Searching the Scriptures

Chuck explains how a correct interpretation of a passage—and there’s only one—comes before application. But then the number of ways Scripture can be applied is numerous.

As satisfying as it can be to unravel the deep meanings behind Bible verses, Chuck says God gave us the Word for another reason. We must keep it in mind both when reading it and when sharing it.

Why are there so many translations of the Bible, and which are the best to use? Chuck shares which ones he uses and why and also gives a bit of history behind Bible translations.

We can greatly benefit from the hours of time and research others have put into studying the Bible. How? By availing ourselves of the kinds of resources Chuck and Rhome mention here.

Rhome points out how the Bible quotes itself often. Jesus Himself quoted the Old Testament to explain His words. Chuck says the Bible forms a bridge to carry us from the old words to the new.

Every word in the Bible is chosen for a reason, so we must ponder over each one. And we learn much from noticing all mentions of a person throughout Scripture to learn their full journey.

It’s possible to miss important details from passages we’ve read the most times. That’s why we must take our time as we read and ask the same basic questions of observation every time.

Chuck explains how they chose the analogy of preparing a meal for their book on studying Scripture. The ingredients in our kitchen have great potential, if we know when to use them.

People often ask Chuck how he draws the kinds of insights he does out of the verses he reads. He wrote this book to help us each “open our eyes” and learn how to make the same discoveries.

If you want to understand our times, you should read your newspaper first, right? Not necessarily, says Chuck. The Bible has context, roots, and timeless wisdom your paper lacks.