How to ENJOY the Bible:
Or,
The "Word," and "The Words,"
How to Study them.

By
E. W. Bullinger, D.D.
1916

How to enjoy the Bible - E.W. Bullinger




To many people the Bible is a "closed" book or a relic to be idolized on the shelf. To be a "good" Christian one must have the Book in his home. But the words in the Word are the vitality which gives life and growth to the believer, not simply the Book on the shelf.

This treatise on How to Enjoy the Bible takes the Book from the shelf and places it in the hands and heart of the believer. It shows him how he can read, study and enjoy the sacred contents of the Bible. The Word of God is God's communication of Himself to man. It reveals the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, in prophecy and reality. It gives man direction and a reason for being.

The scholarly work of E. W. Bullinger in this encouraging work has been an inspiration to thousands of Bible students. They have found that reading God's Word is a simple and enjoyable task. They have discovered the riches of wisdom contained in the Book, which has been hidden to most. The goal of this treatise is to help the questing believer to open the Book, to let it speak, to hear its voice and to study it from within itself.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)



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CONTENTS


Preface


Introduction

PART I

The Word of God as a Whole

Introductory

I. The One Great Object of the Word

  1. The LIVING Word, making known the Father

  2. The WRITTEN Word, revealing the Son

  3. The LIVING and the WRITTEN Word


II. The One Great Subject of the Word

  1. CHRIST in the Word as a whole. The KING and the KINGDOM in Promise, in Proclamation, Rejection, Abeyance, and Manifestation

  2. CHRIST in the SEPARATE BOOKS of the Word


III. The One Great Requirement of the Word—"Rightly Dividing" It

  1. As to its LITERARY FORM

    1. The TWO TESTAMENTS

    2. The SEPARATE BOOKS

    3. The Division of the Hebrew Text
      1. Into open and closed Sections
      2. Into Sedarim or Triennial Pericopes
      3. Into Parashioth or Annual Pericopes

    4. The DIVISIONS of the GREEK TEXT

    5. The Divisions of the VERSIONS, AND THE ENGLISH BIBLE
      1. Into Chapters
      2. Into Verses
      3. The Chapter-Breaks
      4. The Headings of Chapters and Pages
      5. The Punctuation
        1. Changes in Edition of 1611 to be preferred to later Editions
        2. Changes in later Editions which are improvements on the 1611
        3. Changes now proposed as most desirable
      6. Parentheses

  2. As to its SUBJECT MATTER

    1. The JEW, the GENTILES, and the CHURCH of God

    2. The GENTILES

    3. The EPISTLES to the DISPERSION
      1. James
      2. Hebrews

  3. As to its TIMES and DISPENSATIONS

    1. The Word "DISPENSATION"

    2. The SEVEN Dispensations
      1. The Edenic (Innocence
      2. The Patriarchal (Theocratic)
      3. Israelite (Past)
      4. The Ecclesia (Grace)
      5. Israelite (Judgment)
      6. Millennial (Theocratic)
      7. Eternal (Glory)

    3. Their SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS
      1. Man's condition in each
      2. The Crisis in each

    4. The "TIMES OF THE GENTILES"

    5. The PARENTHESIS of the PRESENT DISPENSATION

  4. As to its DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH and TEACHING

    1. One part of the PAST not necessarily to be read into another part of the PAST
      1. Matthew 10:5, 6; and 28:19, 20
      2. Luke 9:3; and 22:35, 36

    2. The PAST not to be read into the PRESENT
      1. Law and Grace
      2. The Imprecatory Psalms
      3. The Sabbath
      4. The Kingdom
      5. The Gospels
      6. The Sermon on the Mount
      7. The Lord's Prayer
      8. The Priesthood
      9. Baptisms
      10. The prophecy of Amos. Amos 9:11, 12. Acts 15:14-18
      11. The title "Son of Man"

    3. The PRESENT not to be read into the PAST
      1. The Mystery
      2. "Sons of God"
      3. The "Church"

    4. The FUTURE not to be read into the PRESENT
      1. The Great Tribulation
      2. The 144,000
      3. Sundry Prophecies: Psalm 2; Isaiah 2; Isaiah 60
      4. The Day of the Lord

    5. One part of the FUTURE not necessarily to be read into another part of the FUTURE
      1. The Advents
      2. The Resurrections
      3. The Judgments
        1. 2 Corinthians 5:10
        2. Matthew 25:31-36
        3. Revelation 20:11-15

