Fundamental Rules of the Bible Study

Before beginning any study of the Bible, it is necessary to establish some ground rules under which the study will be conducted.

• Only inspired writings from God will be used to establish divine doctrines. Any writings that are not inspired must be put away. These uninspired writings are not from God and can only result in a person losing his or her soul. (See I Thesselonians 1:7-9)
  
• It will be assumed for the purpose of this study, that the Holy Bible is a divinely inspired volume of writings. (For simplicity the KJV will be used for scripture quotations.) This concept can readily be argued by the following verses:

2 Timothy 3 - (16) All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

And

2 Peter 1 - (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

• Since the Bible is truth, it cannot contradict itself.
  
• Any text that contradicts itself cannot be from God since,

I Corinthians 14:33 For God is not [the author] of confusion . . .

And

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Therefore, any text, document, manuscript or personal knowledge that contradicts what the Bible says, is a lie, not truth, and is not from God.

• If a book, passage, or other material contains information that contradicts God's inspired word it cannot be believed.

I hope that these rules are completely acceptable. Without these ground rules nothing but empty arguments about man's understanding of the bible can be made. The results of a discussion within these ground rules should result in a clear understanding of what God's word says for all of us.