Can We Understand the Bible Alike?

Author : Keith Sharp

How often have you heard someone cut off a religious discussion by observing, “Well, you see it your way, and I see it mine”? This leads us to an important question: Can we all understand the Bible alike?

The ProblemIn the United States there are over 3000 denominations. Most claim to believe the Bible is the Word of God. But each has its own creed, the statement of the fundamental beliefs of that religious body. And those creeds often flatly contradict each other. Yet Jesus prayed that all who believe in Him would be one (John 17:20-21). Is it possible for all believers to have a common understanding of the Bible?

Do Some People Misunderstand the Bible?Do some Bible believers, even people who study their Bibles, misunderstand it? A logical argument will establish the principle we will work from.

Major Premise: Truth is consistent, i.e., it does not contradict itself.

This is self-evident. For example, If three children, given the problem 2 + 2 = x, come up with three different answers, we know that at least two of the three are wrong.

Minor Premise: The Bible is truth. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Conclusion: The Bible is consistent, i.e., it does not contradict itself.

This principle has some important applications. First, if we understand the Bible, we will understand it alike. This is why Paul could write the Corinthian Christians:

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 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.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)

We can all believe and teach the same thing only if we have a common standard we can all understand.

What if someone said of me, You can prove anything by what he says? Would he not be calling me a liar? What does that make of God when people say the same thing about the Bible? Does God lie? (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:17-18).

Thus, error is broad, you can be wrong any way you please, but truth is narrow (Matthew 7:13-14). There is only one way that is right (John 14:6). Just because someone sincerely believes he is right does not insure he is (Matthew 7:22-23; 15:13-14).

Another important conclusion is: If we accept conflicting answers, someone is wrong. We may both be wrong, but only one can be right. This is an unpopular principle in this age of “I’m OK, you’re OK,” but inspired writers did not hesitate to claim that they taught the truth and that those who disagreed were wrong (e.g., 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 1 Peter 2:1-2; 1 John 4:5-6).

There is a third fundamental conclusion: It is not just a matter of opinion or interpretation. Our responsibility is to teach God’s Word (1 Peter 4:11). If I can put my finger on the verse that teaches a truth, that’s not opinion, it’s faith (Romans 10:17). In a home Bible study, a Methodist woman asked why members of the church of Christ believe baptism is essential to salvation. The teacher simply quoted without comment Mark 16:16 (Please read it). Her preacher, who was present, replied, “That’s just your opinion.” He needed to learn the difference between faith and opinion, between God’s “say so” and man’s “think so.”

Can We Understand the Bible?The question should be, “Can we understand the Bible?” The answer to this inquiry is: If not, either God could but wouldn’t, or He would but couldn’t. If we cannot understand the Bible, either God had the ability to reveal an understandable book but chose not to, or He desired to make His will understandable but lacked the ability. Which would you affirm?

God wants us to understand His will revealed in the Bible (1 Timothy 2:3-4). He gave us an under-standable revelation of that will (Ephesians 3:1-7). Paul declared of it, “when you read, you may understand” (verse 4). Average people are capable of understanding the Bible (John 6:44-45; Ephesians 5:17).

Furthermore, nothing has so radically changed since the Bible was completed that it is no longer understandable. The Bible has not been lost or corrupted (1 Peter 1:24-25), and human nature remains the same (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10).

Yes, we can all understand the Bible alike.

Why Don’t We?If folks who believe and study the Bible can understand it alike, why don’t we? When Paul addressed the chief Jews of Rome, he taught them Christ from the Old Testament. Some “were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved” (verse 24). They “did not agree among themselves” (verse 25). Why?

“For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” (verse 27, Paul, quoting Isaiah 6:9-10).

They had heart trouble. They could see and hear but wouldn’t. So they couldn’t understand. So they were lost.

How’s your heart?