When studying the Bible, I have found the following rules to be very helpful. By special request I am now publishing them [1842] here. If you want to benefit from the rules, I recommend that you study each one in detail with the scriptures indicated.

Rule 1 - Every word counts

Each word is appropriate to include when studying a subject in the Bible.

Matthew 5,18:XNUMX

Rule 2 – Everything is necessary and understandable

All of Scripture is necessary and can be understood through purposeful use and intense study.

2 Timothy 3,15:17-XNUMX

Rule 3 - He who asks understands

Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will remain hidden from those who ask in faith and without doubt.

Deuteronomy 5:29,28; Matthew 10,26.27:1; 2,10 Corinthians 3,15:45,11; Philippians 21,22:14,13.14; Isaiah 15,7:1,5.6; Matthew 1:5,13; John 15:XNUMX; XNUMX; James XNUMX:XNUMX; XNUMX John XNUMX:XNUMX-XNUMX.

Rule 4 – Unite all relevant places

To understand a doctrine, collect all the scriptures on the topic that interests you! Then let every word count! If you arrive at a harmonic theory, you cannot go astray.

Isaiah 28,7:29-35,8; 19,27; Proverbs 24,27.44.45:16,26; Luke 5,19:2; Romans 1,19:21; James XNUMX:XNUMX; XNUMX Peter XNUMX:XNUMX-XNUMX

Rule 5 – Sola Scriptura

Scripture must interpret itself. She sets the standard. For if I depend in my interpretation upon a teacher who conjectures as to their meaning, or wishes to interpret them in accordance with his creed, or who thinks himself wise, I am guided only by his conjectures, desires, creed, or his wisdom, and not according to the Bible.

Psalm 19,8:12-119,97; Psalm 105:23,8-10; Matthew 1:2,12-16; 34,18.19 Corinthians 11,52:2,7.8-XNUMX; Ezekiel XNUMX:XNUMX; Luke XNUMX:XNUMX; Malachi XNUMX:XNUMX

Rule 6 – Stitching together prophecies

God has revealed things to come through visions, symbols and parables. In this way, the same things are often repeated many times, through different visions or in different symbols and similes. If you want to understand them, you have to put them all together to form an overall picture.

Psalm 89,20:12,11; Hosea 2,2:2,17; Habakkuk 1:10,6; Acts 9,9.24:78,2; 13,13.34 Corinthians 1:41,1; Hebrews 32:2; Psalm 7:8; Matthew 10,9:16; Genesis XNUMX:XNUMX-XNUMX; Daniel XNUMX:XNUMX;XNUMX; Acts XNUMX:XNUMX-XNUMX

Rule 7 - Recognize faces

Visions are always expressly mentioned as such.

2 Corinthians 12,1:XNUMX

Rule 8 - Symbols are explained

Symbols always have a symbolic meaning and are often used in prophecies to represent future things, times and events. For example, "mountains" signify governments, "beasts" kingdoms, "water" peoples, "lamp" the Word of God, "day" year.

Daniel 2,35.44:7,8.17; 17,1.15:119,105; Revelation 4,6:XNUMX; Psalm XNUMX:XNUMX; Ezekiel XNUMX:XNUMX

Rule 9 – Decode Parables

Parables are comparisons used to illustrate subjects. They, like symbols, need to be explained by the subject and the Bible itself.

Mark 4,13

Rule 10 - Ambiguity of a Symbol

Symbols sometimes have two or more meanings, for example "day" is used as a symbol to represent three different periods of time.

1. infinite
2. limited, one day for one year
3. a day for a thousand years

When interpreted correctly it is consistent with the entire Bible and makes sense, otherwise it is not.

Ecclesiastes 7,14:4,6, Ezekiel 2:3,8; XNUMX Peter XNUMX:XNUMX

Rule 11 – Literal or Symbolic?

How do you know if a word is symbolic? If taken literally, it makes sense and does not contradict the simple laws of nature, then it is literal, otherwise it is symbolic.

Revelation 12,1.2:17,3-7; XNUMX:XNUMX-XNUMX

Rule 12 - Decoding symbols by parallel passages

To understand the true meaning of symbols, study the Word throughout the Bible. If you have found an explanation, use it. If it makes sense, you've found the meaning, if not, keep looking.

Rule 13—Compare prophecy and history

In order to know if you have found the correct historical event that fulfills a prophecy, every word of the prophecy must be literally fulfilled after deciphering the symbols. Then you know that the prophecy has been fulfilled. But if a word remains unfulfilled, one must look for another event or wait for a future development. Because God ensures that history and prophecy agree, so that the truly believing children of God are not put to shame.

Psalm 22,6:45,17; Isaiah 19:1-2,6; 3,18 Peter XNUMX:XNUMX; Acts XNUMX:XNUMX

Rule 14 - Believe Truly

The most important rule of all is: Believe! We need a faith that makes sacrifices and, if proven, also forsakes the most precious thing on earth, the world and all its desires, character, livelihood, career, friends, home, comfort, and worldly honors. If any of this prevents us from believing any part of God's Word, then our faith is in vain.

Nor can we believe until those motives are no longer lurking in our hearts. It is important to believe that God never breaks his word. And we may trust that he who cares for the sparrows and counted the hairs on our heads also watches over the translation of his own word and puts a barrier around it. He will keep those who sincerely trust God and His Word from straying far from the truth, even if they understand neither Hebrew nor Greek.

The ultimate book

These are a few of the most important rules I have found in the Word of God for systematic and orderly Bible study. If I am not grossly mistaken, the Bible as a whole is one of the simplest, plainest, and most sensible books ever written.

It contains proof that it is of divine origin and contains all the knowledge our hearts can long for. I have found in her a treasure that the world cannot buy. She gives inner peace if you believe her and a firm hope for the future. It strengthens the spirit in difficult circumstances and teaches us to remain humble when we live in prosperity. It makes us love and do good to others because we recognize the value of each individual. It makes us courageous and lets us bravely stand up for the truth.

We receive strength to resist error. She gives us a mighty weapon against unbelief and shows us the only antidote to sin. She teaches us how to conquer death and how to break the bonds of the grave. It predicts the future for us and shows us how to prepare for it. It offers us an opportunity to commune with the King of Kings and reveals the finest code of law ever enacted.

Attention: Don't neglect, study!

That is only a weak description of their value; yet how many souls are lost because they have neglected this book, or, just as badly, because they shroud it in such a veil of mystery that they think the Bible is ultimately incomprehensible. Dear readers, make this book your main study! Try it and you will find that it is as I said. Yes, like the Queen of Sheba, you'll say I didn't even tell you half of it.

Theology or free thinking?

The theology taught in our schools is always based on some creed of a particular denomination. You may be able to get someone who is not thinking along with such theology, but it will always end in fanaticism. Those who think independently will never be satisfied with the views of others.

If I had to teach theology to the youth, I would first find out what understanding and spirit they possess. If they were good, I would let them study the Bible themselves and send them out into the world free to do good. If they had no brains, I would stamp them with someone else's mindset, write "fanatics" on their foreheads, and send them out as slaves!

WILLIAM MILLER, Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology, Editor: Joshua V. Himes, Boston 1842, Vol. 1, pp. 20-24

First appeared: day of atonement, June 2013