    6. The Truth and Teaching of the CANONICAL ORDER to be distinguished from the CHRONOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ORDER
      1. The Tabernacle
      2. The Great Offerings
      3. The Four Gospels
      4. 1 Samuel 16-18
      5. The Book of Jeremiah
      6. The Pauline Epistles

PART II

The Words

Introductory

I. The Meaning of Words to be Gathered from the Scope; not the Scope from the Words

  1. 2 Peter 1:20, "Private interpretation"

  2. 1 Peter 3:20, "Spirits in prison"

  3. Hebrews 9:16, 17, "Testament" or "Covenant"

  4. Genesis 24:63, "Meditate"

  5. Revelation 1:10, "The Lord's day"


II. The Scope of a Passage to be Gathered from its Structure

  1. Introductory

  2. The PRINCIPLES governing the Structure of Scripture

  3. EXAMPLES of each principle

  4. The ADVANTAGES and importance of the Structures

  5. ILLUSTRATIONS of these advantages
    1. 2 Peter 1:16-21, "Private interpretation"
    2. 1 Peter 3:18-22, "spirits in prison"
    3. Hebrews 9:15-23, "Testament" and "Covenant"
    4. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5, "absent from the body"


III. The Biblical Usage of Words Essential to their Correct Interpretation

  1. Where ENGLISH WORDS have gone OUT OF USE altogether
    1. All to brake
    2. Away with
    3. Come at
    4. Do to-wit
    5. For to do
    6. Full well
    7. Go to
    8. Trow
    9. Wist
    10. Very

  2. Where the usage of ENGLISH WORDS has become CHANGED
    1. Prevent
    2. To take in
    3. Adventure
    4. Artillery
    5. Assay
    6. By and By
    7. Charity
    8. Beeves
    9. Bonnet
    10. Carriages
    11. Clouted
    12. To ear
    13. Earnest
    14. Fast
    15. Libertine
    16. Lusty
    17. Naughty
    18. Nephew
    19. Occupy
    20. Penny
    21. Presently
    22. Publican
    23. Quick
    24. Quicken
    25. Quickened
    26. Quickeneth
    27. Quickening
    28. Simple
    29. Simplicity
    30. Sottish
    31. Vagabond
    32. Silly

  3. Where the USAGE OF GREEK WORDS had become changed

    1. By God:
      1. areth (arete), praise
      2. hqoV (ethos), manners
      3. aggeloV (angelos), angel
      4. corhgew (choregeo), supply
      5. ekklhsia (ecclesia), church
      6. paraklhtoV (parakletos), comforter, advocate
      7. skandalon (scandalon), offence

    2. By man:
      1. zwopoiew (zoopoieo), quicken
      2. paroikoV (paroikos), neighbour
      3. praktwr (praktor), officer
      4. phra (pera), scrip
      5. presbuteroV (presbuteros), elder
      6. anaginwskw (anaginosko), persuade
      7. apostomatizw (apostomatizo), question
      8. grafw (grapho), wrote
      9. apecw (apecho), reward
      10. bebaiwsiV (bebaiosis), confirmation
      11. to dokimion (to dokimion), trial
      12. dikaioV (dikaios), righteous
      13. ilasthrion (hilasterion), propitiation
      14. euerghthV (euergetes), well-doer
      15. plhqoV (plethos), multitude
      16. mikroV (mikros), little
      17. paradeisoV (paradeisos), paradise
      18. kuriakoV (kuriakos), Lord's
      19. ceirografon (cheirographon), handwriting
      20. adoloV (adolos), sincere
      21. sfragizw (sphragizo), seal
      22. caragma (charagma), mark
      23. anapempw (anapempo), send
      24. biazomai (biazomai), suffer violence, press
      25. katakrima (katakrima), condemnation
      26. upostasiV (hupostasis), substance

  4. Where DIFFERENT but CONCURRENT USAGES OF GREEK WORDS should be observed in the English
    1. Parousia
    2. Pneuma
    3. Church
    4. Elements and Rudiments
    5. Saints

  5. Where a UNIFORM USAGE OF GREEK WORDS should not be departed from in the English
    1. Withhold
    2. Temptation
    3. Poor
    4. Paradise
    5. Sheol and Hades
    6. Mystery
    7. "At hand"
    8. "Depart"
    9. Leaven


