Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture

Three Reasons We Need To Consider Truth And Interpret Scripture - Part 3

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Apologetics

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2022-05-06

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his series on interpreting Scripture by emphasizing that the only way to resolve misunderstandings is to ask the original speaker—in this case, God. He introduces six things necessary for interpretation, covering two in detail: having the proper tools (a good Bible, concordances, Bible software) and possessing a mind illuminated by the Holy Spirit. He distinguishes between inspiration, revelation, and illumination, arguing that revelation has ceased and that Christians need the Spirit's illumination to truly understand Scripture. He warns that even believers can be dull of hearing if they are carnal or disobedient, and he urges the congregation to 'buy the truth' at any cost.

[John Weaver] Let's open our Bible today again to 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 7. You'll remember the first two messages I dealt with three reasons we need to consider truth and interpret scripture. Today we're going to continue that, but I've added something to the title. I was just trying to keep the three reasons there to keep everything in line on my computer. But it is three reasons we need to consider truth and interpret Scripture and six things necessary to interpret. So I added just a little bit. So if you look in 2 Timothy 2 and verse 7, the Apostle Paul again told Timothy, consider what I say. And the Lord give the understanding in all things.

[John Weaver] Now, I pointed out in the very first message I preached in this series that everyone interprets what they read, what they see or what they hear. We may interpret incorrectly, but yet at the same time, we still interpret. We oftentimes misunderstand and misinterpret. So I could ask two questions. And the first one would be this, how often has someone misinterpreted or misunderstood what you said? And the second question is, likewise, how many times have you misinterpreted or misunderstood what someone else has said?

[John Weaver] And usually when there's a misinterpretation or misunderstanding, Somehow, someway, anger and resentment and bitterness and hurt feelings and sometimes even dissolution of friendship happens. Here is a simple but a very often neglected truth, and here it is. Really and truly the only way that we will ever know what someone meant if we misunderstood or misinterpreted is to simply ask the individual what they did mean. when they said such.

[John Weaver] So if Steve said something to me and I did not quite understand what he said, not that I was necessarily didn't hear it, but I thought when he said it, I thought, is he slamming me? Is he being ugly with me? Is he being unkind? I bet that rascal meant such and such. Well, the only way that I can really find out is to ask him because he's the one that said it. And he knew exactly why he said it and what he meant. He may have meant to cut me in a slam meet.

[John Weaver] If he did, he'd probably tell me so. And then he'd probably tell me why. But all I'm saying is, oftentimes we just neglect listening to the one who said what we misinterpreted and what we misunderstood. You have to understand this too, that every time we hear something or read something, or think about something, we also do so from our own perspective. Our own perspective may be right, it may be wrong, but it is still our perspective. I've often counseled husbands and wives who are having marital problems, and they would sit in front of me, and the woman would say one thing, and the man would say something totally, completely different. And you would think, Well, now you need to ask them which one is lying. And the truth of the matter was neither one of them were lying. They were just interpreting everything from their own perspective.

[John Weaver] That's the way they saw it. That's the way they understood it. That's the way they heard it. One of them obviously was wrong. Maybe sometime both of them were wrong, but that was just simply their own perspective. So the point I'm trying to make is this really and truly the only way that you're going to find out what someone really meant is just simply to ask them. And I went through all of that just to say this. Since God is the one who gave us a scripture, since the Holy Spirit inspired the scripture to be written, if you and I misunderstand or if you and I misinterpret and we really want the truth, the way to find out the truth is to go to the one that said, that wrote, that sent the truth. And therefore we ask them, I want you to look in your Bibles.

[John Weaver] if you would, to the book of Mark, chapter 4, and you can probably hold this passage because we will come back here just a little bit later. But look, if you would, please, at Mark, chapter 4, and I want us to just read verses 33 and 34. Look at it. Mark, chapter 4, and let's begin there with verse 33. Our Lord has been teaching in parables, and the Bible says, and with many such parables spake he the word unto them as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them, now watch this, and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. So when the disciples did not understand what our Lord was teaching, even when He taught by parables, when they got alone with Jesus Christ, then they asked Him, and He then expounded everything to them. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Luke, chapter 24, Luke 24. You remember, of course, those two men on the Emmaus road without me going into all of the passage there.

[John Weaver] But in Luke chapter 24, they were on the Emmaus road. And of course, Jesus drew near to them and they were assuming that he was a stranger. Their eyes were holding. The Bible says they did not know who he was. Until, of course, he prayed, and then the Bible tells us their eyes were open. But the interesting thing is this, in Luke 24 and verse 27, and in fact, go back and read verse 26. He says to them,"'Ought not Christ, who have suffered these things, enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, watch, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.'" They didn't understand. They didn't see. They did not comprehend. And so here he now begins expounding from Moses and the prophets everything that pertained to him.

[John Weaver] So he is the one to ask, very obviously. You know, there was a passage in Acts chapter 11 and verse 4, and we are told this concerning the apostle Peter. The Bible says, and Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it unto them by order, saying." And, of course, that verse deals with the vision that God gave him in Acts chapter 10, when the sheet was let down from heaven with all manner of creeping things. And the voice said, Rise, Peter, slay, and eat. And he says, Not so, Lord, for I have not eaten anything unclean. And then, of course, the Lord gave him the proper interpretation of that, and He was showing him that Men were not necessarily unclean just because they were not of the tribes of Israel.

[John Weaver] And so he went then into the house of Cornelius, who was a Roman soldier, a centurion. And obviously he had all of his families there. And of course, then when Peter came back, some of the Jews there at Jerusalem said, you went into the house of someone who was unclean. And then Peter now, begins expounding and explaining the vision that God gave to him.

[John Weaver] Now let me just point out this. Peter was the only one who could expound it because God gave him the vision, God gave him the interpretation, God told him what it meant, and so therefore now he can expound and he can explain. So if they wanted to know what the vision actually meant, they would have to go to Peter because that was the one to whom God had given it.

[John Weaver] You see, the truth of the matter is this, when you and I refuse to pray, when we refuse to study, when we refuse to meditate and seek the answers from the author of Scripture, we should understand that there are so many delusions around and so many heresies around and so much ignorance around because we refuse to ask and seek the truth from the one who sent the Scripture. Today what I'd like to do is begin sharing with you some of the things that are needed and necessary to interpret the scripture. And today we're only going to cover two out of the six.

[John Weaver] And before I give you these, let me just mention something that I've heard for a multitude of years. As someone had said, but Brother Weaver, You should know more about the Bible because you went to the university, you went to a Bible school. Yes, I did go. But let me tell you something, you do not need a college degree or a Bible school diploma to understand the Word of God. You just simply do not need that. Certainly, I approve of education, you understand that. But the truth of the matter is this, college or a Bible school may teach you about the Bible. Well, the only way you can learn the Bible is to study it for yourself. Read it for yourself. And the truth of the matter is, I'd rather know what is in the Bible than just simply facts about the Bible. So don't come around and say, well, some preachers have gone to Bible school, they should know more than others. They may know some things more than others, but the only way you can really know the Bible is just simply read it yourself.

[John Weaver] So here are six things. I'm going to give you just two of them today that are absolutely necessary and needed for you to interpret and understand the scripture. The first one is this. Listen carefully. You need the tools necessary to study and to learn. You need the tools necessary to study and learn. I think you really grasp this fact very simply. Because if you're going to build a house, obviously you have to have a hammer and a saw.

[John Weaver] You have to have a measuring stick. You have to have something to work with if you're going to be a carpenter, if you're going to build a house. That's all there is to it. So if you're going to really study the scripture, if you're really going to know the truth, then the very first thing you need is a very good Bible.

[John Weaver] Now, I always recommend the King James Bible. That's what I've used all my life. That's what I've learned and memorized all my scripture with. But I'm just simply saying what I mean by a good Bible, I mean one that you can read and one that you can use. If you can't read it, if the print is too small, you're just simply not going to use it. I have no idea how many Bibles I have. I've got a number of them, I can assure you. And I've got some very compact Bibles. which means the print is so small I have to put on reading glasses.

[John Weaver] Obviously, I don't carry those around with me. Now, I don't have a giant print Bible, but the print is big enough that I can read it without glasses. So the only point I'm trying to make is this. If you're not going to have a Bible that you can use, if you're not going to have a Bible that you can find what you need to find, obviously, you're not going to be using that.

[John Weaver] I think I told you this years ago, but I never will forget hearing or reading, I guess I did many years ago about the pastor who visited one of his members. And as he went in the house, and visited with this lady for a while. Uh, he said, well, before I go, I'd like to read some scripture, but I left my Bible in the car, said, may I use your Bible? And the lady said, yes.

[John Weaver] And she looks at the little girl and she said to her daughter, please go in mommy's room and get that book that mother loves so much. And of course, the little girl came back with a Sears and Roebuck catalog. You know, obviously, you know, if you are going to find a Bible, you need to find one that you can use and would use.

[John Weaver] Now, here's the second thing. I've heard people say, well, you know, Hebrew, you know, Greek. Well, the truth of the matter is, you don't really have to know Hebrew and you don't really have no Greek. I will sell you. that that is an advantage, that is for sure. I never had Hebrew, but I did take three years of Greek.

[John Weaver] Now, if you have an Internet connection, then there are all kind of Bible programs that are available. I will recommend one, but if you don't have Internet, there is a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, and there's a Young's Analytical Concordance. Now, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance is concordance that will list every word in the Bible. It will include words such as it, the, and. Years ago, I think it was 1894 when the Strong's came out, it was the 1890s anyhow, it was 35 years in completion. Of course they did not have computers back then, but it took 35 years and some theological students really understood Strong's Exhaustive Concordance because they said you had to be strong to carry it, probably weighed three or four pounds.

[John Weaver] And they said it's exhausting, especially if you carried it all day long. But the word exhaustive just simply means thorough. Now, so if you were to take the word world and look it up in the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, it's going to list for you that word the Old Testament and in the New Testament. It'll give you every scripture that the word world is found in. Secondly, if you look at Young's Analytical Concordance, it does something even more.

[John Weaver] It will analyze all of the Greek words for you. Now, by the way, Strong's always has a number assigned to a word, and so therefore you can look in the back of the Strong's Concordance and find out the original Hebrew word, the Greek word, and the definition. But Young's Analytical Concordance, if you were to take the word world, it's not only going to list the word cosmos, it's going to list the other two or three words in the Greek that occur from which the word world is translated. It is going to give all of those right under the word world.

[John Weaver] So both of them are very usable, both of them are very easy to use. I tell people if you're going to get an online Bible program, one of the best Bible programs I've ever seen is known as the online Bible program. And you can get it for less than 50 bucks. Now, I realize there are a lot of free Bible programs. I think there's a Blue Letter Bible program, all kind of Bible programs. But the reason I like the online Bible program is because It gives you access, not only to Greek and to Hebrew, it gives you access to definitions, to maps, to commentaries, to dictionaries, devotionals, multitude of other helps.

[John Weaver] I probably have in my library, if not close to or over, 15,000 books. And I've amassed those books over 57 years of preaching. I have no idea of the value of those books. I know it was a lot of money I've paid for them over the years. But the point I'm trying to make is this. For less than 50 bucks, you can buy the online Bible program and all the commentaries and all the dictionaries that you have available at your fingertips. If you were to buy them like I did, you would spend thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars.

[John Weaver] And they're all right there. all the old Puritans, four or five different Bible dictionaries, all the maps, everything that you need.

[John Weaver] Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. If you are going to really study, you need the necessary tools to study. And that means you need a good Bible. You need a Strong's or Young's or at least a good Bible program.

[John Weaver] Now, I heard people object all these years But I don't know Hebrew, and I don't know Greek." Well, you don't have to go to school necessarily for that. I mean, it's right there. All you've got to do is, especially on the online Bible program, is click on the little button, and there it appears. It'll tell you what the Greek is. It'll tell you the definition. It'll tell you where to go to find more information on it. So all these languages at your fingertips, all you have to do is click on them.

[John Weaver] So everything is basically spelled out for you. Now I suspect, in all probability, the objection that people have to buying books or getting Bible programs is really and truly they do not wish to take the time to learn to use these tools. Priorities do matter. If you're really interested in knowing the will of God and knowing the Word of God in your life, then you will make the investment not only of money, but of time to make sure that you know what the will of God is and what the Word of God is. If you're not really interested, then of course, this is a secondary matter to you and unimportant in your life. And consequently, you will never acquire the proper tools. And if you did acquire them, you would never, ever use them.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something. A carpenter that does not have a hammer and a saw is just as useless a carpenter who has a hammer and a saw, but he doesn't know how to use them. So if you're going to get the tools, you need to take the time to learn how to use them. Acquiring the proper tools in Bible study is the first step. So you need the proper tools. You need a good Bible. You need to know history. And you can have church history at your fingertips with the online Bible program as well. You need to know what the original languages are. You can have them at your fingertips with the online Bible.

[John Weaver] Now, here's the second thing, and this is the one I'm going to really be covering today, and that is this. You not only need the proper tools if you're going to interpret, if you're going to study, but the second thing you need is a mind that is illuminated by the Holy Spirit. You need a mind that is illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Now, before I get into this, I'm going to give you three definitions, so I can expound and explain these definitions. The first one is the definition of inspiration. Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth. so that the words that they spoke and wrote were and are indeed the very words of God Himself." If you understand inspiration, you understand the Bible is the Word of God.

[John Weaver] I've preached before in times past, and I've had someone say to me, well, Brother Weaver, that's just what you said. If I heard God say it, I'd believe it. The truth is, if I preached it from the Bible, God said it. If it's in the Bible, God said it. That's what inspiration is. Inspiration is a strong conscience and breathing of God, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth. It's God speaking through men. So the Bible is just as much the Word of God as if God spoke every single word himself. That's why the Bible says in 2 Timothy chapter 3, all scripture is given by inspiration. It is God breathed. It is God exhaled. So the Bible is indeed the Word of God. That is inspiration. That is how we got the Bible. God inspired the men to write. He breathed in them the very words that they wrote, so that the words are indeed the very Word of God. Here's the second definition, and that's the definition of revelation. Revelation is the act of God whereby He reveals truth that was never known before to the human mind.

[John Weaver] Revelation is the act of God whereby he reveals truth that was never known before to the human mind. So if I were to ask you who wrote the first five books of the Bible, you would respond Moses. Well, here's a good question. How did Moses know what happened at creation? He wasn't there. How do you know what happened to the fall of Adam and Eve? How do you know what happened at the Noahic flood? How did he know what happened in Genesis chapter 11? How did he know what happened in Genesis 12, 13, 14, and 15? How did he know? And the answer is, God revealed it to him. Revelation is the act of God whereby God reveals truth never known before to the human mind. Now watch. Revelation is when God reveals a truth. Inspiration is when God superintends the revelation of that truth.

[John Weaver] to guarantee that we have His Word. So you have inspiration, you have revelation. Let me mention this, listen carefully, there is no revelation going on today. How can I say that? Because revelation is revealing truth that is never known before to the human mind.

