Narrative Bible Reading

I heard a statement recently that I thought would be a good topic of discussion. In a talk involving how to study the Scriptures, someone brought up the comment that Scriptures must be read within the context of the entirety of the story. It is a narrative, and therefore, because it is a narrative, there is much within Scripture that shouldn’t be left alone – issues such as creation, man, Israel, the church, etc. All these things form ONE story, the story of the kingdom of Christ.

With that, the comment was made that one of the dangers we as evangelicals have in approaching God’s word is our tendency to isolate verses from the entirety of the book. The epistles of Paul were actual letters. The book of Acts was a complete story of the early church. The gospels were meant to be read as a complete story of Christ. So in a nutshell, studying the grammar, the literature, the text are all important, but the ultimate goal is the story that is revealed in the 66 books of Scripture – the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

What are your thoughts on Scripture study? How do you personally approach bible study?

Totally agree. I think that is why we Christians have gotten into so much trouble and have so many different denominations, is because we isolate versus and exalt certain ones above the others. We do this because of our flesh or in some cases misunderstanding or lack of knowledge of the whole Word of God. I think we absolutely need to read the Bible in context and meditate on the whole counsel of God.

I think we also need to start giving more weight to the Old Testament again. Some have gotten this idea that the Old Testament laws have been done away with and are no larger for us because we are now under the New Covenant. This is true but Jesus did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill it. God's instructions to the Israelites were to protect them and because He loved them. Those same protections and promises are still available to us if we obey His laws. They are not gone away with.

This is my own personal way of studying scripture. The new testament says there is a mystery those in the old testament missed. The new testament is for those that are in Christ, lest why did Jesus Himself give Paul this mystery to reveal to the body of Christ His Church.

The way God dealt with old testament saints is completely different than the way He deals with new testament believers. In the Old testament, the spirit of Satan was commander and chief. That left the soul through which God dealt with them. Their minds, that is why the Law was so important, for where does the Law work? In the mind.

The New Testament Believer has a new Spirit and that is the Spirit of Christ that gives new life, new heart, new mind, the mind of Christ, new birth, by water and spirit, The Water of Life offered to the woman at the well and the Spirit of Christ which is living water. Also we now have the Holy Spirit in us not just with us. Pentecost brought a new mystery, Christ in you the Hope of Glory and the Holy Spirit our teacher of this life.

If I study the old testament, which I do, and I don't see Christ in what I am studying, I have not revealed the mystery of Christ and continue to study and seek the Holy Spirit Teacher to make sure I see Christ in all the old testament as I see Him in the New Testament. Other wise I have missed the truth of the whole Word of God and cannot reconcile the old with the new.

Example: Exodus 26:33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.

When was the Vail destroyed? When Christ became the Vail. Now we have access to the Holy of Holies through Him and can come boldly to the Throne of Grace in Christ Jesus who makes us Holy.

This is not a catch all for understanding the old and the new, because of my own mind I miserably lack the capacity to know the things of the Kingdom. I must be born again and trust that He will not give me a stone for the bread of life.

God has made sure that we have all that is necessary to attain His command; "be ye Holy for I am Holy. This Holiness is by the Christ that is in us and He is the Glory of all that God has planned before the foundation of the World. In Christ, Eph 1:4.

What hope do we have of any glory at all?

Colossians 1:27-28 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

In Christ: Phillip