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Bible Question: Why is the Bible at times difficult to understand? Is this a fault with the translation of the Bible from its original text? Why are there so many differing viewpoints on various issues such as: speaking in tongues, salvation, spiritual gifts etc? The Bible does not always seem to be clear. So how do we know what to believe?
Bible Answer: The apostle Peter answers this question with a short statement when he talks about scripture that Paul has written under influence of the Holy Spirit.
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. . . just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. (NASB) 2 Peter 3:15-16 |
Even the apostle Peter had difficulty understanding scripture. Why? Peter tells us. The answer is that God gave Paul a great spiritual gift of wisdom (1 Cor. 12:8). Apparently God gave Paul greater wisdom than he gave to Peter. Here is Paul's comment.
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And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations . . . (NASB) 2 Corinthians 12:7 |
God has not given all of us this spiritual gift. For most of us, we learn as Peter did - by studying - hard study. In the book of Hebrews, God wanted to talk with the Jewish readers about Melchizedek but there was a problem. Here is the problem.
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Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. (NASB) Hebrews 5:11-13 |
What was the problem? They had difficulty understanding scripture because they were on a diet of milk. They were not interested in really studying scripture since he says they were lazy or dull. The Greek word for "dull" has the idea of being sluggish. It appears they were ONLY interested in having others explain the Bible to them. God does give us men and women with the spiritual gift of teaching. God has given them special insight into scripture to help each of us understand MORE. The Jewish readers did not want to study. They were happy with being taught - nothing more. The author of Hebrews makes it clear that we can understand scripture only by constantly studying and studying. This is the path to maturity.
Now we have some new questions. Why is it that pastors and teachers disagree with each other? Here are some of the reasons.
Not Christians. It is sad to say but there are many in the ministry of the church who are not really Christians. They are pastors, teachers, evangelists and missionaries. Sunday after Sunday, week after week they preach or teach God's Word, but they are not Christians - the life of the Spirit is not in them. On many occasions pastors and teachers who once stood and taught the Word are now teaching another gospel or have rejected the faith. |
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