[John Weaver] Now remember if you would please, I've had people ask me, are there prophets today? And the answer is yes and no. In one sense of the word, there are no prophets. In another sense of the word, there are prophets. How can I say that? Well, the Hebrew word, the main Hebrew word was the word Nabib. And a prophet did two things. He foretold and he told forth. When the prophet foretold God gave him either a vision, trance, truth, spoke to him some way, he knew what was going to happen because God gave him that vision, God gave him that understanding. And so he could say, in 722 BC, the northern tribe's going to go into captivity. Okay? 586, southern king's going into captivity. In fact, God prophesied all of these things and told all of these things. So that's what the prophets would do. They would prophesy what was going to happen before it happened. But they not only foretold, listen carefully, they told forth. So is there a new revelation being given today? And the answer is no.

[John Weaver] And I'm going to show you why in just a moment. But are there prophets today in one sense? Yes. If I foretell or quote, unquote, tell forth, What is going to happen based upon the finished revelation of God? Then in that sense, I'd be a prophet, but I'm not giving something that just came to me, some new truth, some different truth. No, no, no. I'm giving and telling forth that revelation, which has already been revealed. And so therefore my telling forth is based on what was already foretold when God gave us his word. Okay. So in that sense of the word, there are no prophets, and in one sense of the word, there are prophets. Now let me show you. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews 1, here is why I'm telling you there is no new truth going on today. There is no revelation going on today. Look at this, Hebrews 1, verses 1-3. Hebrews 1, verses 1-3. Look at it. God, who at sundry times different times, and in divers manners, different manners, spake in time past in the fathers by the prophets."

[John Weaver] Well, how did God speak? Read the Old Testament, sometimes with visions, sometimes with dreams, sometimes He spoke to them, they understood. Sometimes He used pictures, like when Ezekiel portrayed the siege of Jerusalem. He spoke in different ways. But look what has happened in verse 2. God, who has spoken in different ways in times past, verse 2, hath in these last days spoken on us by His Son, who made the appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Now notice if you would, in verse 2, He hath in these last days spoken on us by His Son.

[John Weaver] So when we come up and say, that there is new revelation going on today, then we are denying that Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God. We would be denying that the Bible is the full and final revelation of the written Word of God. So you cannot have revelation and have the fullness of Jesus Christ at the same time. That would be additional revelation. Jesus Christ Himself is the revelator. Jesus Christ is revelation. And the Bible is the written revelation of God. But when you postulate that I can be a prophet and I can tell you that, well, let's see, the United States is going to fall in October of 2022. No, that's not revelation. That's my speculation. You see what I'm saying?

[John Weaver] There is no prophecy like that. I know you've heard it. You've read it. I've read it all my life. People prophesying everything. No, they are not. They may be telling you what they think. They may be telling you what they believe. They may be telling you what they wish, but it's not prophecy. It is not revelation because there cannot be any new revelation without denying that Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God. And the Bible tells us very clearly that God has spoken to us in these last days by His Son.

[John Weaver] Now, if you'll look in your Bibles to the book of Jude, right before the book of Revelation, one little book, one chapter, look at verse 3. Look at what the Bible says. Jude 1 and verse 3. Jude writes, Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, It was needful of me to write unto you, and exhort you, that you should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints." Now notice if you would, he said, you must earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. Hmm. Now the word once is the Greek word hapox. And it means, just once. And so he is saying that the faith has been revealed just once. So when you come up with new revelation, now you're saying that the faith is being revealed more than once. By the way, some of you may have read a word. If you've ever read theological books, uh, you may have come across a word known as the Hapaxlagamana. You know what Hapaxlagamana are?

[John Weaver] Gary, you know, don't you? Tell us. Yep. Words that occur just one time in the Bible. That's it. Just once. That's what this word is. The faith was delivered just once. So you have to understand this revelation. how God gave truth to men. Inspiration superintended the communication of that truth.

[John Weaver] Now let me make a statement and then I'm going to try to give you the understanding of it. I've had Christians call me so excited and they would say something like this, Pastor, Let me just share with you what God just revealed to me. And I hate to burst their bubble. I really do. I listen patiently. And then after I hear, I rejoice with them and then I correct them. And I say this. May I may I correct you in one area? Well, yes. God did not reveal that to you. God illuminated your mind to understand what he had already revealed. Because there is no revelation going on today. So I told you what revelation was. I told you what inspiration was. Now here's the third one, illumination. Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit common to all Christians, whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth. Illumination is when God turns the lights on for us. Illuminations when God enlightens our minds so that we can understand comprehend and grasp his previously revealed truth.

[John Weaver] Now, let me tell you something. I'm all for memorizing scripture, but memory work is not necessarily illumination. I'm all for reading through the Bible as often as you can. And knowing as much of the Bible as you can possibly know, but just simply because you read through the Bible over and over and have a good knowledge of what is in the Bible, that does not mean that you have illumination. Illumination is when God, the Holy Spirit, opens your eyes and allows you to see and to be able to understand what has been written.

[John Weaver] So before Steve walked into this room, the room was dark. He flipped the light switch, the lights came on, and the room was illuminated, and you could see everything that was in the room. That is illumination. If you will look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 2, and I will explain a word for you. But look in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 9. 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 9.

[John Weaver] The Word of God says, But as it is written, I have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of the of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we've, now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit, which is of God, that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God. That is true. Now, if you go back to verse 10, I has not seen verse nine, I have not seen or you heard neither in the heart of the man, the things which God prepared them of him, but God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit. God gave truth by His Spirit." But the interesting thing is this, the word for revealed in verse 10 is the Greek word apokalupto, which means to uncover, to lay open, to make bare, to make known, to make manifest, to disclose that which was not known before.

[John Weaver] So he illuminates this. We can read and we can memorize. But until God opens our eyes, we really do not know what the Scripture means. In other words, it is now through the Holy Spirit that we have our eyes opened.

[John Weaver] Now, this is the same thing that I read to you when we began in 2 Timothy 2 and verse 7, where Paul said, consider what I say. That's your responsibility. And the Lord give the understanding in all things. Understanding is the gift of God. That's why I said in Proverbs 2 in verse 6, again, that wisdom and understanding come from the Lord.

[John Weaver] Now, I've heard people say to me in time past, well, I just can't understand the Bible. The Bible is a closed book to me. I don't read it because I can't understand it. Well, if a man is unconverted, it should be understandable that he cannot understand the Bible. Because the Bible tells you in 1 Corinthians 2 and verse 14, but the natural man, that is the unsaved man, the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. So an unsaved man does not have the ability to discern or to understand anything in the Word of God. May I remind you also in Romans 8, verses 5 through 8, the Bible says, For they that are in the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are in the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit. Then he says, For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

[John Weaver] And then he tells you why. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. It's not subject to the law of God. Neither indeed can be. So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God. So clearly, obviously, an unsaved man cannot understand or comprehend the Word of God. In fact, in Ephesians 4 and 18, he said it very plainly. He said, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. It's understandable that an unsaved man cannot understand the Bible.

[John Weaver] But let me go a little bit further. This may shock you. Just because you're a Christian doesn't mean that you can understand the Bible either. Hmm. Although God has given us a receptor so that we may understand the scriptures, Oftentimes we are not in a position to understand the scriptures, or even receive them. I'll show you that. I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Look at this. 1 Corinthians chapter 1, not chapter 1, but chapter 3. That's where I want. Chapter 3 and verse 1. Look at it. Now Paul is writing to these Corinthian Christians, and I want you to look at what he said. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even unto babes in Christ." He said, I couldn't speak unto you as a spiritually mature individual. I had to speak unto you as fleshly, even babes in Christ. Look in verse 2, I fed you with milk and not with meat. Why?

[John Weaver] For hitherto you were not able to bear it, yet neither now are you able. For are you not yet carnal or fleshly? For where is there among you envying, and strife, and division? Are you not carnal or fleshly, and walk as men?" Paul said, I couldn't teach you the deep things of God. I could not teach you or give you the meat because you're childish. You're immature.

[John Weaver] You would not take a three-month-old baby and hand him a T-bone steak. He couldn't eat it. You have to give a three-month-old baby milk. And this is what Paul is saying. You're in no position to receive the truth of God. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 5, you'll see the same truth. Hebrews chapter 5, notice if you would please, beginning there with verse 11, this is rather harsh, but it's still truth. Hebrews chapter 5, beginning there with verse 11, look what he says. In fact, let's go back to verse 10, because he's talking about Jesus Christ and especially His priesthood. So in verse 10 he says, called of God and high priest after the order of Melchizedek, of whom we have many things to say and hard to be uttered." In other words, it's difficult, it's deep teaching. "...hard to be uttered, seeing you are dull of hearing." That is, you're not willing to listen. You're not even able to listen. Why? Look in verse 12, For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God.

[John Weaver] And are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are full age, even those who by reason have their senses exercised to discover both good and evil." Wow. Exercise to discern both good and evil. In other words, a babe is not going to be able to receive anything that is deep, anything that is theological, because they're dull of hearing.

[John Weaver] They don't know how to hear. They're unwilling to hear. They don't want to hear. A babe just wants to do what a babe wants to do. And so God is not going to give truth to someone who is immature. He's not. Go back in your Bibles to the book of Mark. I told you we'd come back there. Go back to Mark chapter 4 if you would. But this time I want to really emphasize verse 33. Look at what he says in Mark 4 and verse 33. Mark 4 verse 33.

[John Weaver] And when many such parables spake he the word unto them. Notice this last phrase. as they were able to hear it. There are some people that are not able to hear truth and God gives us truth as we are able to hear it. Wow. So just because someone is a Christian does not necessarily mean that he is going to understand God's truth. Let me make this clear again. I've said this already, but I'm going to say it again. You're not able to hear or receive more truth if you're unwilling to obey the truth that you already have. You're never, ever going to learn to chew on meat until you give up the milk. Why in the world would God give anyone more truth if they're not going to obey the truth that He's already given them? And if you and I want to continue to be carnal, if we want to continue to be fleshly, if we want to continue to fuss and fight and feud and divide and have strife and all this, why would God give us more truth?

[John Weaver] This may surprise you. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 5. Jeremiah chapter 5. Do you know what God refers to people who do not have understanding as I'm talking about his people I Want you to watch this Jeremiah chapter 5 and Let's begin reading there with verse 20 So we're talking about Judah in Israel. Okay, Jeremiah 5 verse 20 God tells Jeremiah declare this in the house of Jacob Publish it in Judah, saying, here's what I want you to say, hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding, which have eyes and see not, which have ears and hear not. So God calls them fools. He calls them foolish.

[John Weaver] Do you remember in Luke chapter 24, what our Lord said to those disciples on the Emmaus road? He said to them, O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have written. So God calls the people foolish who live without understanding. Wow. Well, you have to understand that just because someone is a Christian does not necessarily mean that he understands everything. I will remind you disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. They live with Him. They work with Him. They ate with Him.

[John Weaver] They were with Him more than anyone else. And in Matthew 15 and verse 16, He asked them, Are you without understanding also? And He asked the same thing again in Mark 7 verse 18. And do you remember there in Luke chapter 24, before our Lord ascended into heaven, what did He do? The Bible says, And He opened their eyes understanding that they may understand the scripture. He opened their understanding.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Psalm 119 and verse 18. I want you to see this prayer that David prayed. And I pray this prayer and I trust that you will pray this prayer as well. But look in Psalm 119 and verse 18. It's a wonderful, wonderful prayer request. Psalm 119, verse 18. Look what David prayed. He prayed, Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Open thou mine eyes. In other words, Lord, let me see. Open my eyes. He cried out many times for the Lord to teach him, to lead him, to guide him.

[John Weaver] Now, our Lord has given us ministry of the Holy Spirit. So I want you to see, if you would please, in John chapter 14, first of all, beginning there with verse 15, and show you several verses. John chapter 14, and look if you would please, beginning there with verse 15. Our Lord said, If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him, but you know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Now notice if you would, the Holy Spirit in verse 17 is called the Spirit of truth. Now, he said, I'll give you another comforter.

[John Weaver] The comforter is the word paraklesis from the Greek verb parakaleo, I call alongside of to help. And notice, if you would please watch this in verse 16, he said, I will pray the father and he will give you another comforter. Hmm. Interestingly, there are two Greek words for another. There's allos and heteros. If we say we believe in a heterosexual marriage, that means a man and a woman. Heteros is different. Allos means one of the same kind. So our Lord is saying, I'm a comforter and I'm going to send you another comforter like me. So just like our Lord taught his disciples, now the Holy Spirit teaches his disciples as well. Skip down to verse 25.

[John Weaver] He says, These things have I spoken to you, being yet present with you. In other words, I taught you.

[John Weaver] Now, verse 26, But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you. Wow. Look in John chapter 15, if you would, at verses 26 and 27. Again, he says this, But when the comforters come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father, he shall testify of me.

[John Weaver] And you also shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning." Note, if you would, he's again called the Spirit of truth. So let me give you a word of warning. It is true the Holy Spirit of God is the one who turns the lights on for us. It is true the Holy Spirit of God grants us enlightenment and illumination so that we may comprehend and understand and apply the Word of God. But this illumination is not some secret knowledge. This illumination is not some, considering the Bible, some code book, and now all of a sudden you have the real allegory, and you now have the real truth of this, and you're in an exclusive club. No. When the Holy Spirit of God illuminates our mind to understanding, He does not turn us into Gnostics. He does not turn us into a secret club. He just gives us understanding, and the truth is that any Christian reading the same text Reading the same passage of Scripture may be granted illumination by the Holy Spirit just like you were.

[John Weaver] So it's not a secret knowledge. It's just the ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He guides us and leads us and directs us and turns the lights on for us that we may actually see what is being taught. We're not just seeing words, we're understanding those words so that we may apply them in our lives.

[John Weaver] Now I want to give you a quote. It's about three paragraphs long, written by J.I. Packer. This quote will summarize everything that I've said in the past 55 minutes. So if you had had the proper tools, Ron, and could have read J.I. Packer's three paragraphs, You wouldn't have had to listen to this 55-minute lecture and message. No, I'm teasing. But he is saying exactly what I just taught you, so I want you to listen.

[John Weaver] He says, the knowledge of divine things to which Christians are called is more than a formal acquaintance with biblical words and Christian ideas. It is a realizing of the reality and relevance of those activities of the triune God to which Scripture testifies. Such awareness is natural to none familiar with Christian ideas, though they may be, like the man without the Spirit, or the one who cannot receive what Christians tell him, or the blind leader of the blind of whom Jesus spoke, or like Paul said before Christ met him, on the Damascus Road, then he goes on to say this, only the Holy Spirit, searcher of the deep things of God, can bring about this realization in our sinned, darkened minds and hearts. That is why it is called spiritual understanding. Spiritual means spirit given. Those who, along with sound verbal instruction, who have the anointing from the Holy One, know the truth. Now listen carefully. The work of the Spirit in imparting this knowledge is called illumination or enlightenment.

