Issue 1 - July 2004
Michael A. Verdicchio

God bless you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ!

Since this is our very first Newsletter, let's look at II Peter, chapter 1.

II Peter 1:20:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Prophecy can mean that which is either foretelling, or forth-telling. Verse 20 tells us that the Scriptures are not to be of any private interpretation. God's Word declares that we ought to know this first, not last. The word, "private" is translated most other places as, "one's own", or, "his own". God's Word, the Bible, is not to be of any one's own interpretation. Why is that? Look at the next verse.

Verse 21:

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

None of the Scriptures came by the will of man! It wasn't man's idea to write the Bible. It wasn't the invention of man. It was not man's decision. It didn't come by the will of man, but rather, holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. God's Word came from God! God told them what to write and they wrote it. And we are to know this first that none of God's Word is to be of any one's own interpretation. That only leaves two choices: either there is no interpretation, or, God's Word interprets itself. By working God's Word from the inside, without preconceived ideas and beliefs, but rather allowing God's Word to interpret itself we can understand what God has communicated to us. And how profitable would that be?

II Timothy 3:16:

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

The words, "is given by inspiration of God" are one compound Greek word that literally means, "God breathed". Once again God's Word declares that the Scriptures ("All scripture") came from God, they were "God breathed". God spoke to holy men and they wrote what God told them to write. There is a wonderful record in the book of Jeremiah, in Chapter 36, that shows in detail how this process worked - how God told Jeremiah exactly what to write. Not only did all Scripture come from God, but all Scripture is profitable! It's profitable for doctrine, which shows us what is right to believe. It's profitable for reproof, which shows us what and where we do not believe rightly. It's profitable for correction, which gets us back to what and where we should believe rightly. All Scripture is profitable to us for instruction in righteousness.

If indeed all Scripture came from God, and, it is God's communication to mankind so that we can profit, then how important is our attitude concerning the Bible? There are those who say that the Bible is full of myths, and that it is just a bunch of writings that men decided to write. There are those who never really take the time and effort to work it from the inside who say that the Bible is full of contradictions. There is no lack of criticism of God's Word. But there sure is a lack of believing the Word of God.

How can we truly say that we love and reverence God if our attitude towards His Word is not one of reverence also?

Psalms 119:140:

Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Psalms 119:160:

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Psalms 119:161:

Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

Psalms 119:105:

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalms 119:89:

For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalms 119:11: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalms 119:162:

I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

Look at the great reverence and attitude in those verses! And look at Jeremiah's heart toward God's Word.

Jeremiah 15:16:

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Our attitude about the Bible, the Word of God is not only vital, but critical to our relationship with God. The Bible is either God's Word or it isn't! And if it isn't, then how shall we know God? By guessing? By making up our "own" religion based on what we think is right to believe?

If we truly want to know God and receive His blessings, then we need to recognize first, that none of the Scriptures are of any one's private interpretation; that the Bible is truly the Word of God, containing the words from God that will profit us. So, whenever we open the "Book", let us remember that we are reading words from God Almighty.

John 17:17:

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.