No one area of Bible study has challenged the minds of people, whether a plow boy in the field or an erudite scholar in his study, more than learning how to understand Scriptures. All such effort has brought the greatest of delight as students plumbed the depths of Scriptures and the greatest of controversy as men with diverse views contended over their conclusions. After all is said, correctly interpreting the Scriptures ought to be and is easier than we sometimes make it.
It is well that one learns how to study before plunging into the depths of Scriptures even as one would do well to learn how to swim before plunging into deep water. The difficulty begins to become less when we understand the diversity of language, of writing styles, of cultural and historical contexts, of purposes, of the genre of the materials, and of the place that each of the writings occupies in the canon of the Bible. The interpretation of the Scriptures becomes more difficult when people go to the sacred texts with preconceived ideas to prove, or with self-centered pride to defend. Ignorance of the backgrounds of Scripture selections being studied narrows the windows of learning. Doubt in the veracity, historicity, and divine origin all but closes the door to profitable study of Scriptures.
Gerald Paden is a long-time student of the Scriptures, in the English and Italian texts and in the biblical languages. This study presents examples of his exegetical efforts over the years in his personal pursuit of the treasures to be found in Scripture. This book should serve well in illustrating a sound approach to understanding the Scriptures and lead the readers into a study of some thematic teachings that have been puzzling to many students.
Only by an accurate study of the Scriptures can one hope to know God, have a saving relationship with Him, and a fruitful life of service that blesses many other lives.
Truman Scott, Editor
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. “Creation” in Travail (Romans 8)
II. “Bread” of Heaven (John 6)
III. “Baptized for the Dead” (1 Corinthians 15)
IV. “Christ as LORD, Ourselves as Your Servants” (2 Corinthians 4)
V. “Fellow Heirs” (Romans 8)
VI. Teaching on Forgiveness (Luke 7, 15; John 8)
VII. Marriage in the Bible (1 Corinthians 7)
VIII. “Baptism” (1 Peter 3)
IX. Where Then Is the Law? (Romans 4, 5, 7)
X. “Upon This Rock” (Matthew 16)
XI. The Whole Gospel to the “Whole World”
XII. Discipline in a Growing Church
XIII. “Till Heaven and Earth Pass Away”
XIV. Two Covenants
XV. Leaders in a Growing Church
XVI. The Destruction of Jerusalem
XVII. “Equipping” the Saints
XVIII. “Gifts” and Ministries
XIX. Abuse of the “Lord’s Supper”
XX. “There Is Now Therefore No Condemnation”
XXI. God’s Plan Before Time
XXII. Feeling or Fact?
XXIII. “A New Heaven and a New Earth”
XXIV. The Awesome Power of Intercessory Prayer
XXV. The Pageantry of the Parousia
