whole-counsel-god

Unbelievers often claim the Bible is confusing or even contradictory. Sometimes their questions are sincere,
giving us the opportunity to offer a gospel-centered response. At other times they are simply trying to discredit
Scripture from a heart of unbelief. Of course, believers may have honest questions, too. How do we clear up
the confusion for those who simply want to know the truth?
Studying the overall purpose of God and the larger picture of the whole Bible is essential to understanding the
specifics. Lets review a few principles of hermeneutics Bible interpretation regarding the larger context
of each passage. These principles will help us rightly understand confusing passages.
First, we should allow Scripture to interpret Scripture the clear texts of Gods Word help us understand the
unclear texts.
For example, in Deuteronomy 24 God seems to condone divorce, yet in Luke 16:18 Christ associates divorce
with adultery. Reading Matthew 19:312 gives the explanation: divorce was not Gods intent from the
beginning, and divorce and remarriage for any reason other than sexual immorality is adultery.

Answer a fool . . . dont answer a fool. The Bible is full of claims that are often hard to
understand and reconcile. Enemies of Gods Word say these are contradictions. Lovers of
Gods Word know the truthconsider the whole counsel of God.
Unbelievers often claim the Bible is confusing or even contradictory. Sometimes their
questions are sincere, giving us the opportunity to offer a gospel-centered response. At
other times they are simply trying to discredit Scripture from a heart of unbelief. Of course,
believers may have honest questions, too. How do we clear up the confusion for those who
simply want to know the truth?
Studying the overall purpose of God and the larger picture of the whole Bible is essential to
understanding the specifics. Lets review a few principles of hermeneuticsBible
interpretationregarding the larger context of each passage. These principles will help us
rightly understand confusing passages.
First, we should allow Scripture to interpret Scripturethe clear texts of Gods Word help us
understand the unclear texts.
For example, in Deuteronomy 24 God seems to condone divorce, yet in Luke 16:18 Christ
associates divorce with adultery. Reading Matthew 19:312 gives the explanation: divorce
was not Gods intent from the beginning, and divorce and remarriage for any reason other
than sexual immorality is adultery.
Second, we should consider the literary genre. The Bible contains poetry, narrative,
prophecy, and parables, to name a few. Each genre is different and must be interpreted
accordingly.
For example, Proverbs is wisdom literature. Proverbs 10:27 tells us, The fear of the Lord
prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened. When a faithful Christian dies
young or a blasphemer prospers into his nineties, does that prove that this verse is false?
No, wisdom literature teaches principles of wisdom, not necessarily absolute laws.
Third, we should recognize literary devices. For example, sometimes Jesus used hyperbole
exaggerationto make a point.
1
Luke 14:26 does not teach us to hate our parents. The fact
is, our love for Jesus should be so strong that it overshadows our love for everything else.
Fourth, we should be aware that, although the whole Bible is true, not everything stated in
the Bible is a truth for us to follow! For example, the Bible records matter-of-factly that
David married multiple wives, but it doesnt seem to condemn his actions, even though he
was in direct violation of Gods command in Deuteronomy 17:17.
The Bible tells us truly what sin is and gives many illustrations, even from the lives of godly
people, but not to encourage us to imitate their sinful actions. God intended for us to use
the rest of Scripture to evaluate the rightness and wrongness of peoples decisions. David
clearly violated the Law, and we see the fruit of his sin in later adultery with Bathsheba and
the despicable wife-collecting of his son Solomon. So, when interpreting Scripture, we must
discern between historical records of actions and truths God commands us to follow.
Fifth, it is vital to look at the larger context of a whole book to determine the basic
interpretation of any text within that book and its proper application.
What is the theme of Jonah? Is it simply a story of a prophet swallowed by a massive fish?
No, Jonah tells us of the Lords compassion and sovereignty. God can extend His grace to
whomever He desires. He even granted repentance to godless, pagan Ninevites, and He
wanted Jonah to show them compassion, as well.
Finally, discernment comes as the fruit of studying all of Scripture. God gave us the truth
through progressive revelation, that is, He gives truth on page one and continues to add to
it to the last page. So we need to see what He is saying through the lens of the whole Bible,
for it builds upon itself.
Ultimately, the context of the Old Testament is necessary to understand Jesuss coming to
earth as a man (the second Adam), and His teaching in the Gospels. Jesus laid the
foundation for the New Testament and fulfills the Old Testament. His life on earth is
recorded succinctly in four short Gospelsjust a skeleton of all that He did and taught
during His earthly ministry. The Holy Spirit, through continued revelation to the later writers
of the New Testament, added flesh to the body of truth, as Jesus promised (John 16:13).
And without reading the Old Testament, we would not know all the details of the Law that
Jesus fulfilled so completely and richly (Matthew 5:1720).
Read through the entire Bible. Allow such an intake of Gods whole Word to show you the
larger perspective.
The particulars of Gods Word are of utmost importance, even the very words (2 Timothy
2:15), but we must study to understand the words in their context and in light of the whole
counsel of God: For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God (Acts
20:27).
Discussion Questions . . .
Sometimes Scripture interprets itself in ways that are not immediately obvious.
Hosea 11:1 refers to Israels exodus from Egypt (see Exodus 4:2223), but
Matthew 2:15 confirms a prophetic meaning as well. What was the fulfillment of
Hoseas prophecy?
Compare Judges 45, which recount Deborah and Baraks defeat of the army of
Sisera. What differences do you see between the two accounts? How does
recognizing the different literary genres affect your understanding of each chapter?
In Luke 17:33 and 22:26, Jesus uses the literary device of rhetorical paradox,
stating two seemingly contradictory truths or teaching something that appears to
go against common sense. How does Christs use of paradox emphasize His
teaching? What other instances of paradox have you encountered in the Bible?
(Hint: Consider Pauls thorn in the flesh in 2 Corinthians 12, or instructions in
Proverbs on how to deal with fools.)
In Genesis 12:1020, Abram lied to the Egyptians to protect himself. How can we
know the purpose of this account is not to cause us to imitate Abrams behavior?
In the context of the whole Bible, how does John 7:24 shed light on Matthew 7:1
6?
Job tells of a godly mans great suffering. But is suffering really the main theme of
the book? Read Job 1:612; 2:16; and 42:16. What do these passages suggest
is the most important teaching of Job?
Don Landis is pastor of Community Bible Church in Jackson, Wyoming. He is founder and president of
Jackson Hole Bible College (www.jhbc.edu), a one-year intensive study course with a special emphasis
on creation for young adults. Don is also the founding chairman of the board for Answers in Genesis
USA.