creation and both the physical and spiritual aspects of life. The central theme of Scripture is Elohim's relationship with mankind.

History of the Covenants

The central theme is Elohim's relationship with mankind that comes in the forms of both covenants and promises. There are many ways to define and delineate the writings of Scripture from other works. Perhaps one of the simplest and most powerful is to define Scripture as the books of the Covenant and of the history of the Covenant. The books of the Covenant are generally the first five books of the Bible known as the books of Moses, the Torah, or the Pentateuch. The remaining books, showing the history of the covenant, collectively show what has happened to the Almighty's people through history as they have obeyed or disobeyed the covenant.

Proof of Scripture

Science and history proclaim the truth of Scripture and the prophecies it contains which, in turn, give confidence to the future prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled. While believers would typically not have difficulty in understanding the Scriptures as being the word of the Almighty, the world in general asks could they be true. There is an amazing amount of evidence to show that they are indeed true and accurate. As a whole, the Scriptures were written over a 1,500 year period from about 40 authors. These accounts include many times, cultures, and events which continue to be upheld by archaeological study. Furthermore, a unique characteristic of the Bible is predictive prophecy, foretelling what will happen in the future with many events already having been fulfilled historically.

Canon of Scripture

The modern, Protestant, Bible comes to us through the Hebrew writings preserved by the Jews and the Greek writings chosen by the early Catholic church minus a few books removed in the Protestant Reformation.

Tactics of Scripture Study

Although written in ancient languages, it's message is straightforward and can be well understood with only minimal references to Israelite culture and geography. In the modern world, learning the skills of understanding Scripture are helpful in discerning what is true and accurate and what is not. The barriers to understanding Scripture starts with the original writings being made for a different people, in a different language, and with different customs. On top of this, the translations that we read in our own language may not accurately state what the author was writing long ago. Also, learning to study the Scriptures well takes time and practice. When studying Scripture, one must come with an open mind because a mind filled with doctrine or preconceived ideas will have difficulty in clearly comprehending what is contained in Scripture. Yet the rewards of being close to the Almighty and of having peace in life through the understanding of Scripture are well worth the effort.

Scripture Translation vs. Interpretation

A majority of the text is written as a literal and historical record without the need for allegorical interpretation. There are many English Scripture translations on the market from which to choose. Some are made for easier reading while others are more accurate and precise to the original meaning of the Hebrew and Greek languages. When looking for a copy of the Scriptures, one is looking for a translation and not a commentary nor an interpretation. One point to be careful of is insertions. These are words that are added to the text which do not exist in the original language. The relatively harmless insertions are those that just help make the sentence structure work in English. The harmful insertions are those due to theology. These insertions show the interpretations and theology of the translators rather than staying precisely with Scripture. One of the worst changes occurring in modern Scripture translation is the deliberate removal of phrases or sentences that directly show that salvation is only through the Messiah.

Obedience vs. Study Testimony

Many people are unable to apply Scripture to their life because they either never study the Bible or because they never finish studying the Bible; yet, obedience to His word brings peace and blessing.