There is no denying it, there are difficult passages in the Bible. In fact, even Peter said as much about some of Paul’s writings in 2 Peter 3:16, stating: “There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction.” I can only imagine what Paul may have said about some of Peter’s writings!
But if Peter thought some of Paul’s teachings were difficult, surely we who live almost 2000 years removed from the original setting, can expect to hit some “speed bumps” along the way! While these thoughts aren’t going to solve them, I pray they will be helpful.
(1) Always consider the immediate context. Give attention to the setting and what the author was trying to communicate to his original audience. This is always significant in Bible study, but perhaps doubly so when dealing with difficult passages. The text cannot mean something it never was intended to mean. Seek to put yourself in the position of the original audience. What would they have understood by it?
For example, one may be a bit confused reading 1 Corinthians 13 about love and then arrive at verses 9 and 10 which says, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” While this may be a somewhat difficult passage, the immediate context gives us some very strong assistance. Even in verse 8 Paul said, “Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”
While love is not going to come to an end, Paul says these other things will. What other things? These miraculous things, like prophecies, tongues, and supernatural knowledge. In fact, when we take a little step back from this text we observe that 1 Corinthians 12-14 is all in the context of the miraculous. So while love will continue on, miracles will cease. Of course, this text deserves more thorough treatment, but hopefully this demonstrates the value of the immediate context.
(2) Considering parallel passages or texts which address the same or very similar matters often sheds great light on difficult texts. Consider, for example, what Jesus says in Luke 14:26: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Some our greatly puzzled when reading these words of Jesus, and perhaps for good reason! But a consideration of other passages causes the fog to quickly dissipate.
In Matthew 10:37 Jesus is recorded as saying, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” It quickly becomes obvious that the idea of “hate” in Luke 14:26 carries the meaning of “loves less than” in Matthew 10:37. It is a matter of comparison. The idea is that no love should approach the love we have for God. (See also Genesis 29:29-30 regarding Jacob loving Rachel more than he did Leah.)
(3) Always allow the simple teachings of the Bible to guide your understanding of the more difficult. Yes, there are many things in Scripture that are difficult to understand, but do you know what is much more prevalent than that? Passages that are easy to understand! Doesn’t it just make sense to allow the easier teachings to guide your understanding of the more difficult?
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Sometimes a solid dose of fundamentals establishes a very strong base for the deeper matters. This is true not only in Bible study, but other areas of investigation as well.
Perhaps a good Bible example is found in passages that may seem to indicate that specific signs will allow mankind to know when the Lord is going to come again (see for instance, Mt. 24:29-31). The concept of the Lord coming at a forecasted time should be considered in light of the plentiful plain statements of our Lord returning “like a thief in the night” (1 Thes. 5:2) and “at an hour that no one expects” (see Mt. 24:42-44). Some of the references that are used to point to signs that seem to give advanced notice of the Lord’s second coming are actually references to the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in A.D. 70 (see for instance Mt. 24:1-35).
(4) Realize that sometimes it is just as important to know what a passage does not mean as it is to know what it does mean. And sometimes it is better to not know what a passage means than to “know” the wrong thing!
One of the more difficult passages in the New Testament concerns the Lord preaching to the spirits in prison (see 1 Peter 3:19, the ESV uses the word “proclaimed.”). While we may struggle with the meaning of this passage, there are some things we know it does not mean. It cannot possibly mean that those who had died will have another chance to be saved. Why? Because the Scripture is very clear that immediately following death eternity is sealed (see Heb. 9:27; Lk. 16:23, 26).
Since these and other passages are very plain concerning this particular subject, we do not interpret a much more difficult passage to mean something that would contradict fundamental teaching.
One thing is for sure, we will never have an exhaustive grasp of the Bible, but we continue to pray, study and grow. There can be no doubt that God designed it to be that way. May God bless your study and understanding of His Word.
Daren Schroeder
