Can We Understand the Bible Alike?

by Terry Wane Benton

If we think about it, anytime we understand something, we understand it alike. We can misunderstand things differently, but when we truly understand something, we understand it alike—2 plus 2 equals 4. If we understand that math problem, we will understand it alike. Anyone who comes up with a different answer has misunderstood the problem or the answer.

To get a better grip on the question, we must ask, can the Bible be misunderstood? If so, people will misunderstand it regardless of whether another person understands it. The Bible can be understood as well as misunderstood. Since the Bible is the only thing that can rightly answer this question, we need to ask, “Does the Bible claim to be understandable, and if it claims to be understandable, can we at least understand that claim?” If we cannot understand even the claim that we can understand the Bible, then it is hopeless even to understand the very first words of the Bible.

Now, is our inability only connected with the Bible, or can we not understand any other words of communication? If we can understand that “God created the heavens and the earth,” then the claim that we cannot understand the Bible is false. Let’s quit pretending that we cannot understand the Bible. We may not know the Bible because we fail to read it, twist it, or fight against what it says, but differences men have over the Bible are not because the Bible cannot be understood. The problem lies in the heart of man, not the Bible.

An atheist understands “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). He may disagree with it and not like what it says, but he understands the sentence. I understand the sentence and agree with it. So, where does our difference come in? The difference between an atheist and myself is not in understanding the words but in believing those words. It is not that we cannot understand it alike. We do understand that sentence alike, if we understand it at all.

Differences in religion result from not believing part or all of what the Bible says. We may not understand everything at once, but we understand some things immediately. God's word has milky or easy sections (Hebrews 5:12f) and deeper and meatier matters. God does not expect us to understand the deeper things without first dealing with and understanding the easier sections.

A child progresses from elementary to college level, but not all in a day. A child cannot handle calculus before he has learned basic math. God’s word has simple things and deeper, more complex topics that require graduated knowledge. However, just because one is not ready for figures of speech and symbols in some apocalyptic literature does not mean one cannot understand anything in the Bible.

Notice these things that should put to rest the claim that we cannot understand the Bible.
Ephesians 3:3-6 says, “how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.”

Paul says we can learn all that he knows by reading. If we do not read the Bible, we will never understand it, but if we commit to reading it, it will surprise us what all we can understand, and therefore, understand alike.

Ephesians 5:17 commands. “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” God did not command something that we could not understand and do. God says you can understand His will, which should settle the question.

II Peter 3:16 says, “as in all his (Paul’s) epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.“

The biggest problem is that many people “twist” and manipulate the Scriptures. When the “hard” topics are misused and people have not been trained to detect when a scripture has been twisted, then untaught and unstable people differ over the scriptures. It is not the fault of the Scriptures. It is the fault of dishonest men, untrained and untaught men, and undiscerning men, but it is never the fault of God and His word. Yes, the Bible is meant to be read and understood, but understanding is a growing thing that begins with an honest heart seeking to learn and grow in understanding.

Are you a student of God’s word?