Lesson Description
The Bible contains the words of God, the words of Jesus Christ, the words of prophets and apostles, the prayers of believers, the statements of kings, and the opinions of ordinary people. To understand Scripture correctly, we must identify who is speaking, whom they are addressing, and why they are speaking.
The fact that a statement appears in the Bible does not automatically mean that God endorses the statement as truth. Sometimes Scripture records what people said, including words that God later corrects. In this lesson, we will learn to distinguish between a statement being recorded in Scripture and a statement being taught or approved by God.
1. The Bible Records the Words of Different Speakers
Throughout the Bible, we encounter many speakers. Some speak God’s revealed truth, while others express personal opinions, misunderstandings, complaints, or false accusations.
For example, the book of Job records conversations between Job and his friends. Their words are part of Scripture, but we must examine the context to understand whether their conclusions were correct.
2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for our learning. However, this does not mean that every statement spoken by every character in the Bible is an accurate statement about God. The inspired record may preserve a person’s mistaken words so that we can understand the conversation and learn from God’s correction.
Practical Example: If someone reads a character in the Bible making a false accusation, the reader should not immediately turn that accusation into a doctrine. The reader must examine the passage and its context.
Remember: Scripture is inspired by God, but not every statement recorded in Scripture expresses God’s approval.
2. Identify Who Is Speaking
One of the first questions we should ask when reading a passage is, Who is speaking?
Is it God speaking directly? Is it Jesus addressing His disciples? Is it a prophet delivering God’s message? Is it a person praying, a king giving an opinion, or a friend offering advice?
Identifying the speaker helps us understand the purpose and authority of the words.
Job 2:9 (KJV)
“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”
These are the words of Job’s wife during a time of great suffering. We should not read her statement as a command from God. Instead, we must understand it as part of the account of Job’s suffering and the reactions of the people around him.
Practical Example: When reading a passage, identify the speaker before deciding what the words mean. Ask whether the speaker is giving God’s instruction, expressing a personal opinion, or responding emotionally to a situation.
Remember: Always identify the speaker before interpreting the statement.
3. Understand Whom the Speaker Is Addressing
The next question is, To whom are these words being spoken?
Some passages address Israel as a nation. Others address particular kings, prophets, disciples, churches, or individuals. Understanding the intended audience helps us avoid applying a statement carelessly to a different situation.
Exodus 19:3 (KJV)
“And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;”
Here, God gives Moses a message to deliver to the children of Israel. The audience is explicitly identified.
When we study a passage, we should consider its original audience and then determine how its truth relates to us today. Not every instruction given to a particular person or nation is automatically a direct command to every believer.
Practical Example: If God gives a specific instruction to Moses concerning Israel, we should first understand that instruction in its original setting before deciding whether and how it applies to Christians today.
Remember: Ask who was originally addressed before deciding how a passage applies today.
4. Distinguish God’s Words from Human Opinions
People in the Bible sometimes speak confidently while misunderstanding God’s purposes. Confidence alone does not make a statement true.
The book of Job provides a clear example. Job’s friends tried to explain his suffering, but some of their conclusions about him were wrong.
Job 42:7 (KJV)
“And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.”
God directly rebuked Eliphaz and his two friends because they had not spoken rightly about Him.
Their speeches were preserved in Scripture, but God did not approve everything they said.
Practical Example: A person might read one of Job’s friends claiming that suffering proves someone has committed a particular sin. Before accepting that claim, the reader must examine the whole book and recognize God’s correction of Job’s friends.
Remember: A statement does not become true simply because a person in the Bible said it.
5. Read the Whole Conversation, Not Just One Sentence
A sentence taken out of its conversation can easily be misunderstood. The surrounding verses often reveal the speaker’s intention, the problem being discussed, and whether the statement is later corrected.
Job 4:7 (KJV)
“Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?”
Eliphaz asks this question while attempting to explain Job’s suffering. His reasoning suggests that Job’s suffering must be connected to wrongdoing. However, the opening chapters of Job show that Job’s suffering was not presented as the punishment for a hidden sin, and God later rebukes Job’s friends.
If we isolate Eliphaz’s question, we might mistakenly treat his reasoning as a universal rule about suffering.
Practical Example: Before teaching from a verse, read the surrounding paragraphs or chapters. Notice what happened before the statement and how the conversation ends.
Remember: A verse must be understood in its context, not separated from the conversation that gives it meaning.