[John Weaver] It is not a giving of new revelation, but a work within us that enables us to grasp and to love the revelation that is there before us in the biblical text as heard, read, and as explained by teachers and writers. Sin in our mental and moral system clouds our minds and wills so that we miss and resist the force of Scripture. Oftentimes God seems to be remote to the point of unreality, and in the face of God's truth we are dull and apathetic. The Spirit, however, opens and unveils our minds and attunes our hearts so that we understand. As by inspiration, He provided Scripture truth for us, so now by illumination He interprets it for us. Illumination is thus the applying of God's revealed truth to our hearts, so that we may grasp as reality for ourselves what the sacred text sets forth. Illumination, which is a lifelong ministry of the Holy Spirit to Christians, even starts before His conversion And he goes on to explain that what he means by that is that's when he begins to convict us.

[John Weaver] He begins to open our eyes to our sins. He begins to open our eyes to who the Lord Jesus Christ really is. And then he concludes with this. He says, there is a threefold conviction according to Luther that is absolutely necessary for you and I to understand life. He said, Martin Luther said there's three things that make a theologian. They are, number one, Number two, meditation, which would include thinking, churning truth over and over in the mind, and then trial. And he talked about the trial in the sense that once we have truth, there will always usually be a trial which will try to shake you from that truth and turn you from that truth. And the trial, once you know the truth, you stick to it. And the trial then demonstrates that, yes, you do really and truly understand and have this truth. So three things make a theologian. He's at prayer, meditation and trial or testing.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Proverbs chapter 23 and verse 23. I can quote it, but I want you to see it. Now, I want you to think with me, please. Proverbs 23, verse 23. This verse will summarize everything that I've said today. Look at it. Proverbs 23 and verse 23, the word of God says, buy the truth and sell it not also wisdom and instruction and understanding. Did you hear what I just read by the truth and sell it not. In other words, truth may be expensive, but get it. And when you get truth, you get wisdom and understanding and instruction by the truth, by the tools necessary to understand the truth. I've heard people say, well, I'd like to go to church, but I don't like to drive two hours one way just to get to a good church to hear truth.

[John Weaver] I got news for you. It would be worth it if the truth is being taught. I'd rather drive two hours one way to get truth than to walk across the street in 15 steps to get error and heresy. Buy the truth and sell it not. God is saying whatever truth costs, it is worth it. Buy the truth and sell it not. So if you and I are going to interpret the scripture, the very first thing we need are the proper tools. And the second thing we need is a mind illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Let's pray.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you for your grace. We ask you for your mercy. We ask you, Lord, for your divine help. We pray also, Father, for wisdom and understanding. And we ask you, Father, that you'd be pleased to illuminate our minds, that we may understand Grasp and apply your word to our lives. Give us, Father, your grace and your mercy. Help us, we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, in whose name we ask. Amen.

[John Weaver] you you

Three Reasons We Need To Consider Truth And Interpret Scripture - Part 3

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	zYzxfRhGyzE
Subject	Apologetics
Course	Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture
Genre	Sermon
Date	2022-05-06
Dictation Name
Book	Book 065: Three Reasons We Need To Consider Truth And Interpret Scripture — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	73

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the series theme: everyone interprets, but misunderstandings occur. The only way to know what someone meant is to ask them, and since God authored Scripture, we must ask Him for understanding.

Let's open our Bible today again to 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 7. You'll remember the first two messages I dealt with three reasons we need to consider truth and interpret scripture. Today we're going to continue that, but I've added something to the title. I was just trying to keep the three reasons there to keep everything in line on my computer. But it is three reasons we need to consider truth and interpret Scripture and six things necessary to interpret. So I added just a little bit. So if you look in 2 Timothy 2 and verse 7, the Apostle Paul again told Timothy,

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 2:7

"Consider what I say. And the Lord give thee understanding in all things."

Now, I pointed out in the very first message I preached in this series that everyone interprets what they read, what they see, or what they hear. We may interpret incorrectly, but yet at the same time, we still interpret. We oftentimes misunderstand and misinterpret. So I could ask two questions. And the first one would be this: How often has someone misinterpreted or misunderstood what you said? And the second question is, likewise, how many times have you misinterpreted or misunderstood what someone else has said? And usually when there's a misinterpretation or misunderstanding, somehow, someway, anger and resentment and bitterness and hurt feelings and sometimes even dissolution of friendship happens. Here is a simple but a very often neglected truth, and here it is. Really and truly the only way that we will ever know what someone meant if we misunderstood or misinterpreted is to simply ask the individual what they did mean when they said such.

So if Steve said something to me and I did not quite understand what he said, not that I necessarily didn't hear it, but I thought when he said it, I thought, "Is he slamming me? Is he being ugly with me? Is he being unkind? I bet that rascal meant such and such." Well, the only way that I can really find out is to ask him because he's the one that said it. And he knew exactly why he said it and what he meant. He may have meant to cut me and slam me. If he did, he'd probably tell me so. And then he'd probably tell me why. But all I'm saying is, oftentimes we just neglect listening to the one who said what we misinterpreted and what we misunderstood. You have to understand this too, that every time we hear something or read something, or think about something, we also do so from our own perspective. Our own perspective may be right, it may be wrong, but it is still our perspective. I've often counseled husbands and wives who are having marital problems, and they would sit in front of me, and the woman would say one thing, and the man would say something totally, completely different. And you would think, "Well, now you need to ask them which one is lying." And the truth of the matter was neither one of them were lying. They were just interpreting everything from their own perspective.

Biblical Examples of Asking for Understanding

Jesus expounded parables to His disciples when they asked (Mark 4:33-34), explained Scripture on the Emmaus road (Luke 24:27), and Peter expounded his vision to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:4).

That's the way they saw it. That's the way they understood it. That's the way they heard it. One of them obviously was wrong. Maybe sometimes both of them were wrong, but that was just simply their own perspective. So the point I'm trying to make is this: really and truly the only way that you're going to find out what someone really meant is just simply to ask them. And I went through all of that just to say this. Since God is the one who gave us the Scripture, since the Holy Spirit inspired the Scripture to be written, if you and I misunderstand or if you and I misinterpret and we really want the truth, the way to find out the truth is to go to the One that said, that wrote, that sent the truth. And therefore we ask Him. I want you to look in your Bibles,

if you would, to the book of Mark, chapter 4, and you can probably hold this passage because we will come back here just a little bit later. But look, if you would, please, at Mark, chapter 4, and I want us to just read verses 33 and 34. Look at it. Mark, chapter 4, and let's begin there with verse 33. Our Lord has been teaching in parables, and the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Mark 4:33-34

"And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."

So when the disciples did not understand what our Lord was teaching, even when He taught by parables, when they got alone with Jesus Christ, then they asked Him, and He then expounded everything to them. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Luke, chapter 24, Luke 24. You remember, of course, those two men on the Emmaus road without me going into all of the passage there.

But in Luke chapter 24, they were on the Emmaus road. And of course, Jesus drew near to them and they were assuming that he was a stranger. Their eyes were holden. The Bible says they did not know who he was. Until, of course, he prayed, and then the Bible tells us their eyes were open. But the interesting thing is this, in Luke 24 and verse 27, and in fact, go back and read verse 26. He says to them,

Scripture Reading — Luke 24:26-27

"Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

They didn't understand. They didn't see. They did not comprehend. And so here he now begins expounding from Moses and the prophets everything that pertained to him.

So he is the one to ask, very obviously. You know, there was a passage in Acts chapter 11 and verse 4, and we are told this concerning the apostle Peter. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Acts 11:4

"But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying."

And, of course, that verse deals with the vision that God gave him in Acts chapter 10, when the sheet was let down from heaven with all manner of creeping things. And the voice said, "Rise, Peter; slay, and eat." And he says, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean." And then, of course, the Lord gave him the proper interpretation of that, and He was showing him that men were not necessarily unclean just because they were not of the tribes of Israel.

And so he went then into the house of Cornelius, who was a Roman soldier, a centurion. And obviously he had all of his families there. And of course, then when Peter came back, some of the Jews there at Jerusalem said, "You went into the house of someone who was unclean." And then Peter now begins expounding and explaining the vision that God gave to him. Now let me just point out this. Peter was the only one who could expound it because God gave him the vision, God gave him the interpretation, God told him what it meant, and so therefore now he can expound and he can explain. So if they wanted to know what the vision actually meant, they would have to go to Peter because that was the one to whom God had given it.

The Necessity of Seeking Truth from God

Refusing to pray and study leads to delusions and heresies. We must ask the Author of Scripture for truth.

You see, the truth of the matter is this, when you and I refuse to pray, when we refuse to study, when we refuse to meditate and seek the answers from the author of Scripture, we should understand that there are so many delusions around and so many heresies around and so much ignorance around because we refuse to ask and seek the truth from the One who sent the Scripture. Today what I'd like to do is begin sharing with you some of the things that are needed and necessary to interpret the scripture. And today we're only going to cover two out of the six.

Six Things Necessary to Interpret Scripture: Introduction

Weaver introduces six necessities for interpretation and notes that a Bible school degree is not required; personal study is key.

And before I give you these, let me just mention something that I've heard for a multitude of years. As someone had said, "But Brother Weaver, you should know more about the Bible because you went to the university, you went to a Bible school." Yes, I did go. But let me tell you something, you do not need a college degree or a Bible school diploma to understand the Word of God. You just simply do not need that. Certainly, I approve of education, you understand that. But the truth of the matter is this, college or a Bible school may teach you about the Bible. Well, the only way you can learn the Bible is to study it for yourself. Read it for yourself. And the truth of the matter is, I'd rather know what is in the Bible than just simply facts about the Bible. So don't come around and say, "Well, some preachers have gone to Bible school, they should know more than others." They may know some things more than others, but the only way you can really know the Bible is just simply read it yourself.

So here are six things. I'm going to give you just two of them today that are absolutely necessary and needed for you to interpret and understand the scripture. The first one is this. Listen carefully. You need the tools necessary to study and to learn. You need the tools necessary to study and learn. I think you really grasp this fact very simply. Because if you're going to build a house, obviously you have to have a hammer and a saw.

First Necessity: Proper Tools for Study

Just as a carpenter needs tools, a Bible student needs a good readable Bible, a concordance (Strong's or Young's), and Bible software like the Online Bible program for access to original languages and resources.

You have to have a measuring stick. You have to have something to work with if you're going to be a carpenter, if you're going to build a house. That's all there is to it. So if you're going to really study the scripture, if you're really going to know the truth, then the very first thing you need is a very good Bible.

Now, I always recommend the King James Bible. That's what I've used all my life. That's what I've learned and memorized all my scripture with. But I'm just simply saying what I mean by a good Bible, I mean one that you can read and one that you can use. If you can't read it, if the print is too small, you're just simply not going to use it. I have no idea how many Bibles I have. I've got a number of them, I can assure you. And I've got some very compact Bibles, which means the print is so small I have to put on reading glasses.

Obviously, I don't carry those around with me. Now, I don't have a giant print Bible, but the print is big enough that I can read it without glasses. So the only point I'm trying to make is this. If you're not going to have a Bible that you can use, if you're not going to have a Bible that you can find what you need to find, obviously, you're not going to be using that. I think I told you this years ago, but I never will forget hearing or reading, I guess I did many years ago about the pastor who visited one of his members. And as he went in the house, and visited with this lady for a while, he said, "Well, before I go, I'd like to read some scripture, but I left my Bible in the car. May I use your Bible?" And the lady said, "Yes."

And she looks at the little girl and she said to her daughter, "Please go in mommy's room and get that book that mother loves so much." And of course, the little girl came back with a Sears and Roebuck catalog. You know, obviously, you know, if you are going to find a Bible, you need to find one that you can use and would use. Now, here's the second thing. I've heard people say, "Well, you know, Hebrew, you know, Greek." Well, the truth of the matter is, you don't really have to know Hebrew and you don't really have to know Greek. I will tell you that that is an advantage, that is for sure. I never had Hebrew, but I did take three years of Greek.

Now, if you have an Internet connection, then there are all kind of Bible programs that are available. I will recommend one, but if you don't have Internet, there is a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, and there's a Young's Analytical Concordance. Now, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance is a concordance that will list every word in the Bible. It will include words such as "it," "the," "and." Years ago, I think it was 1894 when the Strong's came out, it was the 1890s anyhow, it was 35 years in completion. Of course they did not have computers back then, but it took 35 years and some theological students really understood Strong's Exhaustive Concordance because they said you had to be strong to carry it, probably weighed three or four pounds. And they said it's exhausting, especially if you carried it all day long. But the word exhaustive just simply means thorough. Now, so if you were to take the word "world" and look it up in the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, it's going to list for you that word in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. It'll give you every scripture that the word "world" is found in. Secondly, if you look at Young's Analytical Concordance, it does something even more.

It will analyze all of the Greek words for you. Now, by the way, Strong's always has a number assigned to a word, and so therefore you can look in the back of the Strong's Concordance and find out the original Hebrew word, the Greek word, and the definition. But Young's Analytical Concordance, if you were to take the word "world," it's not only going to list the word "cosmos," it's going to list the other two or three words in the Greek that occur from which the word "world" is translated. It is going to give all of those right under the word "world."

So both of them are very usable, both of them are very easy to use. I tell people if you're going to get an online Bible program, one of the best Bible programs I've ever seen is known as the Online Bible program. And you can get it for less than 50 bucks. Now, I realize there are a lot of free Bible programs. I think there's a Blue Letter Bible program, all kind of Bible programs. But the reason I like the Online Bible program is because it gives you access, not only to Greek and to Hebrew, it gives you access to definitions, to maps, to commentaries, to dictionaries, devotionals, multitude of other helps. I probably have in my library, if not close to or over, 15,000 books. And I've amassed those books over 57 years of preaching. I have no idea of the value of those books. I know it was a lot of money I've paid for them over the years. But the point I'm trying to make is this. For less than 50 bucks, you can buy the Online Bible program and all the commentaries and all the dictionaries that you have available at your fingertips. If you were to buy them like I did, you would spend thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars.

And they're all right there. All the old Puritans, four or five different Bible dictionaries, all the maps, everything that you need. Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. If you are going to really study, you need the necessary tools to study. And that means you need a good Bible. You need a Strong's or Young's or at least a good Bible program.

Now, I heard people object all these years, "But I don't know Hebrew, and I don't know Greek." Well, you don't have to go to school necessarily for that. I mean, it's right there. All you've got to do is, especially on the Online Bible program, is click on the little button, and there it appears. It'll tell you what the Greek is. It'll tell you the definition. It'll tell you where to go to find more information on it. So all these languages at your fingertips, all you have to do is click on them.

So everything is basically spelled out for you. Now I suspect, in all probability, the objection that people have to buying books or getting Bible programs is really and truly they do not wish to take the time to learn to use these tools. Priorities do matter. If you're really interested in knowing the will of God and knowing the Word of God in your life, then you will make the investment not only of money, but of time to make sure that you know what the will of God is and what the Word of God is. If you're not really interested, then of course, this is a secondary matter to you and unimportant in your life. And consequently, you will never acquire the proper tools. And if you did acquire them, you would never, ever use them.