IV. The Context Always Essential to the Interpretation of Words

  1. The IMPORTANCE of the CONTEXT shown

  2. Illustrations of ERROR arising from a DISREGARD of the Context
    1. Isaiah 52:8, "They shall see eye to eye"
    2. Habakkuk 2:2, "That he may run that readeth"
    3. Psalm 2:8, "Ask of Me"
    4. Matthew 22:32, "The God of the living"
    5. Matthew 23:3, "That observe and do"
    6. John 6:37, "Him that cometh"
    7. Acts 16:31, "Believe...and thou shalt be saved"
    8. Romans 8:28, "All things work together for good"
    9. 1 Corinthians 3:17, "Him shall God destroy"
    10. 2 Corinthians 5:8, "Absent from the body"
    11. Philippians 1:21, "To die is gain"
    12. Philippians 2:12, "Work out your own salvation"
    13. Text-Mangling
    14. Text-Garbling

  3. Illustrations of TRUTH AND TEACHING resulting from a DUE REGARD to the Context

    1. The NEARER CONTEXT
      1. Genesis 35:2 and 34:26-29, "Put away the strange gods"
      2. 2 Kings 4:13 and 3:16, 17, "Wouldst thou be spoken for to the King"
      3. Daniel 5:30, 6:1; and Esther 1:1-3, "The 120 and 127 Provinces"
      4. Ephesians 3:15 and 1:21, "The whole family"

    2. The REMOTER CONTEXT
      1. Genesis 19 and 14, The cities and the city
      2. Genesis 24:24, and 18:11, 12, Rebekah the daughter of Bethuel
      3. Genesis 37:25, 28, 36; and Judges 6-8, The Ishmaelites and Midianites
      4. Exodus 6:16-20; and Numbers 26:59, Moses' parents
      5. Numbers 16:1; and Numbers 3:29, 2:10, The sons of Kohath
      6. Numbers 16:27; and Numbers 26:11, The sons of Korah
      7. Joshua 3:15, 4:19; and Exodus 11:31; Joshua 2:6, Jordan overflowing in time of harvest
      8. 1 Samuel 13:19; and Judges 3:16, 31, 5:8, 14:5, 6, No smith found in Israel
      9. 1 Samuel 17:4; and Joshua 11:21, 22, Goliath of Gath
      10. 1 Kings 17:9, 12 and Joshua 19:28
      11. 2 Chronicles 17-24; and Joshua 21:13, "Jehoshaphat strengthened himself against Israel"
      12. 2 Chronicles 22:11, 12, and 24:7, Joash, Jehosheba, and nurse
      13. 2 Chronicles 21:10; and Joshua 21:13, The revolt of Libnah
      14. 2 Kings 18:13-16; and Isaiah 39:2; 2 Chronicles 32:22, 23, The depletion of Hezekiah's treasury
      15. Isaiah 62:2-5; and 2 Kings 21:1, The land shall be called Hephzibah
      16. Jeremiah 13:18; and 2 Kings 24:12, 15, "Say unto the Queen"
      17. Mark 14:51, 52; and John 12:10, The young man who fled from Gethsemane
      18. John 21:15; and Matthew 26:31, 33, "Lovest thou Me more than these"
      19. Acts 2:16; and Joel 2:28-32, "This is that"
      20. 1 Corinthians 11:10; and Genesis 6:1, 3, Power on her head
      21. Galatians 3:15-17; and Genesis 15; Acts 7:6, The 400 and 430 years
      22. Galatians 3:20; and Genesis 15:12, "God is one"
      23. Hebrews 12:17; and Genesis 27:34-38, "No place of repentance"


V. The First Occurrence of Words, Expressions, and Utterances Often Essential to their Interpretation

  1. WORDS:
    1. "Prophet" (Gen 20:7)
    2. "Hallelujah" (Psa 104:35)
    3. "Selah" (Psa 3:2,3)
    4. "Jerusalem" (Judg 1:7,8)
    5. The Spiritual significance of Numbers
    6. The Divine Names and Titles

  2. EXPRESSIONS:
    1. "The Son of Man" (Psa 8)
    2. "The Man of God" (Deut 33:1)
    3. "The Day of the Lord" (Isa 2:11,17)

  3. UTTERANCES:
    1. The first utterance of the Old Serpent (Gen 3:1)
    2. The first ministerial utterance of the Lord (Matt 4:4)
    3. The first utterance of the Lord as Son of Man (Luke 2:49)
    4. The first Questions in the Old and New Testaments (Gen 3:9; Matt 2:2)
    5. The first interpretation of prophecy in the New Testament (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:22,23)


VI. The Place Where a Passage Occurs is Often Essential to its Full Interpretation

  1. "All Scripture given by inspiration" (2 Tim 3:16)

  2. "Come unto Me" (Matt 11:28)

  3. "Anathema, Maranatha" (1 Cor 16:22)


