Scripture, understanding

God intends his word to be understood and has provided the directions and means for understanding it.

Scripture is intended to be clearly understood

It is accessible to ordinary people

Psalm 119:130 See also Psalm 19:7

The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.

Some sections are difficult to understand

2 Peter 3:15–16 See also Hebrews 5:11

Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

God has prescribed the way to understand Scripture

Through public reading

1 Timothy 4:13 See also Nehemiah 8:2–8, Nehemiah 13:1–3

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.

Through diligent study

2 Timothy 2:15 See also Deuteronomy 17:18–20; Acts 17:11

Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

Through thoughtful meditation

Psalm 1:1–3 See also Joshua 1:8; Job 23:12; Psalm 119:15, Psalm 119:27, Psalm 119:48, Psalm 119:97, Psalm 119:148

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.

Assistance in understanding through the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:9–12 See also Isaiah 64:4; Luke 24:45; John 14:26, John 16:13; 1 John 2:27

Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Assistance in understanding through ministers of the word

Nehemiah 8:2–8 See also Ephesians 4:11–14; 1 Timothy 4:11–16; 2 Timothy 4:1–5

On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. The Levites — Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah — instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places. So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read.