Let me tell you something. A carpenter that does not have a hammer and a saw is just as useless as a carpenter who has a hammer and a saw, but he doesn't know how to use them. So if you're going to get the tools, you need to take the time to learn how to use them. Acquiring the proper tools in Bible study is the first step. So you need the proper tools. You need a good Bible. You need to know history. And you can have church history at your fingertips with the Online Bible program as well. You need to know what the original languages are. You can have them at your fingertips with the Online Bible.

Second Necessity: A Mind Illuminated by the Holy Spirit

Weaver defines inspiration, revelation, and illumination. He argues that revelation has ceased (Hebrews 1:1-3; Jude 3) and that Christians need the Spirit's illumination to understand previously revealed truth. Even believers can be unable to receive truth if they are carnal or disobedient (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-14).

Now, here's the second thing, and this is the one I'm going to really be covering today, and that is this. You not only need the proper tools if you're going to interpret, if you're going to study, but the second thing you need is a mind that is illuminated by the Holy Spirit. You need a mind that is illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Now, before I get into this, I'm going to give you three definitions, so I can expound and explain these definitions. The first one is the definition of inspiration. Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth, so that the words that they spoke and wrote were and are indeed the very words of God Himself. If you understand inspiration, you understand the Bible is the Word of God.

I've preached before in times past, and I've had someone say to me, "Well, Brother Weaver, that's just what you said. If I heard God say it, I'd believe it." The truth is, if I preached it from the Bible, God said it. If it's in the Bible, God said it. That's what inspiration is. Inspiration is a strong, conscious, in-breathing of God, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth. It's God speaking through men. So the Bible is just as much the Word of God as if God spoke every single word Himself. That's why the Bible says in 2 Timothy chapter 3,

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 3:16

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God."

It is God-breathed. It is God-exhaled. So the Bible is indeed the Word of God. That is inspiration. That is how we got the Bible. God inspired the men to write. He breathed in them the very words that they wrote, so that the words are indeed the very Word of God. Here's the second definition, and that's the definition of revelation. Revelation is the act of God whereby He reveals truth that was never known before to the human mind.

Revelation is the act of God whereby He reveals truth that was never known before to the human mind. So if I were to ask you who wrote the first five books of the Bible, you would respond, "Moses." Well, here's a good question. How did Moses know what happened at creation? He wasn't there. How do you know what happened at the fall of Adam and Eve? How do you know what happened at the Noahic flood? How did he know what happened in Genesis chapter 11? How did he know what happened in Genesis 12, 13, 14, and 15? How did he know? And the answer is, God revealed it to him. Revelation is the act of God whereby God reveals truth never known before to the human mind. Now watch. Revelation is when God reveals a truth. Inspiration is when God superintends the revelation of that truth

to guarantee that we have His Word. So you have inspiration, you have revelation. Let me mention this, listen carefully, there is no revelation going on today. How can I say that? Because revelation is revealing truth that is never known before to the human mind.

Now remember if you would please, I've had people ask me, "Are there prophets today?" And the answer is yes and no. In one sense of the word, there are no prophets. In another sense of the word, there are prophets. How can I say that? Well, the Hebrew word, the main Hebrew word was the word "nabi." And a prophet did two things. He foretold and he told forth. When the prophet foretold, God gave him either a vision, trance, truth, spoke to him some way, he knew what was going to happen because God gave him that vision, God gave him that understanding. And so he could say, "In 722 BC, the northern tribe's going to go into captivity." Okay? "586, southern kingdom's going into captivity." In fact, God prophesied all of these things and told all of these things. So that's what the prophets would do. They would prophesy what was going to happen before it happened. But they not only foretold, listen carefully, they told forth. So is there a new revelation being given today? And the answer is no.

And I'm going to show you why in just a moment. But are there prophets today in one sense? Yes. If I foretell or, quote unquote, tell forth what is going to happen based upon the finished revelation of God, then in that sense, I'd be a prophet, but I'm not giving something that just came to me, some new truth, some different truth. No, no, no. I'm giving and telling forth that revelation which has already been revealed. And so therefore my telling forth is based on what was already foretold when God gave us His Word. Okay. So in that sense of the word, there are no prophets, and in one sense of the word, there are prophets. Now let me show you. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews 1, here is why I'm telling you there is no new truth going on today. There is no revelation going on today. Look at this, Hebrews 1, verses 1-3. Hebrews 1, verses 1-3. Look at it. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,"

Well, how did God speak? Read the Old Testament, sometimes with visions, sometimes with dreams, sometimes He spoke to them, they understood. Sometimes He used pictures, like when Ezekiel portrayed the siege of Jerusalem. He spoke in different ways. But look what has happened in verse 2. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Now notice if you would, in verse 2, "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son."

So when we come up and say that there is new revelation going on today, then we are denying that Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God. We would be denying that the Bible is the full and final revelation of the written Word of God. So you cannot have revelation and have the fullness of Jesus Christ at the same time. That would be additional revelation. Jesus Christ Himself is the Revelator. Jesus Christ is revelation. And the Bible is the written revelation of God. But when you postulate that I can be a prophet and I can tell you that, "Well, let's see, the United States is going to fall in October of 2022." No, that's not revelation. That's my speculation. You see what I'm saying?

There is no prophecy like that. I know you've heard it. You've read it. I've read it all my life. People prophesying everything. No, they are not. They may be telling you what they think. They may be telling you what they believe. They may be telling you what they wish, but it's not prophecy. It is not revelation because there cannot be any new revelation without denying that Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God. And the Bible tells us very clearly that God has spoken to us in these last days by His Son.

Now, if you'll look in your Bibles to the book of Jude, right before the book of Revelation, one little book, one chapter, look at verse 3. Look at what the Bible says. Jude 1 and verse 3. Jude writes,

Scripture Reading — Jude 1:3

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

Now notice if you would, he said,

Scripture Reading — Jude 1:3

"You must earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints."

Hmm. Now the word "once" is the Greek word "hapax." And it means "just once." And so he is saying that the faith has been revealed just once. So when you come up with new revelation, now you're saying that the faith is being revealed more than once. By the way, some of you may have read a word. If you've ever read theological books, you may have come across a word known as the "hapax legomena." You know what "hapax legomena" are?

Gary, you know, don't you? Tell us. Yep. Words that occur just one time in the Bible. That's it. Just once. That's what this word is. The faith was delivered just once. So you have to understand this: revelation, how God gave truth to men. Inspiration superintended the communication of that truth.

Now let me make a statement and then I'm going to try to give you the understanding of it. I've had Christians call me so excited and they would say something like this, "Pastor, let me just share with you what God just revealed to me." And I hate to burst their bubble. I really do. I listen patiently. And then after I hear, I rejoice with them and then I correct them. And I say this. "May I, may I correct you in one area?" "Well, yes." "God did not reveal that to you. God illuminated your mind to understand what He had already revealed." Because there is no revelation going on today. So I told you what revelation was. I told you what inspiration was. Now here's the third one, illumination. Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit common to all Christians, whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth. Illumination is when God turns the lights on for us. Illumination is when God enlightens our minds so that we can understand, comprehend, and grasp His previously revealed truth.

Now, let me tell you something. I'm all for memorizing scripture, but memory work is not necessarily illumination. I'm all for reading through the Bible as often as you can. And knowing as much of the Bible as you can possibly know, but just simply because you read through the Bible over and over and have a good knowledge of what is in the Bible, that does not mean that you have illumination. Illumination is when God, the Holy Spirit, opens your eyes and allows you to see and to be able to understand what has been written.

So before Steve walked into this room, the room was dark. He flipped the light switch, the lights came on, and the room was illuminated, and you could see everything that was in the room. That is illumination. If you will look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 2, and I will explain a word for you. But look in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 9. 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 9. The Word of God says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 2:9-12

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."

That is true. Now, if you go back to verse 10, "Eye hath not seen," verse 9,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 2:9-12

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit."

God gave truth by His Spirit. But the interesting thing is this, the word for "revealed" in verse 10 is the Greek word "apokalupto," which means to uncover, to lay open, to make bare, to make known, to make manifest, to disclose that which was not known before.

So He illuminates this. We can read and we can memorize. But until God opens our eyes, we really do not know what the Scripture means. In other words, it is now through the Holy Spirit that we have our eyes opened.

Now, this is the same thing that I read to you when we began in 2 Timothy 2 and verse 7, where Paul said, "Consider what I say." That's your responsibility. "And the Lord give thee understanding in all things." Understanding is the gift of God. That's why I said in Proverbs 2 and verse 6, again, that wisdom and understanding come from the Lord. Now, I've heard people say to me in time past, "Well, I just can't understand the Bible. The Bible is a closed book to me. I don't read it because I can't understand it." Well, if a man is unconverted, it should be understandable that he cannot understand the Bible. Because the Bible tells you in 1 Corinthians 2 and verse 14,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 2:14

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

So an unsaved man does not have the ability to discern or to understand anything in the Word of God. May I remind you also in Romans 8, verses 5 through 8, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 2:14

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit."

Then he says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

And then he tells you why. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." So clearly, obviously, an unsaved man cannot understand or comprehend the Word of God. In fact, in Ephesians 4 and 18, he said it very plainly. He said, "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." It's understandable that an unsaved man cannot understand the Bible.

But let me go a little bit further. This may shock you. Just because you're a Christian doesn't mean that you can understand the Bible either. Hmm. Although God has given us a receptor so that we may understand the scriptures, oftentimes we are not in a position to understand the scriptures, or even receive them. I'll show you that. I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Look at this. 1 Corinthians chapter 1, not chapter 1, but chapter 3. That's where I want. Chapter 3 and verse 1. Look at it. Now Paul is writing to these Corinthian Christians, and I want you to look at what he said. "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." He said, "I couldn't speak unto you as a spiritually mature individual. I had to speak unto you as fleshly, even babes in Christ." Look in verse 2, "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" Paul said, "I couldn't teach you the deep things of God. I could not teach you or give you the meat because you're childish. You're immature."

You would not take a three-month-old baby and hand him a T-bone steak. He couldn't eat it. You have to give a three-month-old baby milk. And this is what Paul is saying. You're in no position to receive the truth of God. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 5, you'll see the same truth. Hebrews chapter 5, notice if you would please, beginning there with verse 11, this is rather harsh, but it's still truth. Hebrews chapter 5, beginning there with verse 11, look what he says. In fact, let's go back to verse 10, because he's talking about Jesus Christ and especially His priesthood. So in verse 10 he says, "Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec, of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing." That is, you're not willing to listen. You're not even able to listen. Why? Look in verse 12, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."

"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Wow. Exercised to discern both good and evil. In other words, a babe is not going to be able to receive anything that is deep, anything that is theological, because they're dull of hearing.

They don't know how to hear. They're unwilling to hear. They don't want to hear. A babe just wants to do what a babe wants to do. And so God is not going to give truth to someone who is immature. He's not. Go back in your Bibles to the book of Mark. I told you we'd come back there. Go back to Mark chapter 4 if you would. But this time I want to really emphasize verse 33. Look at what he says in Mark 4 and verse 33. Mark 4 verse 33.

"And with many such parables spake he the word unto them." Notice this last phrase. "As they were able to hear it." There are some people that are not able to hear truth and God gives us truth as we are able to hear it. Wow. So just because someone is a Christian does not necessarily mean that he is going to understand God's truth. Let me make this clear again. I've said this already, but I'm going to say it again. You're not able to hear or receive more truth if you're unwilling to obey the truth that you already have. You're never, ever going to learn to chew on meat until you give up the milk. Why in the world would God give anyone more truth if they're not going to obey the truth that He's already given them? And if you and I want to continue to be carnal, if we want to continue to be fleshly, if we want to continue to fuss and fight and feud and divide and have strife and all this, why would God give us more truth?

This may surprise you. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 5. Jeremiah chapter 5. Do you know what God refers to people who do not have understanding as? I'm talking about His people. I want you to watch this. Jeremiah chapter 5 and let's begin reading there with verse 20. So we're talking about Judah and Israel. Okay, Jeremiah 5 verse 20. God tells Jeremiah, "Declare ye this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not." So God calls them fools. He calls them foolish.

The Holy Spirit as Teacher and the Danger of Carnality

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth who teaches and brings remembrance (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26). Illumination is not secret knowledge but is available to any obedient Christian. God calls those without understanding 'foolish' (Jeremiah 5:20-21).

Do you remember in Luke chapter 24, what our Lord said to those disciples on the Emmaus road? He said to them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." So God calls the people foolish who live without understanding. Wow. Well, you have to understand that just because someone is a Christian does not necessarily mean that he understands everything. I will remind you, disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. They lived with Him. They worked with Him. They ate with Him.

They were with Him more than anyone else. And in Matthew 15 and verse 16, He asked them,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:16

"Are ye also yet without understanding?"

And He asked the same thing again in Mark 7 verse 18. And do you remember there in Luke chapter 24, before our Lord ascended into heaven, what did He do? The Bible says, "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." He opened their understanding.

Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Psalm 119 and verse 18. I want you to see this prayer that David prayed. And I pray this prayer and I trust that you will pray this prayer as well. But look in Psalm 119 and verse 18. It's a wonderful, wonderful prayer request. Psalm 119, verse 18. Look what David prayed. He prayed, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." Open thou mine eyes. In other words, "Lord, let me see. Open my eyes." He cried out many times for the Lord to teach him, to lead him, to guide him.

Now, our Lord has given us ministry of the Holy Spirit. So I want you to see, if you would please, in John chapter 14, first of all, beginning there with verse 15, and show you several verses. John chapter 14, and look if you would please, beginning there with verse 15. Our Lord said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Now notice if you would, the Holy Spirit in verse 17 is called the Spirit of truth. Now, he said, "I'll give you another Comforter."

The Comforter is the word "parakletos" from the Greek verb "parakaleo," "I call alongside to help." And notice, if you would please watch this in verse 16, he said, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter." Hmm. Interestingly, there are two Greek words for "another." There's "allos" and "heteros." If we say we believe in a heterosexual marriage, that means a man and a woman. "Heteros" is different. "Allos" means one of the same kind. So our Lord is saying, "I'm a Comforter and I'm going to send you another Comforter like me." So just like our Lord taught His disciples, now the Holy Spirit teaches His disciples as well. Skip down to verse 25. He says, "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you." In other words, "I taught you." Now, verse 26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Wow. Look in John chapter 15, if you would, at verses 26 and 27. Again, he says this, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."

"And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." Note, if you would, he's again called the Spirit of truth. So let me give you a word of warning. It is true the Holy Spirit of God is the one who turns the lights on for us. It is true the Holy Spirit of God grants us enlightenment and illumination so that we may comprehend and understand and apply the Word of God. But this illumination is not some secret knowledge. This illumination is not some, considering the Bible, some code book, and now all of a sudden you have the real allegory, and you now have the real truth of this, and you're in an exclusive club. No. When the Holy Spirit of God illuminates our mind to understanding, He does not turn us into Gnostics. He does not turn us into a secret club. He just gives us understanding, and the truth is that any Christian reading the same text, reading the same passage of Scripture, may be granted illumination by the Holy Spirit just like you were.

