Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
Take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning, unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.
Dr. David L. Cooper, the late founder and director of the Biblical Research Society.
int.
I graduated with a Bachelor degree in Biblical Studies. Never once was I confronted with the following questions. They were simply glossed over. Move along, nothing to see here. I graduated nonetheless, with High Honors, but what did I learn?
I didn’t know the answers until I set aside my commentaries and actually read the Bible literally. Here are some questions to ponder. There are more, but start with these. Read them at face value (literally) don’t read someone else’s opinion on what they mean. Use the plain sense of Scripture, then make an interpretation.
- Why were the disciples told to go only to the Jews and specifically not the way of the Gentiles? See Matthew 10:5.
- Why did Jesus say He was sent (by His Father) ONLY to the lost sheep of the house of Israel? See Matthew 15:24.
- Why did the Lord need the Apostle Paul when He already had 12 Apostles?
- If Paul was the sole Apostle to the Gentiles, why then did Peter go to the Gentile Cornelius’s house? See Acts 10.
- Why does the letter of James, addressed to the twelve scattered tribes, say faith must have works or it is dead? See James 2:20, 26
- Why does Paul say, faith is all one needs to receive the gift of salvation, no works allowed? Ephesians 2:8,9.
- Why did Paul go to Jerusalem to explain what he was teaching if his gospel was the same as the twelve? See Galatians 2:1-7.
- Why does Paul call the Gospel, “My Gospel”? Why not “Our” Gospel? Romans 2:16; 16:25, 2 Timothy 2:8.
- If the Gospel includes repentance, why does Paul not state that in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 where he explicitly says here is the “Gospel by which you are saved”?
Here are two bonus questions:
Why do people say no one was able to follow the Law when it is clearly stated in Luke that Zacharias and Elisabeth were “Blameless, righteous, walking in ALL the commandments and ordinances.”? See Luke 1:6.
Why did Jesus tell the rich young ruler to keep obeying the Law in order to have eternal life? See Matthew 19:16,17.
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[Our old website is being discontinued, therefore the notes from that site are being added here, but over time due to the volume. Check back regularly for additional notes as they are added.]
The book of Revelation is interpreted by many Bible teachers in different ways. As I study the Bible, I prefer a literal, grammatical interpretation. The notes from my studies are presented with a literal interpretation of the book.
When this method of study is employed, it will keep the Bible student from going off on tangents and making things up–which is what many do in their study of the Revelation.
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More First Corinthians updated soon.
Roger Feenstra 