Finding Help to Understand the Bible

 HELP IN THE 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 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 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 the village near Jerusalem, "fully opening up ["clearly explaining," footnote] 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 named Philip approached him and asked: "Do you actually know what you are reading?" The Ethiopian replied: Really, how I ever do so unless someone guided me?" Philip then explained the meaning of the passage to him. -ACTS 8:27-35.

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