- Bible Study according to John -

You may recall, if you read some of the little homiletics, that John had rules. If you skipped the homiletics, that's fine with me but you may miss things. I will not try the patience of those who did read them by re-explaining. Up to you.

One point of clarification; I will no longer refer to the "un-named student" as Horseschack. Instead, I switch to my preferred student, 'grasshopper'. If you are into demented (but relatvely clean) comedy, you will remember 'grasshopper' from "Kwon Leap". 'Nuff said.

We begin with this a priori assumption as our platform:

• (2Ti 3:14 MRC) But as for you, continue (studying) in the things you have learned (at first) and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you have learned them;
  
• (2Ti 3:15 MRC) and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which have the power to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Yeshua the Messiah.
  
• (2Ti 3:16 MRC) All^* Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness
  
• (2Ti 3:17 MRC) that the man of God may be (continuously) adequate, equipped for every good work.
  (of G*d, which He requested you to complete)
  

Du'uh...
FIne grasshopper, there are books or letters that were left out of the 'cannonized' bible we have today. This particular verse is in the cannonized version but here again, all means all. Got it? Good.

John taught us that the cannonized version superceeded all other missing books and letters. However, (after 10 pm,of course) the other letters and books should be examined for any ald everything that supported the book of scripture we finally received. These were considered acceptable supplemental material.

On making a theological point:

First Rule according to John:

• If thou shalt presume to impose thy !opinion! upon the fellowship, thou shalt quote no less than two, preferrabley three scriptures to make thy doctrinal point.

The use of extra-scriptural commentaries, no matter who wrote them:

Second Rule according to John:

• If thou imposest thy interpretation of the Holy Scripture upon the fellowship by way of commentaries, thou art required to back thy chosen commentary authors with scripture, preferrably 3.

On the correct use of words, per their accepted scriptural definitions:

Third Rule according to John:

• Thou shalt search dilligently the scripture for the accepted definitions of thy words.
  All^* acceptable definitions for they words are found in the Holy Scripture.
  (see Strong's, Webster is of inferior intellect)

On Interpreting Scripture:

Fourth Rule according to John:

• All^* scripture interprets itself. There are no contradictions within the body of Holy Scripture. The only contradictions found are between the ears of man.
  (see 2Ti 3:16 above)

On study notes and other tools:

Fifth Rule according to John:

• Thou shalt employ copious tools to aid thee in thy study of the Holy Scripture.
  Thou shalt 'get over it, real fast,' when it comes to thy niggling little voice which says to thee:
    "You can not write in your bible,you can not use hi-lighters and markers! It is a desecration of the book of Holy Scripture, Perish the thought!"
  
  Thou shalt mark all thy personal copies of the book of Holy Scripture in any manner that is profitable for thy learning and rememberance of what the L*rd has tried faithfully to teach thee.
  Moreover, thou shalt pray this prayer whenever thy niggling little voices hinder thee:
    "Be gone ye niggling little voices, unless ye identify yourselves as being from the L*rd, Jesus the Christ!"
  

On speaking and teaching the Word of G*d:

Sixth Rule according to John:

• Thou shalt not pollute the Holy Word of G*d with thy !opinion!. Thou shalt faithfully and accurately repeat the Word of G*d as it is written!
  For the L*rd thy G*d gave His servant Rav John whom He loved greatly, these words to guide thee:
    
  • Rev 22:18 "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this scroll;
    
  • Rev 22:19 "and if anyone takes away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God shall take away his portion from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this scroll."
  Thou are permitted to give thy interpretation to those of thy fellowship who, "...see through a glass, darkly..."[pp] to the best of thy understanding of the Holy Scriptures. Thou art commanded by thy teacher to state thy !opinion! as being thine own !opinion!, lest thy teacher be held responsible for thy knuckle-headed-ness and not teaching thee the whole Word of G*d.
  Moreover; thou wilt not shove thy !opinion!down thy brother's throat!
  It is thy brother's respoinsibility before the Most High G*d to give a good accounting of his own study of the Holy Scriptures and not thine.

On the responsibility of every believer John taught:

Seventh Rule according to John:

• Thou art encouraged to go out into all the world, as the Father guides thee to new places, teaching those who have an ear to listen to thy rambling witness, all the Holy Scriptures they will hear.
  In doing so, thou hast fulfilled all the lessons thy tired teacher hast patiently taught thee and thy tired teacher can finally rest.

So winds down the 'cliff notes' version of what my theology teacher John taught us in our Tuesday night bible studies. We sincerely hope you are there in Heaven to meet John, someday. If you would like to be assured you will have a chance to meet John, you have a decision to make.

Now I have made the second to the last of my acts of contrition and reconcillation. I have honored my dear friend and theology teacher John, in the very medium he only dreamed about in the days of terminal display. All that is left is for me to pick up the mantle and staff and press on...

Rest well my friend, for quicker than I know, I will be there with thee, to pester thee again. May the L*rd strengthen thee for that day!

...continued in [ "Test Yourself" ]

[ Publication Info ]

G*d Bless
~ We live to serve ~

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