How To Examine The Scriptures For Accuracy - Part Two

When Paul taught in the synagogue in Berea, those in the synagogue examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul was teaching was true.

Luke writes about this Acts 17:10-12.

As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

So what was Paul teaching that the Berean people were eager to hear; but even in their eagerness, they examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul was teaching was true?

The answer to this question is found in Acts 17:1-4.

When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

Paul taught from the Jewish Scriptures (Genesis – Malachi) in the synagogue in Thessalonica that Jesus was the Messiah (Christ) and his sufferings and resurrection were foretold in the Jewish Scriptures (see Matthew-Acts and the book of Hebrews for the writer’s/speaker’s use of the Jewish Scriptures to prove Jesus is the Christ).

This is the same teaching Paul took to the synagogue in Berea.

We can reasonably conclude from what he taught in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, the first recorded teaching of Paul in a synagogue, that he also taught in the Berean synagogue that forgiveness is received by faith in Jesus, and one is justified by faith in Jesus, not by following the law of Moses (Acts 13:14-39).

Paul received this teaching directly from the ascended Jesus (Acts 20:23-24; Acts 26:15-18; Galatians 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:1-6).

Paul’s teaching on forgiveness, which he received directly from the ascended Jesus, is in contrast to what is taught by many churches, denominations, and ministries concerning forgiveness.

These churches, denominations, and ministries teach believers to consistently ask God for forgiveness.

Yet the Scriptures are clear…

…in the new testament of grace, God is not asking unbelievers or believers to ask him to forgive them, such as those did during the time of the old testament of law (see the prayers of Daniel, Nehemiah, and David).

Instead, under the new testament of grace, we receive forgiveness through faith in Jesus (Acts 10:43; 13:38-39; 26:15-18) then rest in God’s forgiveness, never requesting forgiveness because we possess forgiveness as believers in Jesus (Ephesians 1:6-8; Colossians 1:13-14)

This is the message of the new testament of grace (not books, but the blood of Jesus that permanently purifies from all sins and fully forgives all sins, which is received by faith in Jesus). This is what the book of Hebrews is about.

Since most churches, denominations, and ministries teach that we need to ask for forgiveness continually, it is okay to examine the Scriptures to check for the accuracy of this teaching.

So how does a believer examine the Scriptures for accuracy of what they are being taught?

1. Is the one teaching (pastor, speaker, writer, small group leader, worship leader, Sunday School teacher, home fellowship teacher, conference speaker, retreat speaker, etc…) using Scriptures before the cross of Jesus to teach about forgiveness, such as Matthew 6:14 and 2 Chronicles 7:14, which are verses about conditional forgiveness before the cross and during the time of the old testament of law, rather than Hebrews 10:17-18, which is complete forgiveness after the cross during the new testament of grace?

2. Does the one teaching understand the difference between law before the cross and grace after the cross? Or, is he/she mixing law and grace, which was prevalent in the early church, such as in Galatians?

3. Does the teacher understand the difference between the earthly ministry of Jesus to Israel when they were under the law and his ministry to the nations, including his ascended ministry through Paul concerning the church – God’s spiritual family of grace made up of people who have placed their faith in Jesus and are from all over the world (see Ephesians 2:11-21; 3:1-21 and Colossians 1:24-2:7)?

4. Does the teacher understand the old and new testaments are not about books of the Bible (table of contents) but about blood (the blood of animals (OT) for continual forgiveness of sins and the blood of Jesus (NT) for complete forgiveness of sins - See Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:20, Hebrews 8-10)? To read Brad’s blogs where he explains what the new testament is, CLICK HERE.

5. Does the teacher understand the old testament of law was in place during the life of Jesus on earth, which influenced his teachings - such as forgive 70x7? To read Brad’s teaching on What Did Jesus Mean By Forgive 70x7?, CLICK HERE.

6. Is the teacher taking verses out of context for application by ignoring the historical and biblical context of the verses? To read Brad’s blogs where he explains verses in context, CLICK HERE:

NOTE: Examining the context of the verses not only includes the verses before and after the verse or verses being taught on, but the context also includes the entire book the verses are in, the covenant/testament (old or new testament – not books but blood) the book is in, the historical situation the writer or speaker in the Bible is addressing, and how the original audience or reader understood what the writer or speaker was communicating? Check out Brad’s Blog, A Simple Three-Step Method For Bible Study: CLICK HERE

7. Did the teacher fail to check the Greek or Hebrew manuscripts to see if an English translation adds a word that is not in the manuscripts? For example, the accurate translation of Hebrews 10:14 is, “…those who are made holy” rather than, “…those who are being made holy.” The word being is not in the original manuscripts; yet is inserted by many Bible versions, though not in all versions. The New American Standard Version does not insert being in Hebrews 10:14.

The NKJV will italicize words that are not in the original manuscripts but have been added by the translators. This is helpful. Bible Hub is a good website to check the accuracy of the translations from the original manuscripts to the English versions.

8. Is the teacher giving his thoughts or opinions about a topic or a verse that cannot be substantiated in other parts of the Bible?

9. Is the teacher reading something into the text that is not there, yet because of his or her theological views, he/she adds “deeper meaning” to the text when there is nothing in the text to support it?

NOTE: This can be allegorizing (making something in the text represent a theological view or make a theological point) a text or applying a text in a way it was never intended. For an example, see Brad’s blog, The Good Samaritan In Context.

10. Is the teacher reading the verse or verses through a certain theological perspective or lens that causes the teacher to fit the verse or verses into a specific theological view? Or, is the teacher allowing the verse or verses to form his/her beliefs even if it means changing his/her theological perspective?

11. Is the teacher attempting to apply application of a verse or verses, takeaways, to his audience, though those verses were never intended for the audience he is teaching, such as 2 Chronicles 7:14? Or possibly, the application or takeaways from the verse or verses miss the writer’s or speaker’s point to his original audience.

12. Is the teacher repeating to others what he or she heard from a favorite teacher, mentor, or discipler without first examining the Scriptures for accuracy?

13. Does the teacher allow the Bible to interpret the Bible? For example, God gave the old testament of law to Moses for the nation of Israel. The old testament of law is no longer in operation. Through Jesus, God established the new testament of grace, thus abolishing the OT of law. The Bible interprets the differences between the two testaments; yet may Bible teachers combine the testaments by applying to new testament believers verses meant only for the nation of Israel under the old testament of law.

When you hear someone teaching, no matter who it may be, please know that no teacher or teaching is above being examined.

We want to be like the Bereans by examining the scriptural accuracy of what is being taught, no matter who is teaching, rather than just accepting or rejecting what they teach because it does or does not match our theological views or what one’s pastor or favorite Bible teacher teaches.

To check out all of Brad’s Blogs, CLICK HERE.