by Tim Nichols<\/p>\n
All rational students of the Bible want to be told, by teachers and preachers, not just what to believe, but also why those things are to be believed.\u00a0 Every faithful teacher of the Bible is prepared to deliver both in clear terms.\u00a0 Bible doctrines are all taught by specific Bible passages and the connections between them can be described in terms that the average man can understand.<\/p>\n
Those who have devoted the time and effort necessary to mine truth from the gold mine that we call the Bible are able to clearly trace the path to the treasure trove for others to follow.\u00a0 The Bible is not a mystical book that can only be understood by the scholarly few who can then only pass along the correct conclusions without expressing the reasons for those conclusions.\u00a0 Instead, it is a living book whose meaning is available to all who will seek wisdom (Proverbs 9:1-6).\u00a0 The true Biblical scholar is one who has truly discovered the truth and who is willing and able to show that truth, and its source, to others.<\/p>\n
This is why the pseudo-scholars of the first century stumbled over the simplicity of the gospel (I Corinthians 1:18-24).\u00a0 They demanded to hear what was “profound”, “wise”, “deep”, and “intellectual” according to human standards and they were irritated with the “foolishness” of the simple gospel of Christ.\u00a0 To them, the gospel was shallow and they wanted what they perceived to be deep.\u00a0 When some with this mindset were “converted” they attempted to distance themselves from the simplistic, shallow teaching of the apostles and to elevate themselves as the truly wise and sophisticated in the early church.\u00a0 Paul’s inspired sarcasm was designed to warn them and not to shame them (I Corinthians 4:9-14).<\/p>\n
Pseudo-scholars exist among us today.\u00a0 The simplicity of the gospel is not enough for them.\u00a0 They are not content to simply learn what the Book of God says and to remain with it.\u00a0 They are constantly searching for something new and profound that will show others how wise they are.\u00a0 When questioned about the book, chapter, and verse of their novel “discoveries” they are not able to locate them specifically because they are often several steps away from what the scriptures actually teach and separated from the Word of Truth by the great gulf of pure human speculation.\u00a0 Even so, they are seldom at a loss for words when questioned.\u00a0 Their answers emphasize their own wisdom in some way and suggest that their conclusions ought to be accepted because of the greatness of the miner who brought them forth.\u00a0 But they cannot point the way to the mother lode.<\/p>\n
One such brother argued, in my hearing, that we should accept his conclusion because he had spent several months studying the matter under consideration in the great library at Harvard University.\u00a0 A “televangelist” suggested recently that his doctrine was true because he had spent years with the subject constantly in his mind.\u00a0 Others are heard to affirm that their conclusions are to be accepted because of the number of hours they spent studying the subject, because of the degrees that they hold, or because of their own ability to see what is not clearly taught.\u00a0 But they cannot produce a “thus saith the Lord”.\u00a0 Such is just too shallow for the “wise”.<\/p>\n
The true Bible student who attempts to teach his subject to others is delighted to have questions concerning the source of all that he teaches.\u00a0 He takes those things in the Bible that may appear complicated at first and explains them in terms that a child could understand without the first thought of whether he is or is not perceived by his hearers as “wise” or “profound”.\u00a0 And he is not intimidated, in the least, by those among his hearers who call his work “shallow”.<\/p>\n
Pearl S. Buck, in her novel, Pavilion of Women,\u00a0placed the following words in the mind of Madam Wu as she was being instructed by “Brother Andre”: “Now, his manner of answering questions was exceedingly simple, but this was because he was so learned.\u00a0 He did not need, as lesser men do, to talk over and above the pith of the matter.\u00a0 Instead, he knew how … to put into a handful of words the essence of the essence of truth.\u00a0 He stripped the leaves away, and he plucked the fruit and cracked the husk and peeled the inner shell and split the flesh and took out the seed and divided it, and there was the kernel, pure and clean” (p. 174).<\/p>\n
This is a good picture of a true scholar.\u00a0 He has the knowledge to share but no need to prove that he is noteworthy.\u00a0 His delight is in helping others to find what he has found.\u00a0 His goal is to know the truth and to point the way to it without seeking recognition for his own abilities.\u00a0 He knows that what can be known can be shown and that the feigned knowledge of pseudo-scholars is fools gold.\u00a0 Any map showing the source of such spurious teaching would have to trace a path to the mind of some proud pretender who desires to be recognized as a great teacher, who does not understand what he is saying or what he is affirming (I Timothy 1:7).<\/p>\n
So be diligent in questioning what you do not understand from any teacher of the word.\u00a0 Anyone who has found the truth can show you its source.\u00a0 Others will point in obscure directions or simply become angry with the questioner.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Tim Nichols All rational students of the Bible want to be told, by teachers and preachers, not just what to believe, but also why those things are to be believed.\u00a0 Every faithful teacher of the Bible is prepared to deliver both in clear terms.\u00a0 Bible doctrines are all taught by specific Bible passages and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[1093,1173,451,761],"class_list":["post-60843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-knowledge","tag-questions","tag-teaching","tag-understanding"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":58553,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/patience-in-seeking-truth-a-necessity\/","url_meta":{"origin":60843,"position":0},"title":"Patience in Seeking Truth,\u00a0a Necessity","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 28, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Garreth L. Clair \u00a0 John 8:32,\u00a0\"and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.\" ASV John 17:17,\u00a0\"Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.\" ASV II Timothy 3:16-17,\u00a0\"Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":89864,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-bible-alone-is-the-word-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":60843,"position":1},"title":"The Bible Alone Is the Word of God","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton No other book is equal to the Bible. Neither the Quran nor the Book of Mormon equals the Bible in the marks or proofs of divine origin. What convinces me that the Bible alone is God's Word? In summary, I would appeal to three areas: It\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":44519,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/my-take-on-bible-classes\/","url_meta":{"origin":60843,"position":2},"title":"My Take on Bible Classes","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Matthew W. Bassford There's no doubt that I'm a better teacher than a preacher. My first love is the lectern rather than the pulpit, and I \"get\" teaching Bible classes in a way that I've never gotten preaching sermons. Also, I've always been satisfied with the way my Bible\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Bible2-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":53962,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-you-know-of-good-inductive-study-guides\/","url_meta":{"origin":60843,"position":3},"title":"Do you know of good Inductive Study guides?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Does anyone know a good Inductive Study Guide for study on how to learn the Scripture? I know there are items out there, but I was trying to locate one that members of the Church of Christ have reviewed and found to be of sound teaching. So many folks\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Inductive4-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Inductive4-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Inductive4-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Inductive4-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Inductive4-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Inductive4-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1785,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-is-there-no-female-god-in-the-bible\/","url_meta":{"origin":60843,"position":4},"title":"Why is there no female god in the Bible?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 14, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Why is there no female god in the Bible? Answer: If this is in reference to false gods of idolatrous worship, then there are female gods mentioned in the Bible. People worshipped Asheroth or Asherah, a Canaanite goddess of fertility. \"So the children of Israel did evil in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29359,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/controversy\/","url_meta":{"origin":60843,"position":5},"title":"Controversy","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 3, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Morris Norman Sentry Magazine, March 2003 I have changed my thinking on the matter of controversy. There was a time when I had a dislike for all kinds of controversy. There are still some kinds that I do not like, but there are kinds that can be profitable for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/jousting-300x152.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60843\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}