So it's not a secret knowledge. It's just the ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He guides us and leads us and directs us and turns the lights on for us that we may actually see what is being taught. We're not just seeing words, we're understanding those words so that we may apply them in our lives.

J.I. Packer Quote and Summary

Weaver reads a quote from J.I. Packer summarizing illumination as the Spirit's work enabling us to grasp and love the revelation already given. He also cites Luther's three things that make a theologian: prayer, meditation, and trial.

Now I want to give you a quote. It's about three paragraphs long, written by J.I. Packer. This quote will summarize everything that I've said in the past 55 minutes. So if you had had the proper tools, Ron, and could have read J.I. Packer's three paragraphs, you wouldn't have had to listen to this 55-minute lecture and message. No, I'm teasing. But he is saying exactly what I just taught you, so I want you to listen.

He says, "The knowledge of divine things to which Christians are called is more than a formal acquaintance with biblical words and Christian ideas. It is a realizing of the reality and relevance of those activities of the triune God to which Scripture testifies. Such awareness is natural to none familiar with Christian ideas, though they may be, like the man without the Spirit, or the one who cannot receive what Christians tell him, or the blind leader of the blind of whom Jesus spoke, or like Paul said before Christ met him on the Damascus Road." Then he goes on to say this, "Only the Holy Spirit, searcher of the deep things of God, can bring about this realization in our sinned, darkened minds and hearts. That is why it is called spiritual understanding. Spiritual means Spirit-given. Those who, along with sound verbal instruction, who have the anointing from the Holy One, know the truth." Now listen carefully. "The work of the Spirit in imparting this knowledge is called illumination or enlightenment."

"It is not a giving of new revelation, but a work within us that enables us to grasp and to love the revelation that is there before us in the biblical text as heard, read, and as explained by teachers and writers. Sin in our mental and moral system clouds our minds and wills so that we miss and resist the force of Scripture. Oftentimes God seems to be remote to the point of unreality, and in the face of God's truth we are dull and apathetic. The Spirit, however, opens and unveils our minds and attunes our hearts so that we understand. As by inspiration He provided Scripture truth for us, so now by illumination He interprets it for us. Illumination is thus the applying of God's revealed truth to our hearts, so that we may grasp as reality for ourselves what the sacred text sets forth." Illumination, which is a lifelong ministry of the Holy Spirit to Christians, even starts before His conversion. And he goes on to explain that what he means by that is that's when He begins to convict us.

He begins to open our eyes to our sins. He begins to open our eyes to who the Lord Jesus Christ really is. And then he concludes with this. He says, "There is a threefold conviction according to Luther that is absolutely necessary for you and I to understand life." He said, "Martin Luther said there's three things that make a theologian. They are, number one, prayer. Number two, meditation, which would include thinking, churning truth over and over in the mind, and then trial." And he talked about the trial in the sense that once we have truth, there will always usually be a trial which will try to shake you from that truth and turn you from that truth. And the trial, once you know the truth, you stick to it. And the trial then demonstrates that, yes, you do really and truly understand and have this truth. So three things make a theologian: prayer, meditation, and trial or testing.

Conclusion: Buy the Truth

Using Proverbs 23:23, Weaver urges the congregation to 'buy the truth' at any cost, emphasizing that the proper tools and Spirit-illuminated mind are essential for interpreting Scripture.

Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Proverbs chapter 23 and verse 23. I can quote it, but I want you to see it. Now, I want you to think with me, please. Proverbs 23, verse 23. This verse will summarize everything that I've said today. Look at it. Proverbs 23 and verse 23, the Word of God says, "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." Did you hear what I just read? "Buy the truth, and sell it not." In other words, truth may be expensive, but get it. And when you get truth, you get wisdom and understanding and instruction. Buy the truth, by the tools necessary to understand the truth. I've heard people say, "Well, I'd like to go to church, but I don't like to drive two hours one way just to get to a good church to hear truth."

I got news for you. It would be worth it if the truth is being taught. I'd rather drive two hours one way to get truth than to walk across the street in 15 steps to get error and heresy. Buy the truth, and sell it not. God is saying whatever truth costs, it is worth it. Buy the truth, and sell it not. So if you and I are going to interpret the scripture, the very first thing we need are the proper tools. And the second thing we need is a mind illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Let's pray.

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you for your grace. We ask you for your mercy. We ask you, Lord, for your divine help. We pray also, Father, for wisdom and understanding. And we ask you, Father, that you'd be pleased to illuminate our minds, that we may understand, grasp, and apply your Word to our lives. Give us, Father, your grace and your mercy. Help us, we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, in whose name we ask. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Necessity of Asking God for Understanding

Summary: Since God is the author of Scripture, the only way to resolve misinterpretations is to ask Him directly through prayer and study.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Since God is the one who gave us the Scripture... if you and I misunderstand... the way to find out the truth is to go to the One that said, that wrote, that sent the truth.' (288.8-360.8s)

The Sufficiency of Scripture and Cessation of Revelation

Summary: Revelation has ceased because Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God, and the faith was delivered once for all (Jude 3). Any claim of new revelation denies the finality of Christ.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'When you postulate that I can be a prophet... that's not revelation. That's my speculation.' (1667.8-1702.1s) and cites Hebrews 1:1-3 and Jude 3.

Illumination vs. Revelation

Summary: Illumination is the Holy Spirit's ongoing ministry to help believers understand previously revealed truth, not to give new revelation.

Evidence: Weaver defines illumination as 'the ministry of the Holy Spirit common to all Christians, whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth.' (1825.9-1917.9s)

The Necessity of Proper Study Tools

Summary: To interpret Scripture correctly, one needs a good Bible, concordances, and Bible software to access original languages and resources.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If you are going to really study, you need the necessary tools to study. And that means you need a good Bible. You need a Strong's or Young's or at least a good Bible program.' (1065.2-1095.4s)

Spiritual Maturity and Receptivity to Truth

Summary: Even Christians can be unable to receive deep truth if they are carnal, immature, or disobedient. God gives truth as we are able to hear it.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 and Hebrews 5:11-14, saying, 'You're not able to hear or receive more truth if you're unwilling to obey the truth that you already have.' (2484.2-2557.8s)

The Cost of Truth

Summary: Truth is valuable and worth any sacrifice, including time, money, and effort. Proverbs 23:23 commands us to 'buy the truth, and sell it not.'

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Buy the truth, and sell it not. God is saying whatever truth costs, it is worth it.' (3216.8-3281.4s)

Key Arguments

Misinterpretation is resolved by asking the original speaker

Summary: The only way to know what someone meant is to ask them. Since God authored Scripture, we must ask Him for understanding.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Really and truly the only way that we will ever know what someone meant if we misunderstood or misinterpreted is to simply ask the individual what they did mean when they said such.' (105.9-142.3s)

Revelation has ceased; illumination continues

Summary: God's revelation is complete in Christ and Scripture. The Holy Spirit now illuminates believers to understand that finished revelation.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'There is no revelation going on today... Illumination is when God turns the lights on for us.' (1413.6-1486.4s; 1825.9-1917.9s)

Proper tools are essential for Bible study

Summary: Just as a carpenter needs tools, a Christian needs a good Bible, concordances, and Bible software to study effectively.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If you're going to build a house, obviously you have to have a hammer and a saw... So if you're going to really study the scripture... the very first thing you need is a very good Bible.' (670.0-724.6s)

Carnality hinders spiritual understanding

Summary: Even believers can be unable to receive deep truth if they are living in sin, strife, or immaturity.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 3:1-3: 'I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal... I have fed you with milk, and not with meat.' (2229.3-2327.0s)

The Holy Spirit is the believer's teacher

Summary: The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, teaches believers and brings Christ's words to remembrance, enabling spiritual understanding.

Evidence: Weaver quotes John 14:26: 'He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.' (2808.7-2868.2s)

Truth must be pursued at any cost

Summary: Proverbs 23:23 commands believers to 'buy the truth' regardless of the expense, because truth brings wisdom and understanding.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.' (3130.1-3216.8s)

Scripture References

2 Timothy 2:7

Context: Paul's instruction to Timothy to consider what he says, with the promise that the Lord will give understanding. Weaver uses this as the theme verse for the series.

Mark 4:33-34

Context: Jesus taught in parables but expounded all things to His disciples when they were alone, illustrating the need to ask for understanding.

Luke 24:26-27

Context: On the Emmaus road, Jesus expounded from Moses and the prophets the things concerning Himself, showing that He is the one to ask for interpretation.

Acts 11:4

Context: Peter rehearsed and expounded his vision to the Jerusalem church, demonstrating that the recipient of revelation is the one who can explain it.

2 Timothy 3:16

Context: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, affirming the divine origin of the Bible.

Hebrews 1:1-3

Context: God spoke in the past through prophets but has now spoken finally through His Son, indicating that revelation is complete.

Jude 1:3

Context: The faith was once delivered to the saints, using the Greek word 'hapax' meaning 'just once,' supporting the cessation of new revelation.

1 Corinthians 2:9-12

Context: God has revealed things by His Spirit, and believers have received the Spirit to know the things freely given by God.

1 Corinthians 2:14

Context: The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned.

Romans 8:5-8

Context: The carnal mind is enmity against God and cannot please Him, explaining why the unsaved cannot understand Scripture.

Ephesians 4:18

Context: The understanding of the unsaved is darkened due to ignorance and blindness of heart.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Context: Paul could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual but as carnal, feeding them milk because they were not ready for meat.

Hebrews 5:10-14

Context: The Hebrew Christians were dull of hearing and needed milk, not strong meat, because they were unskillful in the word of righteousness.

Mark 4:33

Context: Jesus spoke the word as they were able to hear it, indicating that spiritual receptivity affects understanding.

Jeremiah 5:20-21

Context: God calls His people foolish and without understanding when they have eyes but do not see and ears but do not hear.

Luke 24:25

Context: Jesus called the disciples on the Emmaus road fools and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken.

Matthew 15:16

Context: Jesus asked His disciples if they were also yet without understanding.

Mark 7:18

Context: Jesus again questioned the disciples' lack of understanding.

Luke 24:45

Context: Jesus opened the disciples' understanding so they could understand the Scriptures.

Psalm 119:18

Context: David prayed for God to open his eyes to behold wondrous things from the law, a model prayer for illumination.

Historical References

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890s)

Context: Weaver mentions that Strong's Concordance was completed in the 1890s after 35 years of work, and jokes about its weight and thoroughness.

Young's Analytical Concordance

Context: Weaver describes Young's Concordance as analyzing Greek words and grouping them under English words, making it a valuable tool.

Online Bible software

Context: Weaver recommends the Online Bible program as an affordable tool that provides access to Greek, Hebrew, commentaries, dictionaries, and maps.

J.I. Packer

Context: Weaver reads a lengthy quote from J.I. Packer on illumination, summarizing the sermon's teaching on the Holy Spirit's work.

Martin Luther

Context: Weaver cites Luther's three things that make a theologian: prayer, meditation, and trial.

Important Quotes

Really and truly the only way that we will ever know what someone meant if we misunderstood or misinterpreted is to simply ask the individual what they did mean when they said such.

Significance: Establishes the foundational principle that understanding requires going to the original source, applied to God as the author of Scripture.

Since God is the one who gave us the Scripture, since the Holy Spirit inspired the Scripture to be written, if you and I misunderstand or if you and I misinterpret and we really want the truth, the way to find out the truth is to go to the One that said, that wrote, that sent the truth.

Significance: Directly applies the principle of asking the original speaker to the context of Bible interpretation and prayer.

Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth, so that the words that they spoke and wrote were and are indeed the very words of God Himself.

Significance: Provides a clear definition of inspiration, grounding the authority of Scripture.

Revelation is the act of God whereby He reveals truth that was never known before to the human mind.

Significance: Defines revelation and sets up the distinction between revelation and illumination.

Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit common to all Christians, whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth.

Significance: Defines illumination as the Spirit's ongoing work, contrasting it with new revelation.

You're not able to hear or receive more truth if you're unwilling to obey the truth that you already have.

Significance: Highlights the conditional nature of spiritual understanding based on obedience.

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Significance: The key verse of application, urging the congregation to value and pursue truth at any cost.

I'd rather drive two hours one way to get truth than to walk across the street in 15 steps to get error and heresy.

Significance: A practical illustration of the cost and value of truth, emphasizing the importance of sound teaching.

Discussion Questions

Why is it essential to go directly to God when we misunderstand Scripture, rather than relying solely on human teachers or our own reasoning?

Context: Weaver argues that since God authored Scripture, He is the only one who can give true understanding (288.8-360.8s).

How does the distinction between inspiration, revelation, and illumination affect the way we approach Bible study and claims of new prophetic words?

Context: Weaver defines these terms and argues that revelation has ceased, while illumination continues (1255.8-1917.9s).

What are some practical ways we can 'buy the truth' in our own lives, considering the cost of time, money, and effort?

Context: Weaver applies Proverbs 23:23, urging the congregation to invest in tools and prioritize truth (3130.1-3281.4s).

In what ways can carnality or spiritual immaturity hinder our ability to understand Scripture, and how can we address these hindrances?

Context: Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 3 and Hebrews 5 to show that sin and immaturity limit spiritual understanding (2229.3-2557.8s).

How does the Holy Spirit's role as Teacher (John 14:26) change the way we prepare for and engage in personal Bible study?

Context: Weaver emphasizes the Spirit's ministry of illumination and teaching (2808.7-2903.8s).

Why does Weaver say that even Christians can be 'foolish' and without understanding, and what is the remedy?

Context: Weaver references Jeremiah 5:21 and Luke 24:25, calling for prayer and obedience (2561.6-2697.4s).

What role do study tools like concordances and Bible software play in the process of illumination, and how can we avoid relying on them apart from the Spirit?

Context: Weaver stresses the need for both proper tools and Spirit-illumination (670.0-1193.6s; 1193.9-1917.9s).

How does the example of Jesus expounding Scripture to His disciples (Mark 4:34; Luke 24:27) encourage us to seek personal, prayerful understanding?

Context: Weaver uses these passages to show that Jesus is the model for asking and receiving understanding (240.8-420.7s).

Applications

Pray for illumination

Summary: Regularly pray Psalm 119:18, asking God to open your eyes to understand His Word, recognizing that true understanding comes from the Holy Spirit.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law' and encourages praying this prayer (2668.9-2697.4s).

Invest in study tools

Summary: Acquire a readable Bible, a concordance, or Bible software, and take time to learn how to use them effectively for personal study.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If you are going to really study, you need the necessary tools to study... you need a good Bible. You need a Strong's or Young's or at least a good Bible program.' (1065.2-1095.4s)

Obey known truth to receive more

Summary: Examine your life for areas of disobedience or carnality that may be hindering your ability to understand deeper spiritual truths.

