Description
Print Length
40
Language
English
Publisher
Associated Bible Students of Central Ohio
The booklet begins by acknowledging a widespread problem: the Bible has long been a source of confusion for many due to the multitude of contradictory interpretations and teachings. Despite this, the authors assert that the Bible is a consistent and reliable source of truth — but only when studied properly. It is written for those seeking a dependable religious authority and aims to demonstrate that the Bible, when interpreted correctly, can indeed be that authority.
A central assumption in the booklet is that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Even if the reader is skeptical, they are encouraged to temporarily accept this premise during study to judge whether the Bible holds up to its claims.
The Bible is described metaphorically as a magnificent temple with 66 chambers — a reference to its 66 books — all built by God. Every verse is likened to a stone or beam in this divine structure, illustrating the interconnectedness and cohesion of Scripture.
From this perspective, the Bible becomes not a disjointed collection of ancient writings but a divine masterpiece reflecting a unified plan and purpose — one that reveals God's character and intention for humanity.
This is the heart of the booklet. It introduces five key methods of Bible study that work together like interlocking puzzle pieces to form a consistent understanding of Scripture.
This approach involves collecting every biblical reference on a given subject before forming any conclusions. Tools like Strong’s Concordance and Young’s Analytical Concordance are highlighted for their utility in this type of research.
Example: A study of the word "hell" reveals it is a translation of the Hebrew word Sheol, which simply means the grave or oblivion — contradicting popular interpretations of hell as a place of eternal torment.
The Bible often uses metaphors and symbols. For example, the term “earth” can refer literally to the planet, but symbolically to the human social order. Understanding this allows apparent contradictions — such as whether the earth will be destroyed or remain forever — to be reconciled.
Example: In 2 Peter 3, the "heavens and earth" are symbolic of the present societal and governmental structures, not the physical world.
The Bible reveals God’s plan as unfolding over a timeline. Human history is divided into three "worlds":
The world that was (before the flood)
The present evil world (from the flood until Christ’s Kingdom)
The world to come (a righteous future age)
Understanding these eras helps clarify verses that only apply to specific periods and prevents theological confusion.
Example: John 12:47-48 and Acts 3:20-23 appear contradictory unless one realizes they refer to different dispensations in God’s plan.
Context is critical to correct interpretation. There are two types:
Small context: the verses immediately around a passage.
Large context: the audience, the age, and the broader message of a passage.
Example: Matthew 7:13–14 speaks of two roads — broad and narrow — which seem to suggest only few are saved. But other Scriptures (like Isaiah 35) reveal a future highway of holiness for all people, clarifying that this passage addresses a specific group (the church) in a specific time.
Many events in the Old Testament are not just historical — they are prophetic illustrations (types) that foreshadow greater spiritual realities (antitypes).
Example: The Passover lamb in Exodus represents Jesus Christ. The deliverance of the firstborn and later the rest of Israel parallels the salvation of the church and eventually the whole world.
This chapter synthesizes the discoveries from the five methods into a cohesive understanding of God's plan. It asks the foundational question: Why did God create? The answer: because God is love, and love must give. Since love requires a recipient, God created beings to receive His blessings.
However, for love and obedience to be genuine, God gave humanity free will, knowing it could be misused. Thus, God allowed evil temporarily, so that all of creation could learn — through experience, observation, or instruction — that disobedience leads to death, and that obedience results in peace.
Far from being a failure, the introduction of sin into the world is part of a teaching method in God’s larger plan — preparing creation for eternal peace and righteousness.
Christ’s sacrificial death is central. Through him, humanity’s disobedience can be forgiven. The church, described as a “New Creation”, is composed of individuals tested during the present evil world who, if proven faithful, will receive immortality and reign with Christ during the 1,000-year Kingdom.
This Kingdom will be the time when all of humanity is resurrected, educated in righteousness, and given a full opportunity to choose eternal life. Christ and his church — sympathetic rulers who once suffered as humans — will guide this process.
The booklet explains that salvation comes in two phases:
Special salvation for the church, now called and tested during this difficult age, to receive immortality and rule with Christ.
General salvation for the world, during the Millennium, where all people will learn righteousness and have the opportunity for eternal life on a restored earth.
This dual aspect is expressed in 1 Timothy 4:10:
“God is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”
The ultimate goal of God’s plan is a perfect earth, inhabited by perfect, immortal beings, and an intimate, spiritual family — the church — ruling with Christ in heaven. In Ephesians 1:9–10, Paul writes that all things in heaven and earth will be united under Christ.
The booklet closes with the exclamation:
“What a Plan! What a God!” — summarizing the message that the Bible, rightly understood, offers a glorious and logical plan that reflects divine love, wisdom, and justice.
The booklet recommends further study through:
Where Are the Dead? (a 105-page topical analysis of “hell” in Scripture)
The Divine Plan of the Ages (a detailed exposition of God's plan for humanity)
Studies in the Scriptures (a comprehensive six-volume Bible study series).
How to Study the Bible and Have It Make Sense teaches that with the right tools and a systematic approach, the Bible can be interpreted in a way that is consistent, non-contradictory, spiritually rich, and intellectually satisfying. It not only addresses confusion but replaces it with clarity and confidence in God's purpose for humanity.
