How can I understand hard passages in the Bible?
Some of Scripture's difficulty is deliberate. God conceals so that we will search, speaks in figures until we can bear plainness, and unfolds His deepest truths across centuries rather than in one sentence. The way through is not a better technique but a Teacher: the Spirit who inspired the words is the One who opens the reader's eyes. So we read the whole counsel of God, ask for understanding, and let the hard places drive us to Him rather than away from Him.
This question arose from studying How should I read the Bible? and Why is the Bible arranged the way it is? and How do I build a daily habit of reading the Bible?.
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What the Scripture says
God conceals on purpose, and the search is the honor
Scripture is not embarrassed about being difficult; it explains why. 'It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.' Moses drew the same line: 'The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.' God is not hiding to shut us out; He is keeping His own counsel while giving us everything we need to obey. So the psalmist does not demand a briefing. He prays, 'Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law.' Proverbs describes wisdom the same way, as a treasure you dig for: 'If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:' and 'then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.' The difficulty is the doorway, not the wall.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law.Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
He gave light in stages, and only as they could bear it
When the disciples asked why He taught in parables, Jesus gave the answer that settles the question: 'To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.' Yet the same passage shows the other side of it, that 'privately to his own disciples he explained everything.' There is a public veil and a private opening, and the timing belongs to God. God did not deliver the Bible as a finished system on one afternoon. He was 'having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,' and then 'has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son.' Paul marks the same timing: 'But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son.' The prophets themselves did not see the end of what they carried. They 'sought and searched diligently,' 'searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, pointed to,' and Peter says these are 'things angels desire to look into.' Jesus said the same about His own teaching: 'I have yet many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now.' He told them plainly that He had been speaking 'in figures of speech,' and promised a day when He would 'tell you plainly about the Father.' Mark says He taught the crowds 'as they were able to hear it.' Hebrews names what is lost by skipping the sequence: a reader who never grows stays on milk, when 'solid food is for those who are full grown.'
He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, pointed to, when he predicted the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that would follow them.Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 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.
To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.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.
“I have yet many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father.These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
The Teacher is the Spirit, and understanding is a gift
Jesus did not merely explain the Scriptures on the road to Emmaus; Luke says that 'then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.' Comprehension is something God does in a reader. Paul says the same: 'But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God,' and 'we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.' This is why 'the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' James turns that into an invitation: 'But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.' John assures believers that 'the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don't need for anyone to teach you.' And Jesus promised that the Spirit 'will guide you into all truth.' This is why prayer is not a technique for reading; it is the way we read.
Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Read the whole counsel of God, not a proof text
Because Scripture's hardest places are answered by Scripture's other places, the Bible's own method is breadth. Paul could say, 'for I didn't shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.' Jesus modeled it: 'Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.' The Bereans were commended for refusing to take even an apostle's word without checking, 'examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.' Paul tells Timothy to 'present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.' And Peter is honest that some of it stays hard: Paul's letters contain 'some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.' Difficulty is not a reason to stop reading. It is a reason to keep reading, and to read everything.
for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Why the Trinity has no single verse
Here is the test case. Ask why God never wrote one sentence saying that He is three Persons in one being, and notice first that Scripture states every part of that sentence plainly. It insists on one God: 'Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one.' It calls the Son God: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,' and Thomas answers the risen Jesus with 'My Lord and my God!' It calls the Spirit God: Peter tells Ananias that he has lied to the Holy Spirit, and then says, 'You haven't lied to men, but to God.' It shows the three together and distinct: the Spirit descending on the Son while the Father speaks, the command to baptize 'in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,' and the blessing of 'the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.' What Scripture never supplies is the formula, and that is no accident. The word 'Trinity' is absent, as the words 'monotheism' and 'Bible' are absent, because the formula is a summary, and a summary can be memorized without being obeyed. God gave a cumulative witness instead, so the doctrine can only be built by reading all of it. It is worth knowing, too, that the one verse which old English translations render as an explicit formula rests on a later addition to the text. The World English Bible has only 'For there are three who testify,' and the earliest manuscripts do not carry the longer ending. The doctrine never needed that verse. It stands on the whole counsel of God, which is the very point.
Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one.Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Go,and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.
For there are three who testify:For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
We know in part, and the part we know is worship
Even with a good method and a good Teacher, this side of glory has a ceiling, and Scripture is calm about it. Paul writes, 'For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known,' and warns that 'if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn't yet know as he ought to know.' God's answer to Job's demand for an explanation is another question: 'Can you fathom the mystery of God?' Paul's answer, at the end of his hardest argument, is not a system but doxology: 'Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!' Isaiah gives the reason: 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.' That is not a wall but a door. Jesus defined eternal life as knowing, not as explaining: 'This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.' So we do not read to master God. We read to be found by Him, and the parts we cannot yet understand are where He keeps us humble, hungry, and on our knees.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know.And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
“Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable.Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
As you read, you may wonder…
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Can we really understand the Trinity?→The Holy Spirit trail“The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”Is it okay to have doubts sometimes?→The Gospel trail“Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”Why does God seem silent when I pray?→Prayer trail“Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh.Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
“I have yet many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
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