Evidence: Weaver warns, 'You're not able to hear or receive more truth if you're unwilling to obey the truth that you already have.' (2484.2-2557.8s)

Prioritize truth over convenience

Summary: Be willing to sacrifice time, comfort, and resources to sit under sound teaching and to study Scripture personally.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'I'd rather drive two hours one way to get truth than to walk across the street in 15 steps to get error and heresy.' (3216.8-3281.4s)

Reject claims of new revelation

Summary: Test any claim of new prophecy or revelation against the finished work of Christ and the closed canon of Scripture.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'There is no revelation going on today... When you postulate that I can be a prophet... that's not revelation. That's my speculation.' (1413.6-1702.1s)

Cultivate spiritual maturity

Summary: Move beyond spiritual milk by consistently studying and applying Scripture, exercising your senses to discern good and evil.

Evidence: Weaver cites Hebrews 5:14: 'Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.' (2327.9-2409.2s)

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T21:36:52Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:31:16Z

Clean Transcript

Three Reasons We Need To Consider Truth And Interpret Scripture - Part 3

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Let's open our Bible today again to 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 7. You'll remember the first two messages I dealt with three reasons we need to consider truth and interpret scripture. Today we're going to continue that, but I've added something to the title. I was just trying to keep the three reasons there to keep everything in line on my computer. But it is three reasons we need to consider truth and interpret Scripture and six things necessary to interpret. So I added just a little bit. So if you look in 2 Timothy 2 and verse 7, the Apostle Paul again told Timothy, "Consider what I say. And the Lord give thee understanding in all things."
#1 | 0:11 to 1:00 | cleaned
Now, I pointed out in the very first message I preached in this series that everyone interprets what they read, what they see, or what they hear. We may interpret incorrectly, but yet at the same time, we still interpret. We oftentimes misunderstand and misinterpret. So I could ask two questions. And the first one would be this: How often has someone misinterpreted or misunderstood what you said? And the second question is, likewise, how many times have you misinterpreted or misunderstood what someone else has said?
#2 | 1:01 to 1:45 | cleaned
And usually when there's a misinterpretation or misunderstanding, somehow, someway, anger and resentment and bitterness and hurt feelings and sometimes even dissolution of friendship happens. Here is a simple but a very often neglected truth, and here it is. Really and truly the only way that we will ever know what someone meant if we misunderstood or misinterpreted is to simply ask the individual what they did mean when they said such.
#3 | 1:45 to 2:22 | cleaned
So if Steve said something to me and I did not quite understand what he said, not that I necessarily didn't hear it, but I thought when he said it, I thought, "Is he slamming me? Is he being ugly with me? Is he being unkind? I bet that rascal meant such and such." Well, the only way that I can really find out is to ask him because he's the one that said it. And he knew exactly why he said it and what he meant. He may have meant to cut me and slam me.
#4 | 2:25 to 2:57 | cleaned
If he did, he'd probably tell me so. And then he'd probably tell me why. But all I'm saying is, oftentimes we just neglect listening to the one who said what we misinterpreted and what we misunderstood. You have to understand this too, that every time we hear something or read something, or think about something, we also do so from our own perspective. Our own perspective may be right, it may be wrong, but it is still our perspective. I've often counseled husbands and wives who are having marital problems, and they would sit in front of me, and the woman would say one thing, and the man would say something totally, completely different. And you would think, "Well, now you need to ask them which one is lying." And the truth of the matter was neither one of them were lying. They were just interpreting everything from their own perspective.
#5 | 2:57 to 4:00 | cleaned
That's the way they saw it. That's the way they understood it. That's the way they heard it. One of them obviously was wrong. Maybe sometimes both of them were wrong, but that was just simply their own perspective. So the point I'm trying to make is this: really and truly the only way that you're going to find out what someone really meant is just simply to ask them. And I went through all of that just to say this. Since God is the one who gave us the Scripture, since the Holy Spirit inspired the Scripture to be written, if you and I misunderstand or if you and I misinterpret and we really want the truth, the way to find out the truth is to go to the One that said, that wrote, that sent the truth. And therefore we ask Him. I want you to look in your Bibles,
#6 | 4:00 to 4:48 | cleaned
if you would, to the book of Mark, chapter 4, and you can probably hold this passage because we will come back here just a little bit later. But look, if you would, please, at Mark, chapter 4, and I want us to just read verses 33 and 34. Look at it. Mark, chapter 4, and let's begin there with verse 33. Our Lord has been teaching in parables, and the Bible says, "And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples." So when the disciples did not understand what our Lord was teaching, even when He taught by parables, when they got alone with Jesus Christ, then they asked Him, and He then expounded everything to them. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Luke, chapter 24, Luke 24. You remember, of course, those two men on the Emmaus road without me going into all of the passage there.
#7 | 4:48 to 6:00 | cleaned
But in Luke chapter 24, they were on the Emmaus road. And of course, Jesus drew near to them and they were assuming that he was a stranger. Their eyes were holden. The Bible says they did not know who he was. Until, of course, he prayed, and then the Bible tells us their eyes were open. But the interesting thing is this, in Luke 24 and verse 27, and in fact, go back and read verse 26. He says to them, "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." They didn't understand. They didn't see. They did not comprehend. And so here he now begins expounding from Moses and the prophets everything that pertained to him.
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So he is the one to ask, very obviously. You know, there was a passage in Acts chapter 11 and verse 4, and we are told this concerning the apostle Peter. The Bible says, "But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying." And, of course, that verse deals with the vision that God gave him in Acts chapter 10, when the sheet was let down from heaven with all manner of creeping things. And the voice said, "Rise, Peter; slay, and eat." And he says, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean." And then, of course, the Lord gave him the proper interpretation of that, and He was showing him that men were not necessarily unclean just because they were not of the tribes of Israel.
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And so he went then into the house of Cornelius, who was a Roman soldier, a centurion. And obviously he had all of his families there. And of course, then when Peter came back, some of the Jews there at Jerusalem said, "You went into the house of someone who was unclean." And then Peter now begins expounding and explaining the vision that God gave to him.
#10 | 7:55 to 8:20 | cleaned
Now let me just point out this. Peter was the only one who could expound it because God gave him the vision, God gave him the interpretation, God told him what it meant, and so therefore now he can expound and he can explain. So if they wanted to know what the vision actually meant, they would have to go to Peter because that was the one to whom God had given it.
#11 | 8:20 to 8:43 | cleaned
You see, the truth of the matter is this, when you and I refuse to pray, when we refuse to study, when we refuse to meditate and seek the answers from the author of Scripture, we should understand that there are so many delusions around and so many heresies around and so much ignorance around because we refuse to ask and seek the truth from the One who sent the Scripture. Today what I'd like to do is begin sharing with you some of the things that are needed and necessary to interpret the scripture. And today we're only going to cover two out of the six.
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And before I give you these, let me just mention something that I've heard for a multitude of years. As someone had said, "But Brother Weaver, you should know more about the Bible because you went to the university, you went to a Bible school." Yes, I did go. But let me tell you something, you do not need a college degree or a Bible school diploma to understand the Word of God. You just simply do not need that. Certainly, I approve of education, you understand that. But the truth of the matter is this, college or a Bible school may teach you about the Bible. Well, the only way you can learn the Bible is to study it for yourself. Read it for yourself. And the truth of the matter is, I'd rather know what is in the Bible than just simply facts about the Bible. So don't come around and say, "Well, some preachers have gone to Bible school, they should know more than others." They may know some things more than others, but the only way you can really know the Bible is just simply read it yourself.
#13 | 9:26 to 10:41 | cleaned
So here are six things. I'm going to give you just two of them today that are absolutely necessary and needed for you to interpret and understand the scripture. The first one is this. Listen carefully. You need the tools necessary to study and to learn. You need the tools necessary to study and learn. I think you really grasp this fact very simply. Because if you're going to build a house, obviously you have to have a hammer and a saw.
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You have to have a measuring stick. You have to have something to work with if you're going to be a carpenter, if you're going to build a house. That's all there is to it. So if you're going to really study the scripture, if you're really going to know the truth, then the very first thing you need is a very good Bible.
#15 | 11:10 to 11:27 | cleaned
Now, I always recommend the King James Bible. That's what I've used all my life. That's what I've learned and memorized all my scripture with. But I'm just simply saying what I mean by a good Bible, I mean one that you can read and one that you can use. If you can't read it, if the print is too small, you're just simply not going to use it. I have no idea how many Bibles I have. I've got a number of them, I can assure you. And I've got some very compact Bibles, which means the print is so small I have to put on reading glasses.
#16 | 11:28 to 12:04 | cleaned
Obviously, I don't carry those around with me. Now, I don't have a giant print Bible, but the print is big enough that I can read it without glasses. So the only point I'm trying to make is this. If you're not going to have a Bible that you can use, if you're not going to have a Bible that you can find what you need to find, obviously, you're not going to be using that.
#17 | 12:06 to 12:25 | cleaned
I think I told you this years ago, but I never will forget hearing or reading, I guess I did many years ago about the pastor who visited one of his members. And as he went in the house, and visited with this lady for a while, he said, "Well, before I go, I'd like to read some scripture, but I left my Bible in the car. May I use your Bible?" And the lady said, "Yes."
#18 | 12:25 to 12:52 | cleaned
And she looks at the little girl and she said to her daughter, "Please go in mommy's room and get that book that mother loves so much." And of course, the little girl came back with a Sears and Roebuck catalog. You know, obviously, you know, if you are going to find a Bible, you need to find one that you can use and would use.
#19 | 12:52 to 13:15 | cleaned
Now, here's the second thing. I've heard people say, "Well, you know, Hebrew, you know, Greek." Well, the truth of the matter is, you don't really have to know Hebrew and you don't really have to know Greek. I will tell you that that is an advantage, that is for sure. I never had Hebrew, but I did take three years of Greek.
#20 | 13:15 to 13:36 | cleaned
Now, if you have an Internet connection, then there are all kind of Bible programs that are available. I will recommend one, but if you don't have Internet, there is a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, and there's a Young's Analytical Concordance. Now, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance is a concordance that will list every word in the Bible. It will include words such as "it," "the," "and." Years ago, I think it was 1894 when the Strong's came out, it was the 1890s anyhow, it was 35 years in completion. Of course they did not have computers back then, but it took 35 years and some theological students really understood Strong's Exhaustive Concordance because they said you had to be strong to carry it, probably weighed three or four pounds.
#21 | 13:36 to 14:35 | cleaned
And they said it's exhausting, especially if you carried it all day long. But the word exhaustive just simply means thorough. Now, so if you were to take the word "world" and look it up in the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, it's going to list for you that word in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. It'll give you every scripture that the word "world" is found in. Secondly, if you look at Young's Analytical Concordance, it does something even more.
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It will analyze all of the Greek words for you. Now, by the way, Strong's always has a number assigned to a word, and so therefore you can look in the back of the Strong's Concordance and find out the original Hebrew word, the Greek word, and the definition. But Young's Analytical Concordance, if you were to take the word "world," it's not only going to list the word "cosmos," it's going to list the other two or three words in the Greek that occur from which the word "world" is translated. It is going to give all of those right under the word "world."
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So both of them are very usable, both of them are very easy to use. I tell people if you're going to get an online Bible program, one of the best Bible programs I've ever seen is known as the Online Bible program. And you can get it for less than 50 bucks. Now, I realize there are a lot of free Bible programs. I think there's a Blue Letter Bible program, all kind of Bible programs. But the reason I like the Online Bible program is because it gives you access, not only to Greek and to Hebrew, it gives you access to definitions, to maps, to commentaries, to dictionaries, devotionals, multitude of other helps.
#24 | 15:45 to 16:34 | cleaned
I probably have in my library, if not close to or over, 15,000 books. And I've amassed those books over 57 years of preaching. I have no idea of the value of those books. I know it was a lot of money I've paid for them over the years. But the point I'm trying to make is this. For less than 50 bucks, you can buy the Online Bible program and all the commentaries and all the dictionaries that you have available at your fingertips. If you were to buy them like I did, you would spend thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars.
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And they're all right there. All the old Puritans, four or five different Bible dictionaries, all the maps, everything that you need.
#26 | 17:16 to 17:28 | cleaned
Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. If you are going to really study, you need the necessary tools to study. And that means you need a good Bible. You need a Strong's or Young's or at least a good Bible program.
#27 | 17:28 to 17:44 | cleaned
Now, I heard people object all these years, "But I don't know Hebrew, and I don't know Greek." Well, you don't have to go to school necessarily for that. I mean, it's right there. All you've got to do is, especially on the Online Bible program, is click on the little button, and there it appears. It'll tell you what the Greek is. It'll tell you the definition. It'll tell you where to go to find more information on it. So all these languages at your fingertips, all you have to do is click on them.
#28 | 17:45 to 18:15 | cleaned
So everything is basically spelled out for you. Now I suspect, in all probability, the objection that people have to buying books or getting Bible programs is really and truly they do not wish to take the time to learn to use these tools. Priorities do matter. If you're really interested in knowing the will of God and knowing the Word of God in your life, then you will make the investment not only of money, but of time to make sure that you know what the will of God is and what the Word of God is. If you're not really interested, then of course, this is a secondary matter to you and unimportant in your life. And consequently, you will never acquire the proper tools. And if you did acquire them, you would never, ever use them.
#29 | 18:15 to 19:04 | cleaned
Let me tell you something. A carpenter that does not have a hammer and a saw is just as useless as a carpenter who has a hammer and a saw, but he doesn't know how to use them. So if you're going to get the tools, you need to take the time to learn how to use them. Acquiring the proper tools in Bible study is the first step. So you need the proper tools. You need a good Bible. You need to know history. And you can have church history at your fingertips with the Online Bible program as well. You need to know what the original languages are. You can have them at your fingertips with the Online Bible.
#30 | 19:05 to 19:53 | cleaned
Now, here's the second thing, and this is the one I'm going to really be covering today, and that is this. You not only need the proper tools if you're going to interpret, if you're going to study, but the second thing you need is a mind that is illuminated by the Holy Spirit. You need a mind that is illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Now, before I get into this, I'm going to give you three definitions, so I can expound and explain these definitions. The first one is the definition of inspiration. Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth, so that the words that they spoke and wrote were and are indeed the very words of God Himself. If you understand inspiration, you understand the Bible is the Word of God.
#31 | 19:53 to 20:54 | cleaned
I've preached before in times past, and I've had someone say to me, "Well, Brother Weaver, that's just what you said. If I heard God say it, I'd believe it." The truth is, if I preached it from the Bible, God said it. If it's in the Bible, God said it. That's what inspiration is. Inspiration is a strong, conscious, in-breathing of God, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth. It's God speaking through men. So the Bible is just as much the Word of God as if God spoke every single word Himself. That's why the Bible says in 2 Timothy chapter 3, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." It is God-breathed. It is God-exhaled. So the Bible is indeed the Word of God. That is inspiration. That is how we got the Bible. God inspired the men to write. He breathed in them the very words that they wrote, so that the words are indeed the very Word of God. Here's the second definition, and that's the definition of revelation. Revelation is the act of God whereby He reveals truth that was never known before to the human mind.
#32 | 20:55 to 22:06 | cleaned
Revelation is the act of God whereby He reveals truth that was never known before to the human mind. So if I were to ask you who wrote the first five books of the Bible, you would respond, "Moses." Well, here's a good question. How did Moses know what happened at creation? He wasn't there. How do you know what happened at the fall of Adam and Eve? How do you know what happened at the Noahic flood? How did he know what happened in Genesis chapter 11? How did he know what happened in Genesis 12, 13, 14, and 15? How did he know? And the answer is, God revealed it to him. Revelation is the act of God whereby God reveals truth never known before to the human mind. Now watch. Revelation is when God reveals a truth. Inspiration is when God superintends the revelation of that truth
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to guarantee that we have His Word. So you have inspiration, you have revelation. Let me mention this, listen carefully, there is no revelation going on today. How can I say that? Because revelation is revealing truth that is never known before to the human mind.
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Now remember if you would please, I've had people ask me, "Are there prophets today?" And the answer is yes and no. In one sense of the word, there are no prophets. In another sense of the word, there are prophets. How can I say that? Well, the Hebrew word, the main Hebrew word was the word "nabi." And a prophet did two things. He foretold and he told forth. When the prophet foretold, God gave him either a vision, trance, truth, spoke to him some way, he knew what was going to happen because God gave him that vision, God gave him that understanding. And so he could say, "In 722 BC, the northern tribe's going to go into captivity." Okay? "586, southern kingdom's going into captivity." In fact, God prophesied all of these things and told all of these things. So that's what the prophets would do. They would prophesy what was going to happen before it happened. But they not only foretold, listen carefully, they told forth. So is there a new revelation being given today? And the answer is no.
#35 | 23:33 to 24:46 | cleaned
And I'm going to show you why in just a moment. But are there prophets today in one sense? Yes. If I foretell or, quote unquote, tell forth what is going to happen based upon the finished revelation of God, then in that sense, I'd be a prophet, but I'm not giving something that just came to me, some new truth, some different truth. No, no, no. I'm giving and telling forth that revelation which has already been revealed. And so therefore my telling forth is based on what was already foretold when God gave us His Word. Okay. So in that sense of the word, there are no prophets, and in one sense of the word, there are prophets. Now let me show you. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews 1, here is why I'm telling you there is no new truth going on today. There is no revelation going on today. Look at this, Hebrews 1, verses 1-3. Hebrews 1, verses 1-3. Look at it. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,"
