by R. L. Morrison

Many look at the Bible as a book which cannot be understood; some, perhaps, feeling that God did not intend for man to understand it. However, the Bible teaches that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). It also teaches us, "God is not willing that any should perish" (2 Pet. 3:9). The gospel is God's power to save the believer (Rom. 1:16). As God desires our salvation, and has given us the gospel, does it seem reasonable that He made that gospel impossible for man to understand? Surely not. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). He also tells us, in John 17:17, the word of God is truth. We could never know it, if we cannot understand it. We can understand, and Paul tells us HOW we can do so: "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote afore in few words, whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ" (Eph. 3:3-4).

The reason many do not understand is because they never read or study the Bible. Reading books about it or any other subject will not acquaint one with the scriptures. To understand the Bible, one must study it!

In a study of the word to understand it, one must learn to rightly divide it (1 Tim. 2:15). There are two general divisions of the Bible, the Old Testament, and the New Testament. The whole Bible is the will of God revealed to men, the Holy Spirit directing men in its writing (2 Pet. 1:21; Gal. 1:11). Peter referred to the Old Testament, and Paul tells us the New Testament was by the revelation of Jesus Christ, who sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles to guide them into all truth (John 16:13). The New Testament, or gospel, is all truth, or God's last revelation to man. God did intend for us to understand it, and we can do so, if we rightly divide and study it!

First, we must distinguish between the two covenants. The Old Testament contains a record, beginning with Exodus, the second book, of God dealing with a certain people. These people were descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. They became a people in slavery in Egypt. God raised up Moses as a deliverer. He, with God's help, brought them out of that slavery to the land God promised to Abraham. On the way, God gave these people a system of law at Mt. Sinai. It included the Ten Commandments. This law was never given to any people but the descendants of Abraham. No others received it, nor were others expected to obey it (Exodus 20; Deut. 5:1-6).

The New Testament, consisting of 27 books, Matthew through Revelation, is the will or testament under which we live today. The Old Testament was given to the people of Israel and continued until Jesus Christ fulfilled it, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross (Col. 2:13-15). The New Testament is a better covenant, in that it provides forgiveness of sins (which the Old Covenant did not), and is given to all people, not just one nation. When we study the Bible, we should keep this in mind: The New Testament reveals God's will to us today.

These 27 books of the New Testament reveal different kinds of information. To understand them one must so recognize, and rightly divide them. Children in school do not study an English text book to learn math, nor a science text book to learn to spell. They go to the proper book for each subject, and so must we, to understand the Bible.

The first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, reveal all we know about the life and work of Christ. They reveal Him as the Son of God, the Savior of mankind according to God's will. These things one must believe, but it is first necessary to know them. John said regarding these records: "many other signs did Jesus, which are not written in this book: but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, ye might have life in his name" (John 20:30-31).

Acts of the Apostles follows the gospels. It reveals the beginning of the New Testament church (Acts 2). Every example of conversion, or sinners being saved in the New Testament is found in this book. Study it and compare the record of these conversions, and learn what the apostles taught people to do to be saved.

The following 21 books, Romans through Jude, were written to churches or individual Christians, telling them HOW to live as a Christian, and in such a manner as to be pleasing to God.

Finally there is Revelation, a book of prophecy. It, too, encourages Christians to be faithful through life in order to be saved eternally.

When one desires to learn about the life of Christ, the record of his life should be studied: the gospels. There is no other way to believe in Christ as our Savior. He claimed to be the Son of God, and proved it by the mighty works he did.

After one believes Christ, that is, that he is the Savior, Acts tells the believer how to become a Christian. When believers asked the apostles what to do, they were told, they obeyed, and were saved. Read Acts 2.

Then, as previously stated, read the letters to find the manner of life God requires. You will recognize there is a difference in the life of righteousness and a life of sin.

Many make a mistake by turning to Revelation to begin reading or studying. This is comparable to giving a first grader in school a book on higher mathematics. Neither should expect to understand the book. But when the child has learned, and advanced in knowledge, the time will come when he will be prepared to study advanced mathematics. And so it will be with the Bible student. By patient study, and the acquiring of Bible knowledge, one prepares to study the more difficult book.

Let's make a comparison: Understanding the Bible and understanding some things when you first started to school. Perhaps many of the things you were taught were very difficult to understand at the beginning. Do you remember when you were first presented with the multiplication tables? Perhaps you had no problem, but many did and yet do. But with study and encouragement, you soon learned and mastered it. The same principles applied in other areas also enabled you to learn what you needed to know. The same is true of understanding the Bible. It is a book to be studied diligently. Perhaps you ask, "Why should I study and learn the Bible?" The answer is not difficult. It is God's will for man. It is the ONLY book in all the world that tells you where you came from, why you are here, and where you are going to be in eternity, for time will come to an end. And in that end time, we shall be called to give an account for the manner of life we have lived. The Bible tells us HOW to live to please God and to be prepared for the day of giving an account. of our lives. The Bible is the ONLY book (yes, again) in all the world that tells us these things. Surely, this is reason enough for one to study the Bible.

It is true, there are some things that are hard to understand - some things that we shall never be able to fully understand in this life. But there are also many things that are easily understood. Paul wrote: "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery (as I wrote afore in few words), whereby when ye read, ye may be able to understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ. Eph. 3:3-4. He said, IF we read we can understand. These things pertain to our eternal salvation. God, who loves us and provided for our salvation in Christ, has revealed these things in language easily understood

Yes, we can understand the Bible, and then learn to obey it. There is no other way in life to prepare oneself for eternity with our God.

Have you accepted it?