How to Interpret the Bible

Introduction. This online series of Bible lessons focuses on how to get a better understanding of what God wants us to do as revealed in the Bible.  Administered as a correspondence course, each lesson has questions that can be answered and submitted to us for review and feedback.

Each lesson consists of three parts:  some material for your study (including scripture references), pointers to additional archived material at our site, and questions for you to answer.  When answering questions, the form also allows you to ask related questions and/or sign up for our periodic distribution of articles on important Bible subjects from God’s word. Once you submit your answers, we will review them and provide feedback within a few days to the email address you supplied.  At that time, we will also provide you with a link to the next lesson.
Lesson #1 Introduction. As Jesus prayed for the disciples “who will believe in me through their Word” (all of us today), He prayed “that they all may be one.” Jesus knew that a lack of unity among His disciples would create a bad impression. He wanted unity so “that the world may believe that You sent Me.”  (Jn. 17:20-23). Paul elaborated on this when he told the Corinthians, “I plead with you, brethren,” “that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment”  (1Cor. 1:10).

That we don’t have that unity today in America is obvious to anyone who has looked at the doctrines of the 1,000's of denominations today. They are not one! They do not speak the same thing! There are divisions, and many do think the Bible must be flawed. While everyone knows math only has one right answer per equation, multitudes have drawn the conclusion that the Bible must be flawed when they look at the different answers given to the same questions.

Lesson #1 will introduce three Bible-based principles for interpreting the Bible - simple instructions or commands, approved examples, and logical deduction.

Subsequent lessons explore more about these principles and how to apply them to a wide variety of doctrinal differences today among those to claim to be Jesus' followers, to include:
  • The observance of the Lord's Supper
  • Keeping the Sabbath
  • Music in worship
  • Infant baptism
  • Once saved, always saved
This course endeavors to be entirely accurate relative to the truths found in the Bible. We are under the obligation to present only God's word without change (Gal. 1: 6-9, Rev. 22: 18, 19). It is the Truth that sets man free while religious error condemns (John 8: 32; 2 John 9). Therefore, you are urged to study these lessons with discernment, paying close attention to the scriptures (1 John 4: 1, Acts 17: 11).

Click here to start Lesson #1, Introduction.