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Well, how did God speak? Read the Old Testament, sometimes with visions, sometimes with dreams, sometimes He spoke to them, they understood. Sometimes He used pictures, like when Ezekiel portrayed the siege of Jerusalem. He spoke in different ways. But look what has happened in verse 2. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Now notice if you would, in verse 2, "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son."
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So when we come up and say that there is new revelation going on today, then we are denying that Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God. We would be denying that the Bible is the full and final revelation of the written Word of God. So you cannot have revelation and have the fullness of Jesus Christ at the same time. That would be additional revelation. Jesus Christ Himself is the Revelator. Jesus Christ is revelation. And the Bible is the written revelation of God. But when you postulate that I can be a prophet and I can tell you that, "Well, let's see, the United States is going to fall in October of 2022." No, that's not revelation. That's my speculation. You see what I'm saying?
#38 | 26:50 to 27:46 | cleaned
There is no prophecy like that. I know you've heard it. You've read it. I've read it all my life. People prophesying everything. No, they are not. They may be telling you what they think. They may be telling you what they believe. They may be telling you what they wish, but it's not prophecy. It is not revelation because there cannot be any new revelation without denying that Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God. And the Bible tells us very clearly that God has spoken to us in these last days by His Son.
#39 | 27:47 to 28:22 | cleaned
Now, if you'll look in your Bibles to the book of Jude, right before the book of Revelation, one little book, one chapter, look at verse 3. Look at what the Bible says. Jude 1 and verse 3. Jude writes, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Now notice if you would, he said, "You must earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints." Hmm. Now the word "once" is the Greek word "hapax." And it means "just once." And so he is saying that the faith has been revealed just once. So when you come up with new revelation, now you're saying that the faith is being revealed more than once. By the way, some of you may have read a word. If you've ever read theological books, you may have come across a word known as the "hapax legomena." You know what "hapax legomena" are?
#40 | 28:22 to 29:51 | cleaned
Gary, you know, don't you? Tell us. Yep. Words that occur just one time in the Bible. That's it. Just once. That's what this word is. The faith was delivered just once. So you have to understand this: revelation, how God gave truth to men. Inspiration superintended the communication of that truth.
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Now let me make a statement and then I'm going to try to give you the understanding of it. I've had Christians call me so excited and they would say something like this, "Pastor, let me just share with you what God just revealed to me." And I hate to burst their bubble. I really do. I listen patiently. And then after I hear, I rejoice with them and then I correct them. And I say this. "May I, may I correct you in one area?" "Well, yes." "God did not reveal that to you. God illuminated your mind to understand what He had already revealed." Because there is no revelation going on today. So I told you what revelation was. I told you what inspiration was. Now here's the third one, illumination. Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit common to all Christians, whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth. Illumination is when God turns the lights on for us. Illumination is when God enlightens our minds so that we can understand, comprehend, and grasp His previously revealed truth.
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Now, let me tell you something. I'm all for memorizing scripture, but memory work is not necessarily illumination. I'm all for reading through the Bible as often as you can. And knowing as much of the Bible as you can possibly know, but just simply because you read through the Bible over and over and have a good knowledge of what is in the Bible, that does not mean that you have illumination. Illumination is when God, the Holy Spirit, opens your eyes and allows you to see and to be able to understand what has been written.
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So before Steve walked into this room, the room was dark. He flipped the light switch, the lights came on, and the room was illuminated, and you could see everything that was in the room. That is illumination. If you will look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 2, and I will explain a word for you. But look in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 9. 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 9.
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The Word of God says, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." That is true. Now, if you go back to verse 10, "Eye hath not seen," verse 9, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit." God gave truth by His Spirit. But the interesting thing is this, the word for "revealed" in verse 10 is the Greek word "apokalupto," which means to uncover, to lay open, to make bare, to make known, to make manifest, to disclose that which was not known before.
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So He illuminates this. We can read and we can memorize. But until God opens our eyes, we really do not know what the Scripture means. In other words, it is now through the Holy Spirit that we have our eyes opened.
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Now, this is the same thing that I read to you when we began in 2 Timothy 2 and verse 7, where Paul said, "Consider what I say." That's your responsibility. "And the Lord give thee understanding in all things." Understanding is the gift of God. That's why I said in Proverbs 2 and verse 6, again, that wisdom and understanding come from the Lord.
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Now, I've heard people say to me in time past, "Well, I just can't understand the Bible. The Bible is a closed book to me. I don't read it because I can't understand it." Well, if a man is unconverted, it should be understandable that he cannot understand the Bible. Because the Bible tells you in 1 Corinthians 2 and verse 14, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." So an unsaved man does not have the ability to discern or to understand anything in the Word of God. May I remind you also in Romans 8, verses 5 through 8, the Bible says, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." Then he says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
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And then he tells you why. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." So clearly, obviously, an unsaved man cannot understand or comprehend the Word of God. In fact, in Ephesians 4 and 18, he said it very plainly. He said, "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." It's understandable that an unsaved man cannot understand the Bible.
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But let me go a little bit further. This may shock you. Just because you're a Christian doesn't mean that you can understand the Bible either. Hmm. Although God has given us a receptor so that we may understand the scriptures, oftentimes we are not in a position to understand the scriptures, or even receive them. I'll show you that. I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Look at this. 1 Corinthians chapter 1, not chapter 1, but chapter 3. That's where I want. Chapter 3 and verse 1. Look at it. Now Paul is writing to these Corinthian Christians, and I want you to look at what he said. "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." He said, "I couldn't speak unto you as a spiritually mature individual. I had to speak unto you as fleshly, even babes in Christ." Look in verse 2, "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" Paul said, "I couldn't teach you the deep things of God. I could not teach you or give you the meat because you're childish. You're immature."
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You would not take a three-month-old baby and hand him a T-bone steak. He couldn't eat it. You have to give a three-month-old baby milk. And this is what Paul is saying. You're in no position to receive the truth of God. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 5, you'll see the same truth. Hebrews chapter 5, notice if you would please, beginning there with verse 11, this is rather harsh, but it's still truth. Hebrews chapter 5, beginning there with verse 11, look what he says. In fact, let's go back to verse 10, because he's talking about Jesus Christ and especially His priesthood. So in verse 10 he says, "Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec, of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing." That is, you're not willing to listen. You're not even able to listen. Why? Look in verse 12, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."
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"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Wow. Exercised to discern both good and evil. In other words, a babe is not going to be able to receive anything that is deep, anything that is theological, because they're dull of hearing.
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They don't know how to hear. They're unwilling to hear. They don't want to hear. A babe just wants to do what a babe wants to do. And so God is not going to give truth to someone who is immature. He's not. Go back in your Bibles to the book of Mark. I told you we'd come back there. Go back to Mark chapter 4 if you would. But this time I want to really emphasize verse 33. Look at what he says in Mark 4 and verse 33. Mark 4 verse 33.
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"And with many such parables spake he the word unto them." Notice this last phrase. "As they were able to hear it." There are some people that are not able to hear truth and God gives us truth as we are able to hear it. Wow. So just because someone is a Christian does not necessarily mean that he is going to understand God's truth. Let me make this clear again. I've said this already, but I'm going to say it again. You're not able to hear or receive more truth if you're unwilling to obey the truth that you already have. You're never, ever going to learn to chew on meat until you give up the milk. Why in the world would God give anyone more truth if they're not going to obey the truth that He's already given them? And if you and I want to continue to be carnal, if we want to continue to be fleshly, if we want to continue to fuss and fight and feud and divide and have strife and all this, why would God give us more truth?
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This may surprise you. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 5. Jeremiah chapter 5. Do you know what God refers to people who do not have understanding as? I'm talking about His people. I want you to watch this. Jeremiah chapter 5 and let's begin reading there with verse 20. So we're talking about Judah and Israel. Okay, Jeremiah 5 verse 20. God tells Jeremiah, "Declare ye this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not." So God calls them fools. He calls them foolish.
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Do you remember in Luke chapter 24, what our Lord said to those disciples on the Emmaus road? He said to them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." So God calls the people foolish who live without understanding. Wow. Well, you have to understand that just because someone is a Christian does not necessarily mean that he understands everything. I will remind you, disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. They lived with Him. They worked with Him. They ate with Him.
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They were with Him more than anyone else. And in Matthew 15 and verse 16, He asked them, "Are ye also yet without understanding?" And He asked the same thing again in Mark 7 verse 18. And do you remember there in Luke chapter 24, before our Lord ascended into heaven, what did He do? The Bible says, "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." He opened their understanding.
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Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Psalm 119 and verse 18. I want you to see this prayer that David prayed. And I pray this prayer and I trust that you will pray this prayer as well. But look in Psalm 119 and verse 18. It's a wonderful, wonderful prayer request. Psalm 119, verse 18. Look what David prayed. He prayed, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." Open thou mine eyes. In other words, "Lord, let me see. Open my eyes." He cried out many times for the Lord to teach him, to lead him, to guide him.
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Now, our Lord has given us ministry of the Holy Spirit. So I want you to see, if you would please, in John chapter 14, first of all, beginning there with verse 15, and show you several verses. John chapter 14, and look if you would please, beginning there with verse 15. Our Lord said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Now notice if you would, the Holy Spirit in verse 17 is called the Spirit of truth. Now, he said, "I'll give you another Comforter."
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The Comforter is the word "parakletos" from the Greek verb "parakaleo," "I call alongside to help." And notice, if you would please watch this in verse 16, he said, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter." Hmm. Interestingly, there are two Greek words for "another." There's "allos" and "heteros." If we say we believe in a heterosexual marriage, that means a man and a woman. "Heteros" is different. "Allos" means one of the same kind. So our Lord is saying, "I'm a Comforter and I'm going to send you another Comforter like me." So just like our Lord taught His disciples, now the Holy Spirit teaches His disciples as well. Skip down to verse 25.
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He says, "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you." In other words, "I taught you." Now, verse 26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Wow. Look in John chapter 15, if you would, at verses 26 and 27. Again, he says this, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."
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"And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." Note, if you would, he's again called the Spirit of truth. So let me give you a word of warning. It is true the Holy Spirit of God is the one who turns the lights on for us. It is true the Holy Spirit of God grants us enlightenment and illumination so that we may comprehend and understand and apply the Word of God. But this illumination is not some secret knowledge. This illumination is not some, considering the Bible, some code book, and now all of a sudden you have the real allegory, and you now have the real truth of this, and you're in an exclusive club. No. When the Holy Spirit of God illuminates our mind to understanding, He does not turn us into Gnostics. He does not turn us into a secret club. He just gives us understanding, and the truth is that any Christian reading the same text, reading the same passage of Scripture, may be granted illumination by the Holy Spirit just like you were.
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So it's not a secret knowledge. It's just the ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He guides us and leads us and directs us and turns the lights on for us that we may actually see what is being taught. We're not just seeing words, we're understanding those words so that we may apply them in our lives.
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Now I want to give you a quote. It's about three paragraphs long, written by J.I. Packer. This quote will summarize everything that I've said in the past 55 minutes. So if you had had the proper tools, Ron, and could have read J.I. Packer's three paragraphs, you wouldn't have had to listen to this 55-minute lecture and message. No, I'm teasing. But he is saying exactly what I just taught you, so I want you to listen.
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He says, "The knowledge of divine things to which Christians are called is more than a formal acquaintance with biblical words and Christian ideas. It is a realizing of the reality and relevance of those activities of the triune God to which Scripture testifies. Such awareness is natural to none familiar with Christian ideas, though they may be, like the man without the Spirit, or the one who cannot receive what Christians tell him, or the blind leader of the blind of whom Jesus spoke, or like Paul said before Christ met him on the Damascus Road." Then he goes on to say this, "Only the Holy Spirit, searcher of the deep things of God, can bring about this realization in our sinned, darkened minds and hearts. That is why it is called spiritual understanding. Spiritual means Spirit-given. Those who, along with sound verbal instruction, who have the anointing from the Holy One, know the truth." Now listen carefully. "The work of the Spirit in imparting this knowledge is called illumination or enlightenment."
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"It is not a giving of new revelation, but a work within us that enables us to grasp and to love the revelation that is there before us in the biblical text as heard, read, and as explained by teachers and writers. Sin in our mental and moral system clouds our minds and wills so that we miss and resist the force of Scripture. Oftentimes God seems to be remote to the point of unreality, and in the face of God's truth we are dull and apathetic. The Spirit, however, opens and unveils our minds and attunes our hearts so that we understand. As by inspiration He provided Scripture truth for us, so now by illumination He interprets it for us. Illumination is thus the applying of God's revealed truth to our hearts, so that we may grasp as reality for ourselves what the sacred text sets forth." Illumination, which is a lifelong ministry of the Holy Spirit to Christians, even starts before His conversion. And he goes on to explain that what he means by that is that's when He begins to convict us.
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He begins to open our eyes to our sins. He begins to open our eyes to who the Lord Jesus Christ really is. And then he concludes with this. He says, "There is a threefold conviction according to Luther that is absolutely necessary for you and I to understand life." He said, "Martin Luther said there's three things that make a theologian. They are, number one, prayer. Number two, meditation, which would include thinking, churning truth over and over in the mind, and then trial." And he talked about the trial in the sense that once we have truth, there will always usually be a trial which will try to shake you from that truth and turn you from that truth. And the trial, once you know the truth, you stick to it. And the trial then demonstrates that, yes, you do really and truly understand and have this truth. So three things make a theologian: prayer, meditation, and trial or testing.
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Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Proverbs chapter 23 and verse 23. I can quote it, but I want you to see it. Now, I want you to think with me, please. Proverbs 23, verse 23. This verse will summarize everything that I've said today. Look at it. Proverbs 23 and verse 23, the Word of God says, "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." Did you hear what I just read? "Buy the truth, and sell it not." In other words, truth may be expensive, but get it. And when you get truth, you get wisdom and understanding and instruction. Buy the truth, by the tools necessary to understand the truth. I've heard people say, "Well, I'd like to go to church, but I don't like to drive two hours one way just to get to a good church to hear truth."
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I got news for you. It would be worth it if the truth is being taught. I'd rather drive two hours one way to get truth than to walk across the street in 15 steps to get error and heresy. Buy the truth, and sell it not. God is saying whatever truth costs, it is worth it. Buy the truth, and sell it not. So if you and I are going to interpret the scripture, the very first thing we need are the proper tools. And the second thing we need is a mind illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Let's pray.
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you for your grace. We ask you for your mercy. We ask you, Lord, for your divine help. We pray also, Father, for wisdom and understanding. And we ask you, Father, that you'd be pleased to illuminate our minds, that we may understand, grasp, and apply your Word to our lives. Give us, Father, your grace and your mercy. Help us, we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, in whose name we ask. Amen.
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I got news for you. It would be worth it if the truth is being taught. I'd rather drive two hours one way to get truth than to walk across the street in 15 steps to get error and heresy. Buy the truth, and sell it not. God is saying whatever truth costs, it is worth it. Buy the truth, and sell it not. So if you and I are going to interpret the scripture, the very first thing we need are the proper tools. And the second thing we need is a mind illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Let's pray.
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you for your grace. We ask you for your mercy. We ask you, Lord, for your divine help. We pray also, Father, for wisdom and understanding. And we ask you, Father, that you'd be pleased to illuminate our minds, that we may understand, grasp, and apply your Word to our lives. Give us, Father, your grace and your mercy. Help us, we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, in whose name we ask. Amen.
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You.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T21:36:52Z

