what the Bible says about Bible study

The Bible is the complete revelation of God^{126791011121314}. While there was a time God spoke to man through prophets⁵⁸, that time was replaced by the gospel revelation through His son, Jesus Christ and His time on earth⁵⁹¹⁰ and His appointed apostles^7910111213.

As of the first century, God’s word had been proclaimed throughout the whole world^4681213. If the word was sufficiently complete in the first century to save individuals^{134678910111213}, how is it any less complete now and why would it be necessary for God to reveal more? The foundation⁷⁹¹²¹³ would not still be being laid some 2,000 years later.

God said that scripture interprets scripture^{1235611121517}. Furthermore, it is the only practice for interpretation we see in the Bible^{347891013141617}. We never see someone consulting alternative sources or human wisdom³. We are commanded not to go beyond what is written¹⁵. The entirety of Scripture forms a complete picture^289101213. The very idea that God is the sole author¹⁶ forces the conclusion that Scripture cannot contradict itself⁵ and must also fully interpret itself since God cannot lie.

We can only interpret prophecy to the extent that God, through another inspired writer²⁴⁶⁹, or “what is written”⁸, has revealed what it means¹⁹. For example, we have cases where we would never even think to make the application on our own, and yet the inspired writer does⁵. In fact, interpreting Bible prophecy and how we handle it in general is the ultimate example of how Scripture interprets Scripture, or literally, God interprets God¹.

There is no precedent in Scripture for “Scripture Weighting.” Quite the contrary. All Scripture is divine and perfect;¹⁷ they are His words.⁵ God, the Father, is the sole author¹⁵. Further, it is only when taken in its entirety that we get a complete picture²⁷. It is consistently put forward as equal weight since “all” is always the standard for understanding — Old⁴⁶ and New¹³. Never has God said, “Read it all, but you really only need to focus on this part.”

The effect of God’s word is to bring individuals into peace with God⁵¹⁷, building them up¹ and saving them^4101114 (at least, it’s one of the things that saves someone eternally). It is the only means by which one calls on the name of God⁵. God’s word never fails³⁴ to produce its effect, which can also be destructive²⁹. It will cause division⁷⁸¹¹ and animosity¹²¹³¹⁶ between those who accept it and those who don’t. The effect of God’s word leads to persecution for those who believe and teach it¹⁴¹⁵, while refusing it leads to certain spiritual death⁶⁸⁹¹¹.