6. Recognize When a Person Is Expressing Fear, Anger, or Grief
The Bible honestly records human emotions. People sometimes speak out of fear, sadness, anger, confusion, or despair. Their words help us understand their experiences, but they are not automatically instructions for us to follow.
Job 3:1 (KJV)
“After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.”
Job spoke from deep anguish after losing so much. His words express the depth of his suffering. We should recognize his grief without turning every sentence he spoke into a doctrine or command.
The Bible’s honest record of human suffering can help us understand that Scripture does not hide the difficult emotions people experience.
Practical Example: When reading a lament or a complaint in Scripture, ask what the person was experiencing. Do not automatically treat every emotional statement as a promise, command, or description of what God wants everyone to say.
Remember: Understand the person’s circumstances and emotions before drawing a lesson from their words.
7. Notice When God Corrects a Speaker
Sometimes the Bible itself tells us that a person’s words or actions were wrong. These corrections are important because they help us distinguish human error from God’s revealed truth.
Job 42:8 (KJV)
“Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.”
God’s words to Job’s friends show that their earlier statements must be read in light of His correction.
When Scripture gives us God’s evaluation of a person’s words, we must take that evaluation seriously rather than building doctrine on the person’s mistaken reasoning.
Practical Example: If a biblical character makes a claim and God later rebukes that character for speaking wrongly, the correction must shape our understanding of the earlier statement.
Remember: Pay attention to God’s response to a speaker; it may reveal whether that person’s words were right or wrong.
8. Distinguish a Recorded Event from an Instruction
The Bible records many events without instructing readers to repeat everything that happened. Some accounts describe faithful actions; others show mistakes, disobedience, conflict, or consequences.
1 Corinthians 10:11 (KJV)
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
Paul explains that events recorded in Israel’s history can provide examples and warnings for readers. We should learn from these accounts without assuming that every recorded action is a command to imitate.
Practical Example: If Scripture records a king making a poor decision, that event does not instruct us to make the same decision. We should examine the outcome and the lesson the passage communicates.
Remember: The Bible records events for our learning, but a recorded action is not automatically an instruction to repeat it.
9. Compare a Statement with the Wider Teaching of Scripture
No verse should be forced to contradict the clear teaching of the Bible. When a statement is difficult to understand, compare it with the surrounding context and related passages.
Acts 17:11 (KJV)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
The Bereans examined the Scriptures to evaluate what they were being taught. Their example encourages careful study rather than accepting every claim without examination.
Comparing Scripture with Scripture does not mean forcing every passage to say the same thing in exactly the same way. It means considering the purpose and context of each passage and allowing the wider biblical message to guide our conclusions.
Practical Example: If someone uses one verse to make a claim about God, examine the passage in context and compare it with other relevant Scriptures before accepting the interpretation.
Remember: Examine claims carefully and compare Scripture with Scripture.
10. Ask the Right Questions Before Forming a Doctrine
Responsible Bible study requires patience. Before using a passage to teach others, ask several important questions:
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Who is speaking?
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To whom are they speaking?
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What circumstances surround the statement?
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Is the speaker expressing God’s message, a personal opinion, an emotion, or a mistaken conclusion?
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Does the passage describe an event or give an instruction?
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Does the surrounding context clarify the meaning?
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How does the passage fit with the wider teaching of Scripture?
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Paul emphasizes the importance of handling the Word of truth correctly. We should not rush to conclusions simply because a verse sounds powerful or agrees with what we already believe.
Practical Example: Before preparing a Bible lesson, study the passage, identify its speaker and audience, read its context, and check your interpretation against the wider teaching of Scripture.
Remember: Build your understanding through careful study, not isolated sentences or assumptions.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson, we learned that:
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The Bible contains statements from many different speakers.
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We must identify who is speaking and whom they are addressing.
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A biblical character’s statement is not automatically God’s approved teaching.
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Job’s friends demonstrate why human opinions must be examined.
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Human emotions and suffering help explain why people speak as they do.
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God’s corrections help us identify mistaken statements.
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Recorded events are not automatically instructions to imitate.
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Scripture should be studied in context and compared with related passages.
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We should distinguish between what the Bible records and what it teaches.
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We must handle the Word of truth carefully and responsibly.
Final Takeaway
Before asking, “What does this verse mean to me?” first ask, “Who is speaking, to whom are they speaking, and what is happening in the passage?” These questions help protect us from misunderstanding Scripture and building beliefs on words that were recorded but not approved by God.