Is it possible for us to understand the Bible? Let me ask the question another way. Do you really think that a God capable of speaking the Universe into existence is incapable of providing humanity with an understandable revelation? Jesus said, “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). What is truth? The truth is God’s revelation. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). Jesus said that we can know the word of God. But, you can’t know the truth (i.e. God’s word) without knowing what it teaches. Paul agreed with this premise when he spoke of the revelation given to him and wrote, “when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ…” (Eph. 3:4). Think about it. God’s command for us to study His word would be meaningless if we cannot understand it.
Some will not go so far as to say that the Bible is beyond our ability to understand. They simply take the position that we cannot understand it alike. Therefore, they reason, as long as a person believes in Jesus, we should overlook differences in the way we interpret the Bible. Of course, that sounds appealing to a world that prides itself in tolerance. But, it may just be an easy way out for us any time conflict arises concerning the word of God. We should be warned that this is the same attitude which has led to the acceptance of many doctrines and lifestyles that are clearly condemned in God’s word.
I heard an illustration pointing out the fallacy of this view. Suppose your child is intensely ill. She is vomiting and delirious with a very high fever. Being a dutiful parent, you rush her to the hospital where three doctors make their examinations. Dr. Adams diagnoses your child as having bacterial meningitis and advises isolation and strong antibiotics or the child will die within 24 hours. Dr. Baker says your child just has a bug, an infection which will take care of itself within 24 hours. Dr. Charles carefully reads the other two opinions and says that he respects each doctor as a man of medicine and then adds, “But who am I to say who is right? I would suggest that we be guided by love, respect each other’s opinion, and not make this into too much of an issue.” Considering the circumstances, how would you react to that opinion? In medicine, mathematics, science and many other disciplines of study we recognize that truth is truth and that there are certain fundamental absolutes upon which we must agree. Yet, somehow, when we get to religion, we throw logic out the window and bury our brains in the sand. Regarding our illustration, there are only three possibilities: (1) Dr. Adams is right and Dr. Baker is wrong; (2) Dr. Adams is wrong and Dr. Baker is right; or (3) Dr. Adams and Dr. Baker are both wrong. But, one thing we know for certain, they cannot both be right!
— Glen Elliott —