Over the years, I have noticed that the structure of the bible is different from a standard textbook. I wonder if others in the forum have noticed this as well?
For example, in a math textbook, you will have a chapter about fractions, and the entire chapter will be based on that topic, and another chapter will be about calculus. And that particular chapter only addresses calculus, and it will never address it ever again when you read past that chapter.
However, the bible is not like an ordinary textbook. A subject is discussed all over the bible and not just one book. God could have told one person the entire truth about one topic, but instead provides a little bit of information about a topic to every author, but not its entirety.
For example, the subject of faith will be found in various bible verses throughout the bible, unlike an ordinary textbook, where it would maybe only be included in one book.
Therefore you need to read all the bible verses throughout the bible to have a complete understanding. To look at one or two bible verses will result in a partial understanding.
Example 1
I asked a few of my Christian colleagues about what they knew about the devil. I asked who he was, how he looked like, what his character was like, where he came from, what his purpose was, how to defeat him, etc.
Some of the answers were partially correct, and some were completely inaccurate. To get an accurate understanding of the devil, all the verses need to be put together. The partial understanding was caused by looking at one or two bible verse.
I have looked up some of the different parts of the bible that talk about the devil. They include, but not limited to Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:14 -17, Luke 10:18, John 8:44, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 12:12, 1 John 3:8, 2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 11:14, Luke 8:12, 1 Thessalonians 2:18, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 12:13, Luke 4:2, Ephesians 6:1-18.
The bible verses talk about his origin, his character, how he attacks Christians, and how to defeat him.
Notice that these bible verses about the devil are all over the bible in the Old and New Testaments.
Therefore this means that the entire bible needs to be read to understand one subject.
A pattern that I have observed
In general, I have noticed that some Christians tend to focus on one or two bible verses about a specific topic. And all other bible verses are ignored.
Example 1
When Christians talk about grace, the main bible verse that gets mentioned is Ephesians 2:8-9. However, these verses only speak about salvation.
What about other verses about grace?
Example 2
I have noticed the same issue with other various topics in the bible. For example, I have noticed that most of the time, the only gift from the Holy Spirit that is emphasized and preached about is the gift of tongues. The Pentecostal churches are the most guilty of this. I do not recall hearing a sermon about the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are also very important such as the gift of wisdom, knowledge, healing, miracles, prophecy, etc. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
Example 3
Another example is that there is an emphasis that the sin of Sodom was homosexuality. However, Ezekiel 16:49-50 also talks about other sins committed such as neglecting the poor, haughtiness and pride, etc. Reading both Genesis and Ezekiel provides a full picture of their sins that led to their destruction and indicates that it was not only the one sin mentioned in Genesis that caused them to be destroyed.
Example 4
Another example is that Revelation 12:9, which explains that the serpent in Genesis was the devil. These two books are far from each other, but in each, we get an insight into what happened at the beginning from both of them. (However, Isaiah 14:12-15 (KJV) also needs to be read that explains that the devil or Lucifer is an angel. Therefore since the devil is an angel then it means that he either transformed himself into a serpent or spoke through the serpent in Genesis).
I have noticed that topics in the bible are like puzzle pieces scattered all over the bible, and to understand a subject or an event, you need to find them all over the bible and put them together.
May God please help us to understand every subject in the bible in its entirety.
For example, in a math textbook, you will have a chapter about fractions, and the entire chapter will be based on that topic, and another chapter will be about calculus. And that particular chapter only addresses calculus, and it will never address it ever again when you read past that chapter.
However, the bible is not like an ordinary textbook. A subject is discussed all over the bible and not just one book. God could have told one person the entire truth about one topic, but instead provides a little bit of information about a topic to every author, but not its entirety.
For example, the subject of faith will be found in various bible verses throughout the bible, unlike an ordinary textbook, where it would maybe only be included in one book.
Therefore you need to read all the bible verses throughout the bible to have a complete understanding. To look at one or two bible verses will result in a partial understanding.
Example 1
I asked a few of my Christian colleagues about what they knew about the devil. I asked who he was, how he looked like, what his character was like, where he came from, what his purpose was, how to defeat him, etc.
Some of the answers were partially correct, and some were completely inaccurate. To get an accurate understanding of the devil, all the verses need to be put together. The partial understanding was caused by looking at one or two bible verse.
I have looked up some of the different parts of the bible that talk about the devil. They include, but not limited to Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:14 -17, Luke 10:18, John 8:44, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 12:12, 1 John 3:8, 2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 11:14, Luke 8:12, 1 Thessalonians 2:18, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 12:13, Luke 4:2, Ephesians 6:1-18.
The bible verses talk about his origin, his character, how he attacks Christians, and how to defeat him.
Notice that these bible verses about the devil are all over the bible in the Old and New Testaments.
Therefore this means that the entire bible needs to be read to understand one subject.
A pattern that I have observed
In general, I have noticed that some Christians tend to focus on one or two bible verses about a specific topic. And all other bible verses are ignored.
Example 1
When Christians talk about grace, the main bible verse that gets mentioned is Ephesians 2:8-9. However, these verses only speak about salvation.
What about other verses about grace?
- Grace not only relates to salvation, but we can obtain grace when we need help against sin (Hebrews 4:15-16), and grace strengthens us (2 Corinthians 12:9).
- We are also justified by grace (Titus 3:7).
- Most importantly, we cannot obtain grace unless we are humble (1 Peter 5:5, James 4:6).
Example 2
I have noticed the same issue with other various topics in the bible. For example, I have noticed that most of the time, the only gift from the Holy Spirit that is emphasized and preached about is the gift of tongues. The Pentecostal churches are the most guilty of this. I do not recall hearing a sermon about the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are also very important such as the gift of wisdom, knowledge, healing, miracles, prophecy, etc. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
Example 3
Another example is that there is an emphasis that the sin of Sodom was homosexuality. However, Ezekiel 16:49-50 also talks about other sins committed such as neglecting the poor, haughtiness and pride, etc. Reading both Genesis and Ezekiel provides a full picture of their sins that led to their destruction and indicates that it was not only the one sin mentioned in Genesis that caused them to be destroyed.
Example 4
Another example is that Revelation 12:9, which explains that the serpent in Genesis was the devil. These two books are far from each other, but in each, we get an insight into what happened at the beginning from both of them. (However, Isaiah 14:12-15 (KJV) also needs to be read that explains that the devil or Lucifer is an angel. Therefore since the devil is an angel then it means that he either transformed himself into a serpent or spoke through the serpent in Genesis).
I have noticed that topics in the bible are like puzzle pieces scattered all over the bible, and to understand a subject or an event, you need to find them all over the bible and put them together.
May God please help us to understand every subject in the bible in its entirety.