Every verse is FOR us , but not every verse is TO us .

[throughfaith]

This may sound strange at first, but i think its the only way to properly understand the bible.

2 tim 2
15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Of course ..

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

(As an aside ,notice first on the list is Doctrine . )

Every verse is FOR us , but not every verse is TO us . This is to be understood in this way . Take Gen 6 .14 as an example.

“Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.”

Now of course there are many wonderful truths in the narrative of the Flood account ( Which was world wide ) , but the point im making with this verse is , Who is God speaking to ? Its Noah . So we understand the context.

Another example :

Luke 5:14

“And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”
Again this verse is FOR us . But look at who Jesus is speaking to and of course there's so much to learn from leviticus ect ,but this verse is not TO us . We don't and cannot follow this command. Nor should we start building an Ark in our back Garden .

I.ll add more later . I just thought this may be a good place to start on this topic of how to ' rightly divide ' the word of truth .

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Romans 15;4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

 

[throughfaith]

Romans 15;4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Yes i agree 👍

 

[throughfaith]

Romans 15;4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

All the bible is FOR us .

 

[Dino246]

A few thoughts...

God can speak to any individual directly and specifically through any verse in Scripture (or, for that matter, without quoting or referencing Scripture, but that discussion is for another thread). His purposes, however, may be different than what the original audience was intended to "get". Such communication should not contradict the normal interpretation of the passage.

A large chunk of what passes for modern teaching confuses what is "to" us with what is merely "for" us today. For example, the Old Testament Law as given through Moses was for Israel, not for modern Christians, despite many preachers calling for "tithes" (don't get me started!). Certain instructions in the NT were to the disciples specifically, or to other groups or individuals.

It's good to start with determining what the author (and ultimately, God) was saying to the original intended audience in the original context. Once you know what the text said, you can start to understand what it is saying.

It's also good to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the word. It's fascinating when He spotlights a certain verse that you have read dozens of times, and suddenly it means something new to you.

 

[oldethennew]

nicely said--expressed, Dino...
oh my yes, each and every 'verse' is for His called-elect-chosen, whenever He desires it to
be applied to them in their journey, by and by...

 

[reneweddaybyday]

It's also good to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the word. It's fascinating when He spotlights a certain verse that you have read dozens of times, and suddenly it means something new to you.

I love when the Holy Spirit works within to bring deeper understanding of Scripture to us. just ah-mazing!!!

Back in the late 80s / early 90s, I worked for a guy who knew I was serious in my study of the Bible and one time he asked me "why do you keep studying the Bible? haven't you read it enough?"

I explained to him that there is always something new to be revealed and I can study it all my lifetime and never come to the end of learning all that's contained in it.

We kept in touch after he retired but I hadn't seen or heard from him in about 7 or 8 years. He reached out to me a couple of months ago and the first words out of his mouth ... "do you still study the Bible?" I told him "yep" ha-ha.

 

[tourist]

I agree with the title of the OP. Another thing to keep in mind - everything in the bible is truthfully stated but not everything is a statement of truth. For example, in Ecclesiastes, Solomon was obviously in a state of depression and a lot of what he said was not really scripturally sound counsel. For the being the wisest man ever known he certainly played the fool and in the end even worshiped other gods to please any women he was currently with. What he was really accomplished with was his habitual infidelity which led to his downfall and alienation from God.

 

[SoulWeaver]

I agree with the title of the OP. Another thing to keep in mind - everything in the bible is truthfully stated but not everything is a statement of truth. For example, in Ecclesiastes, Solomon was obviously in a state of depression and a lot of what he said was not really scripturally sound counsel. For the being the wisest man ever known he certainly played the fool and in the end even worshiped other gods to please any women he was currently with. What he was really accomplished with was his habitual infidelity which led to his downfall and alienation from God.

I'm not sure if I can agree about Solomon. We all have this tendency to get very invested into this life and tangible blessings of this life, and forget the origin of life and transience of this world. I think as depressed as he was, and writing after he repented which sobered him to the emptiness of the world, in my view, he did put things into correct perspective. It's actually one of the most important perspectives in the Bible, it's just not one that most people want to look at. This world is emptiness, which is the real meaning of what is called "vanity", even we ourselves are emptiness. But, it's still okay. There is joy (the Spirit) even everywhere in this emptiness.

 

[tourist]

I'm not sure if I can agree about Solomon. We all have this tendency to get very invested into this life and tangible blessings of this life, and forget the origin of life and transience of this world. I think as depressed as he was, and writing after he repented which sobered him to the emptiness of the world, in my view, he did put things into correct perspective. It's actually one of the most important perspectives in the Bible, it's just not one that most people want to look at. This world is emptiness, even we ourselves are emptiness. But God says, it's still okay. There is joy and bliss (the Spirit) hidden in this emptiness.

I find your analysis to be refreshing and in agreement with your point of view. Guy was a serious woman chaser though and that was definitely not a good thing. Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books of the bible. I am in need of more of the joy and bliss of the Spirit hidden in the emptiness. I suffer from depression too so I can relate somewhat to Solomon but we differ as that I am loving and faithful to my wife. If Solomon's wisdom was a 10 (highest) mine would probably rate a 3. Your rating would be a tad higher than mine.

 

[p_rehbein]

A large chunk of what passes for modern teaching confuses what is "to" us with what is merely "for" us today. For example, the Old Testament Law as given through Moses was for Israel, not for modern Christians, despite many preachers calling for "tithes" (don't get me started!). Certain instructions in the NT were to the disciples specifically, or to other groups or individuals.

There is also some of the New Testament that is "for us" but not "to us." Especially in the Epistles of Paul.

This should not even be up for debate; the OP that is. Clearly, as others have said, a lot of the Bible is not written TO us. Yet ALL of Scripture is there FOR us to learn from.

 

[JaumeJ]

We are not put here to edit the Word. That is a job for the Holy Spirit.

 

[throughfaith]

Has anyone Got Another example of this sort of thing ? A verse where it is clearly ( in context ) FOR us But not TO us ?

 

[p_rehbein]

Has anyone Got Another example of this sort of thing ? A verse where it is clearly ( in context ) FOR us But not TO us ?

Are you speaking of the New Testament? Or the whole Bible? You can read through the Old Testament and pretty much every Book is "for" our digestion, but not written "to" us.

 

[throughfaith]

Are you speaking of the New Testament? Or the whole Bible? You can read through the Old Testament and pretty much every Book is "for" our digestion, but not written "to" us.

Every single verse is FOR us .Old and New . But not all is TO us .

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Has anyone Got Another example of this sort of thing ? A verse where it is clearly ( in context ) FOR us But not TO us ?

Here's one where God revealed what was to come to prophets of old ...

1 Peter 1:

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

 

[throughfaith]

Here's one where God revealed what was to come to prophets of old ...

1 Peter 1:

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Isn't it great for us to be able to look back .