Three Reasons We Need To Consider Truth And Interpret Scripture - Part 3

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his series on interpreting Scripture by emphasizing that the only way to resolve misunderstandings is to ask the original speaker—in this case, God. He introduces six things necessary for interpretation, covering two in detail: having the proper tools (a good Bible, concordances, Bible software) and possessing a mind illuminated by the Holy Spirit. He distinguishes between inspiration, revelation, and illumination, arguing that revelation has ceased and that Christians need the Spirit's illumination to truly understand Scripture. He warns that even believers can be dull of hearing if they are carnal or disobedient, and he urges the congregation to 'buy the truth' at any cost.

Introduction and Review

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 2:7

"Consider what I say. And the Lord give thee understanding in all things."

Biblical Examples of Asking for Understanding

Jesus expounded parables to His disciples when they asked (Mark 4:33-34), explained Scripture on the Emmaus road (Luke 24:27), and Peter expounded his vision to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:4).

Scripture Reading — Mark 4:33-34

"And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."

Scripture Reading — Luke 24:26-27

"Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

They didn't understand. They didn't see. They did not comprehend. And so here he now begins expounding from Moses and the prophets everything that pertained to him.

So he is the one to ask, very obviously. You know, there was a passage in Acts chapter 11 and verse 4, and we are told this concerning the apostle Peter. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Acts 11:4

"But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying."

The Necessity of Seeking Truth from God

Refusing to pray and study leads to delusions and heresies. We must ask the Author of Scripture for truth.

Six Things Necessary to Interpret Scripture: Introduction

Weaver introduces six necessities for interpretation and notes that a Bible school degree is not required; personal study is key.

First Necessity: Proper Tools for Study

Second Necessity: A Mind Illuminated by the Holy Spirit

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 3:16

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God."

Scripture Reading — Jude 1:3

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

Now notice if you would, he said,

Scripture Reading — Jude 1:3

"You must earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints."

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 2:9-12

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."

That is true. Now, if you go back to verse 10, "Eye hath not seen," verse 9,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 2:9-12

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit."

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 2:14

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

So an unsaved man does not have the ability to discern or to understand anything in the Word of God. May I remind you also in Romans 8, verses 5 through 8, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 2:14

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit."

Then he says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

The Holy Spirit as Teacher and the Danger of Carnality

They were with Him more than anyone else. And in Matthew 15 and verse 16, He asked them,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:16

"Are ye also yet without understanding?"

J.I. Packer Quote and Summary

Conclusion: Buy the Truth

Using Proverbs 23:23, Weaver urges the congregation to 'buy the truth' at any cost, emphasizing that the proper tools and Spirit-illuminated mind are essential for interpreting Scripture.

Three Reasons We Need To Consider Truth And Interpret Scripture - Part 3

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	zYzxfRhGyzE
Subject	Apologetics
Course	Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture
Genre	Sermon
Date	2022-05-06
Dictation Name
Book	Book 065: Three Reasons We Need To Consider Truth And Interpret Scripture — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	73

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the series theme: everyone interprets, but misunderstandings occur. The only way to know what someone meant is to ask them, and since God authored Scripture, we must ask Him for understanding.
Biblical Examples of Asking for Understanding: Jesus expounded parables to His disciples when they asked (Mark 4:33-34), explained Scripture on the Emmaus road (Luke 24:27), and Peter expounded his vision to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:4).
The Necessity of Seeking Truth from God: Refusing to pray and study leads to delusions and heresies. We must ask the Author of Scripture for truth.
Six Things Necessary to Interpret Scripture: Introduction: Weaver introduces six necessities for interpretation and notes that a Bible school degree is not required; personal study is key.
First Necessity: Proper Tools for Study: Just as a carpenter needs tools, a Bible student needs a good readable Bible, a concordance (Strong's or Young's), and Bible software like the Online Bible program for access to original languages and resources.
Second Necessity: A Mind Illuminated by the Holy Spirit: Weaver defines inspiration, revelation, and illumination. He argues that revelation has ceased (Hebrews 1:1-3; Jude 3) and that Christians need the Spirit's illumination to understand previously revealed truth. Even believers can be unable to receive truth if they are carnal or disobedient (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-14).
The Holy Spirit as Teacher and the Danger of Carnality: The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth who teaches and brings remembrance (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26). Illumination is not secret knowledge but is available to any obedient Christian. God calls those without understanding 'foolish' (Jeremiah 5:20-21).
J.I. Packer Quote and Summary: Weaver reads a quote from J.I. Packer summarizing illumination as the Spirit's work enabling us to grasp and love the revelation already given. He also cites Luther's three things that make a theologian: prayer, meditation, and trial.
Conclusion: Buy the Truth: Using Proverbs 23:23, Weaver urges the congregation to 'buy the truth' at any cost, emphasizing that the proper tools and Spirit-illuminated mind are essential for interpreting Scripture.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Misinterpretation is resolved by asking the original speaker

The only way to know what someone meant is to ask them. Since God authored Scripture, we must ask Him for understanding.

Weaver says, 'Really and truly the only way that we will ever know what someone meant if we misunderstood or misinterpreted is to simply ask the individual what they did mean when they said such.' (105.9-142.3s)

Revelation has ceased; illumination continues

God's revelation is complete in Christ and Scripture. The Holy Spirit now illuminates believers to understand that finished revelation.

Weaver states, 'There is no revelation going on today... Illumination is when God turns the lights on for us.' (1413.6-1486.4s; 1825.9-1917.9s)

Proper tools are essential for Bible study

Just as a carpenter needs tools, a Christian needs a good Bible, concordances, and Bible software to study effectively.

Weaver says, 'If you're going to build a house, obviously you have to have a hammer and a saw... So if you're going to really study the scripture... the very first thing you need is a very good Bible.' (670.0-724.6s)

Carnality hinders spiritual understanding

Even believers can be unable to receive deep truth if they are living in sin, strife, or immaturity.

Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 3:1-3: 'I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal... I have fed you with milk, and not with meat.' (2229.3-2327.0s)

The Holy Spirit is the believer's teacher

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, teaches believers and brings Christ's words to remembrance, enabling spiritual understanding.

Weaver quotes John 14:26: 'He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.' (2808.7-2868.2s)

Truth must be pursued at any cost

Proverbs 23:23 commands believers to 'buy the truth' regardless of the expense, because truth brings wisdom and understanding.

Weaver says, 'Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.' (3130.1-3216.8s)

Scripture References

2 Timothy 2:7: Paul's instruction to Timothy to consider what he says, with the promise that the Lord will give understanding. Weaver uses this as the theme verse for the series.
Mark 4:33-34: Jesus taught in parables but expounded all things to His disciples when they were alone, illustrating the need to ask for understanding.
Luke 24:26-27: On the Emmaus road, Jesus expounded from Moses and the prophets the things concerning Himself, showing that He is the one to ask for interpretation.
Acts 11:4: Peter rehearsed and expounded his vision to the Jerusalem church, demonstrating that the recipient of revelation is the one who can explain it.
2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, affirming the divine origin of the Bible.
Hebrews 1:1-3: God spoke in the past through prophets but has now spoken finally through His Son, indicating that revelation is complete.
Jude 1:3: The faith was once delivered to the saints, using the Greek word 'hapax' meaning 'just once,' supporting the cessation of new revelation.
1 Corinthians 2:9-12: God has revealed things by His Spirit, and believers have received the Spirit to know the things freely given by God.
1 Corinthians 2:14: The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned.
Romans 8:5-8: The carnal mind is enmity against God and cannot please Him, explaining why the unsaved cannot understand Scripture.
Ephesians 4:18: The understanding of the unsaved is darkened due to ignorance and blindness of heart.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3: Paul could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual but as carnal, feeding them milk because they were not ready for meat.
Hebrews 5:10-14: The Hebrew Christians were dull of hearing and needed milk, not strong meat, because they were unskillful in the word of righteousness.
Mark 4:33: Jesus spoke the word as they were able to hear it, indicating that spiritual receptivity affects understanding.
Jeremiah 5:20-21: God calls His people foolish and without understanding when they have eyes but do not see and ears but do not hear.
Luke 24:25: Jesus called the disciples on the Emmaus road fools and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken.
Matthew 15:16: Jesus asked His disciples if they were also yet without understanding.
Mark 7:18: Jesus again questioned the disciples' lack of understanding.
Luke 24:45: Jesus opened the disciples' understanding so they could understand the Scriptures.
Psalm 119:18: David prayed for God to open his eyes to behold wondrous things from the law, a model prayer for illumination.

Historical References

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890s): Weaver mentions that Strong's Concordance was completed in the 1890s after 35 years of work, and jokes about its weight and thoroughness.
Young's Analytical Concordance: Weaver describes Young's Concordance as analyzing Greek words and grouping them under English words, making it a valuable tool.
Online Bible software: Weaver recommends the Online Bible program as an affordable tool that provides access to Greek, Hebrew, commentaries, dictionaries, and maps.
J.I. Packer: Weaver reads a lengthy quote from J.I. Packer on illumination, summarizing the sermon's teaching on the Holy Spirit's work.
Martin Luther: Weaver cites Luther's three things that make a theologian: prayer, meditation, and trial.

Important Quotes

Really and truly the only way that we will ever know what someone meant if we misunderstood or misinterpreted is to simply ask the individual what they did mean when they said such.

Establishes the foundational principle that understanding requires going to the original source, applied to God as the author of Scripture.

Since God is the one who gave us the Scripture, since the Holy Spirit inspired the Scripture to be written, if you and I misunderstand or if you and I misinterpret and we really want the truth, the way to find out the truth is to go to the One that said, that wrote, that sent the truth.

Directly applies the principle of asking the original speaker to the context of Bible interpretation and prayer.

Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth, so that the words that they spoke and wrote were and are indeed the very words of God Himself.

Provides a clear definition of inspiration, grounding the authority of Scripture.

Revelation is the act of God whereby He reveals truth that was never known before to the human mind.

Defines revelation and sets up the distinction between revelation and illumination.

Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit common to all Christians, whereby He guides us to understand previously revealed truth.

Defines illumination as the Spirit's ongoing work, contrasting it with new revelation.

You're not able to hear or receive more truth if you're unwilling to obey the truth that you already have.

Highlights the conditional nature of spiritual understanding based on obedience.

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

The key verse of application, urging the congregation to value and pursue truth at any cost.

I'd rather drive two hours one way to get truth than to walk across the street in 15 steps to get error and heresy.

A practical illustration of the cost and value of truth, emphasizing the importance of sound teaching.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

Why is it essential to go directly to God when we misunderstand Scripture, rather than relying solely on human teachers or our own reasoning?

[Context]

Weaver argues that since God authored Scripture, He is the only one who can give true understanding (288.8-360.8s).

[Question]

How does the distinction between inspiration, revelation, and illumination affect the way we approach Bible study and claims of new prophetic words?

[Context]

Weaver defines these terms and argues that revelation has ceased, while illumination continues (1255.8-1917.9s).

[Question]

What are some practical ways we can 'buy the truth' in our own lives, considering the cost of time, money, and effort?

[Context]

Weaver applies Proverbs 23:23, urging the congregation to invest in tools and prioritize truth (3130.1-3281.4s).

[Question]

In what ways can carnality or spiritual immaturity hinder our ability to understand Scripture, and how can we address these hindrances?

[Context]

Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 3 and Hebrews 5 to show that sin and immaturity limit spiritual understanding (2229.3-2557.8s).

[Question]

How does the Holy Spirit's role as Teacher (John 14:26) change the way we prepare for and engage in personal Bible study?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes the Spirit's ministry of illumination and teaching (2808.7-2903.8s).

[Question]

Why does Weaver say that even Christians can be 'foolish' and without understanding, and what is the remedy?

[Context]

Weaver references Jeremiah 5:21 and Luke 24:25, calling for prayer and obedience (2561.6-2697.4s).

[Question]

What role do study tools like concordances and Bible software play in the process of illumination, and how can we avoid relying on them apart from the Spirit?

[Context]

Weaver stresses the need for both proper tools and Spirit-illumination (670.0-1193.6s; 1193.9-1917.9s).

[Question]

How does the example of Jesus expounding Scripture to His disciples (Mark 4:34; Luke 24:27) encourage us to seek personal, prayerful understanding?

[Context]

Weaver uses these passages to show that Jesus is the model for asking and receiving understanding (240.8-420.7s).

Applications

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