“He Really Knows the Bible!”
A few days ago, we enjoyed visiting a gentleman whom we hoped would be desirous of studying God’s Word. He is a pleasant man, with a marvelous list of accomplishments of various activities. Most would acclaim him as “quite successful.” When we invited him to services and a private bible study, he said, “Well, I work on Sundays, and besides, I’ve been listening to a fellow who admits he’s not a preacher, but he really knows his bible!” That statement got my attention. How can he know this man he admires “really knows his bible” if he doesn’t know the bible? And lest you think this man’s statement is the only time it has been uttered, be assured many others have made similar statements. The statement merits some examination.
First, it is important to know the scriptures! (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 John 2:3; Philippians 3:10; et. al.) Ignorance of God’s truth is always a “self-inflicted sin” and remains a foolish (i.e., godless – Psalm 14:1; 53:1) decision. The Bible is so freely available in this country that everyone can avail themselves of it with great ease. Further, it has been proven the Bible is written on a sixth-grade reading level: a level considered quite common to most all citizens. If, after reading it, difficulties arise, there are many willing, ready, and willing to help you by using only the Bible to explain the Bible. The point is this: for YOU or anyone else to say, “That person really knows the Bible,” YOU need to know it as well! How else could you affirm your statement?
Some have a notable talent for being verbose: (i.e., given to wordiness) and thereby IMPRESS others with their vocabulary and apparent understanding of the subject. Of these, one must be incredibly careful, for the Bible says, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matthew 6:7) Others impress their hearers with an array of passages that only appear to agree but are twisted and perverted to prove some unscriptural doctrine. (“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” – 1 Timothy 1: 5 – 7; “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” – 2 Peter 3: 15 – 16) But unless YOU know the Bible, how will you know the speaker knows it?
There is an enormous difference between Bible STUDENTS and Bible READERS. Reading only might grant some familiarity with the subject, but it does not grant you knowledge and understanding! Therefore, if someone speaks in a way that sounds “godly,” many might believe he speaks the truth. From the apostle Peter, we learn, “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” (2 Peter 2:18) Yes, it may SOUND like they know their Bible, but they don’t! Again, the only way one can PROVE someone knows the Bible is to know it themselves and be able to prove it!
Now we come to the point: We must KNOW the Bible to PROVE the Bible and teach it to others! The apostle Paul, by inspiration, wrote, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) The phrase means to “test all things; keep what is proven right.” That would include anyone speaking what they claim to be God’s truth. Notice the Bereans were commended for doing so (Acts 17:11), and it was the inspired apostle Paul doing the preaching! Most certainly then, any other speaker needs to be examined to see if he preaches/teaches the truth. The apostle John said, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1) We simply can NOT just take folks at their word, especially when it comes to what folks teach regarding God and His word. Unless they can PROVE it with book, chapter, and verse from the Bible, then it behooves us to prove them wrong by showing them book, chapter, and verse from God’s word! Again, the only way we can succeed in doing this is to know the Bible ourselves!
Deceit is defined as “the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid.” In other words, deceit is lying! Note Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Also notice: “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Revelation 22:15) Dear reader, this includes all those who speak false doctrines, though it may appear they “know the Bible.” Yes, that will include Christians who proclaim as “true and acceptable” those practices they believe are agreeable with God, but in fact, have no proof of same from His word! We dare not to be naïve regarding our words and deeds: every word and deed must be proven (tested) with God’s word as the standard! If found to be deceitful (i.e., a lie!) then we must cease from it!
Language and action are the only ways we have to communicate. Whether we wish to believe it or not, people listen and watch and are influenced by what they see and hear. Are they saying of us, “They know the Bible!” If not, why not? And if yes, we need to be ready to PROVE what we are saying and doing with the evidence of KNOWING THE BIBLE. Yes, that will require devotion of time and attention to reading and learning. But that’s the ONLY way we’ll know the Bible!