VII. No One Passage to be Interpreted in a Sense Repugnant to Others that are Clear

  1. The rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)

  2. "Destroy not thy weak brother with thy meat" (Rom 14:15; and 1 Cor 8:11)


VIII. The Importance of Accuracy in the Study of the Words of Scripture

  1. In THE REMOVAL OF ERRORS
    1. Ammonite or Moabite (Deut 23:3; and Matt 1:5)
    2. Zedekiah and Babylon (Jer 32:4, 34:3; Eze 12:13; and 2 Kings 25:6,7)
    3. Omer and Homer (Exo 16:36; and Eze 45:11)
    4. The going of Balaam (Num 22:22)
    5. God's Command concerning Sacrifices (Jer 7:22,23; and Lev 1:3)
    6. Hearing and not hearing the Voice (Acts 9:7 and 22:9)
    7. Standing, and Falling to the earth (Acts 9:7 and 26:14)
    8. Spoken and written (Matt 2:23)
    9. "Jeremiah the prophet" (Matt 27:9)
    10. The sending of the Centurion (Luke 7:3,6; Matt 8:5)
    11. The inscriptions on the Cross
    12. The offering of drink on the Cross
    13. The "others" crucified with Christ
    14. The burying of Jacob and his sons (Acts 7:15-17)

  2. In the REVELATION OF TRUTH

    1. Words and Expressions:
      1. "From above" (Luke 1:3)
      2. "Another King" (Acts 7:17)
      3. "The world that then was" (Gen 1:1,2)
      4. The mention of the "blood" in 1 John 1:7 and 2:1
      5. "Accepted" and "Acceptable" (Eph 1:6; and 2 Cor 5:9)
      6. "Man" and "Men"
      7. Remembering and Forgetting

    2. The OPPOSITE of what is said
      1. "Out of the Scriptures" (Acts 17:2)
      2. "Waiting for God's Son" (1 Thess 1:9)
      3. "Except there come the Apostasy" (2 Thess 2:3)

    3. MARKS OF TIME
      1. "The second day" (Josh 10:31,32)
      2. "Then came Amalek" (Exo 17:8)
      3. "Then will I sprinkle" (Eze 36:25)
      4. "Then shall the offering" (Mal 3:4)
      5. "Then they that feared the LORD" (Mal 3:16)
      6. "Then we which are alive" (1 Thess 4:17)
      7. "Then shall the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 25:1)
      8. "Immediately" (Matt 24:29)
      9. "Afterward" (Joel 2:28)
      10. "At that time" (Matt 11:25)

    4. MARKS OF REASONING
      1. "Therefore, I beseech you" (Eph 4:1)
      2. "Therefore I charge you" (2 Tim 4:1)

    5. NUMERATION
      1. 50,070 (1 Sam 6:19)
      2. 42,000 (Judg 12:6)
      3. The Census of Numbers 1 and 36

    6. NAMES OF PERSONS AND PLACES
      1. Of PERSONS
        1. The same Name borne by different Persons
        2. The same Person bearing different Names
        3. Changes in Names
        4. The Divine Names
      2. Of PLACES
        1. The same Name given to different Places
        2. The same Place called by different Names

    7. CHRONOLOGY
      1. The 120 years of Genesis 6:3
      2. The 400 years of Genesis 15:3 and Acts 7:6
      3. The 430 years of Exodus 12:40 and Galatians 3:17
      4. The 450 years of Acts 13:20
      5. The 490 years of Daniel 9:27
      6. The 480th year of 1 Kings 6:1

    8. SYNONYMOUS GREEK words

    9. SYNONYMOUS HEBREW words

    10. The GENITIVE CASE
      1. The Genitive of Character
      2. The Genitive of Origin
      3. The Genitive of Possession
      4. The Genitive of Apposition
      5. The Genitive of Relation
      6. The Genitive of the Material
      7. The Genitive of the Contents
      8. The Genitive of Partition
      9. Two Genitives: one dependent on the other


IX. Figures of Speech


X. Interpretation and Application

  1. The account of Creation (Gen 1)
  2. The Rejection of Messiah (Isa 53)
  3. The mourning of Israel (Rev 1:7)
  4. The Potter's house (Jer 18)
  5. The Ten Virgins (Matt 25)


XI. The Limits of Inspiration


XII. The Place of Various Readings

  1. The Hebrew MSS of the Old Testament
  2. The Greek MSS of the New Testament
  3. The Ancient Versions
  4. The Printed Greek Text of the NT


Conclusion

Index of Subjects

Index of Texts Explained

 



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