The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1916-02-05
OUR WEEKLY SERMON!
"How to Read the Bible"
M, u., \ ~ Jcnkins, Pastor Christian '"urV"

study to show thyself approVeu
INTO God a workman that ncedeth not
10 be ashamed rightly dividing the
word of truth. -. Timothy. 2:le.
Tho failure OF many people to un'
ders,and the Bible when they read II
misses from no fault Of tho book. put
from one or the other OF severa'
causes.
1.-The Bible IL read rs no othor
hook is read. II Is generally read I'D
n haphazard way. tho reader opening
/, at random or reads without refer
,uce to the subject. wherever tho
book happens to open,
Some believe that the book IL
wrapped In mystery. Great IL the
mystery of godliness." they quote
and they look for tho mysterious, ana
people find what they look for.
s.-Others see iigurative mean
,ng In everything. or they specialize
everything, instead of reading the
book. giving to each word Its ordi-
nary and accepted meaning.
4.-Still others read the Bible. not
to learn what It teaches. but to pick
flaws, or to get proof texts to bolster
up some pet theory or doctrine.
The Bible should receive n square
deal. | do not ask any special favors
for the Bible. but l believe the same
common sense rules should be used In
interpreting the Bible rs are used In
the Interpretation Of any other his.
torical book.
Before beginning to read any one
of the sixty-six books OF the Bible.
answers to the following questions
should be obtained: Who was the
writer? 2--When did he write: In
the Patriarchal. Jewish or Christian
age? 3-under what circumstances
did he write? 4--To whom did he
write; to Patriarchs. Jews or Chris
tians? And what did he write about?
Paul, in our text. admonished Tim
othy. a young preacher OF the gospel.
to study to show himself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed. rightly dividing
the word OF truth. Paul believed that
there were divisions In the word OF
truth. and that We should observe
them.
What are the divisions OF the word?
Paul said. I. Cor. 1911: These
things are written for our admonition
upon whom the ends of the ages are
come" In Ephesians the apostle tells
us that Gods purpose runs through
the ages or dispensations. The dis
pensations or ages are the great divi-
sions Of the Bible. What are they ?
1st-The creative age, Genesis. first
and second chapters. 2d--The Edenic
age. third chapter. 3d-The Patri-
archal age, which began when mat
was expelled from Eden and ended
with the giving Of the Law, 1491 B. C.
4th-The Jewish age. beginning with
the giving Of the law and ending by
Limitation. when Jesus on the cross
said: 1T Is flnished.'' 5th-The
Christian age. beginning with the first
penticost after the crucihxion and
ending with tho second coming OF
Christ. 6th-The Eternal age.
| All facts of Bible history falls nat.
urally under one or the other of these
great divisions. Gods purpose to
bring in the Messiah. the Christ, and
redemption through him. runs. like a
crimson cord, through each OF these
ages except the last. In developing
Ithe scheme OF mans redemption from
sin God gave man three great re-
ligions. Each Of these religions have
their facts to be believed. their CON-
mands to be obeyed, and their prom
ises to be enjoyed. Much of the con.
fusion existing in the religious world
today arises from blending these re.
hgions together when they should be
kept separate and distinct. Some peo.
Pile today. like some In Christ's time
still insist In putting the new wine OF
Christianity in the old bottles OF
Judaism. and with about the same re.
suits. Believing the facts, obeyins
the commands and trusting the prom.
lees OF the patriarchal religion makes
man a patriarch waiting for the
coming Of the Messiah, the Christ. Be.
Loving the facts. oheying the com.
inands and trusting the promises OF
the Jews religion makes a man a
Jew. and still looking for the coming
OF the Messiah, Believing the facts
0beying the commands and trust,ns
the promises of the Christian religion