Finding Help to Understand the Bible

Imagine visiting a foreign land for the first time. You encounter people, customs, foods, and currency that are all unfamiliar to you. Understandably, you may feel frustrated.  

You may feel the same way when you first read the Bible.  You are stepping back into an ancient world that seems foreign to you. There you meet a people called the Philistines, come across unusual customs, such as 'ripping garments apart,' or learn about a food called manna and a coin known as the drachma.  (Exodus 16:31; Joshua 13:2; 2 Samuel 3:31; Luke 15:9)  All of this could be confusing.  As in the case of visiting a foreign land, would you not appreciate getting help from some who could explain things to you? 


HELP IN PAST

From the time the sacred writings were first penned in the 16th century B.C.E., help has been provided for people to understand the text.  For instance, Moses, the first leader of the nation of Israel,  "undertook to explain" what was written. -Deuteronomy 1:5. 

Qualified instructors of the Scriptures were still on hand some ten centuries later.  In 455 B.C.E., a large group of Jews, including many children, were gathered together in a public square in the city of Jerusalem.  Bible instructors were there "reading aloud from the [same  sacred ] book."  But they did more.  "They helped the people to understand what was being read." -Nehemiah 8:1-8.

Five centuries later, Jesus Christ was involved in a similar educational work.  In fact, he was primarily known among the people as a teacher.  (John 13:13) He taught large crowds, as well as individuals.  On one occasion, he spoke to a great multitude, giving the famous Sermon on the Mount, and "the crowds were astounded at his way of teaching." (Matthew 5:1, 2; 7:28) In the spring of 33 C.E., Jesus spoke to two of his disciples while they were walking along the road toward a village near Jerusalem, "fully opening up  ["clearing explaining,"] the Scriptures" to them. -Luke 24:13-15, 27, 32. 

Disciples of Jesus were also instructors of God's Word. On one occasion, an official from Ethiopia was reading a certain passage of the Scriptures.  A disciple name Philip approached him and asked:  "Do you actually know what you are reading?"  The Ethiopian replied:  "Really, how could I ever do so unless someone guided me?" Philip then explained the meaning of the passage to him.  -Acts 8:27-35.  

Next time: Finding Help to Understand the Bible -HELP AVAILABLE TODAY

From the Watchtower magazine