HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO BELIEVERS?
HOW DO WE INTERPRET THE SCRIPTURE?
Part One

My brother writes:

• "Since God has given us disclosure (about himself and the redemption he provides) in a book that could be represented by an infinite number (or how about any number with a billion zeros after it?), we are not best served when we neglect it in order to read what man attempts to write on the same subject in books that together could be represented in comparison to the Bible by (let's say) the number three. "
  Don Whisnant
  Grace point

In this series I will try to address:

1A General introduction to this subject: I Corinthians 13:12, John 16:13

2A The Holy Spirit in the Ministry of the Word.

3A The role of the Holy Spirit in relation to the interpretation of Scripture.

4A True understanding of the Word of God is found.......?

5A How the Holy Spirit is to lead Believers into "all truth."

I was on a blog that undertook this issue, "How does God speak to Believers?" And should Believers read other books and material to understand the Bible? It was good to see the many comments made.

• 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. (KJV)
  "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." (ESV)

I am not sure, but, it seems that all we know on earth is limited as to the mind of God.

• Luke 24:45 Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures;
  "Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures," (ESV)

Ver. 45. Then opened He their understanding, He not only opened their hearts, to attend to what He said, and the proofs He gave of His resurrection from the dead in a true body; but He removed the veil from the eyes of their minds, and gave them an understanding of the sacred writings, respecting this matter:

• "that they might understand the Scriptures; concerning His sufferings, death, and resurrection, which they were very ignorant of before, and which were as a sealed book unto them, John 20:9.

Though they had been from their infancy brought up to the reading of the Scriptures, and had the advantage of Christ's ministry for some years; which shows the necessity of the special illumination of the Spirit and the influence of His grace to remove the darkness of the mind, and give the true sense of the sacred writings. "

• John 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, [these] shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to ...(KJV)
• or "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." (ESV)

"He will guide you into all truth; necessary to be known, useful to men, profitable to the churches, even the whole counsel of God; what relates to worship, the nature, form, and spirituality of it, as well as doctrine. He is as a guide, he goes before, leads the way, removes obstructions, opens the understanding, makes things plain and clear, teaches to profit, and leads in the way men should go, without turning to the right hand or left, which, without such a guide, they would be apt to do. "

So what is the role of the Holy Spirit in the interpretation of Scriptures?

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant, Proof Read by Charity Whisnant