This sponsored post was prepared by The Master’s College.
In discussing hermeneutics (or the study of how we interpret the Bible), the following example comes to my mind. On March 10, a friend of mine opened up his calendar. He has one of these devotional calendars that gives you an inspirational thought for the day, and the meditation for that morning came from Luke 4.
It said, “If you worship me, all will be yours.”
That sounds really encouraging—a little bit shallow, but inspirational. Maybe it’s so motivational you’d like to look at it in your Bible. If you turn there, you would actually find out the translation is a little bit different. But, you’ve got to fit it on a calendar, so maybe that’s why they messed with the translation a little bit.
Then you read a little bit more and you realize that it’s not said to you and me; it’s said to Jesus. You think, “Well, by extension, we’re in Christ. What we have, He has.”
Then you read a little bit more and you realize that this is not something the Father says to His Son. This isn’t a promise from God. These are the words of Satan tempting Jesus to worship the devil!
This is an inspirational calendar encouraging you to worship Satan and commit transgression. This is not an inspirational calendar. This is the calendar from hell!
And it just goes to show you, misinterpretation is all around us. Just because you open your Bible doesn’t guarantee you get it right. The key issue is whether we correctly understand the Scripture.
(Adapted from the sermon “Genesis and Myth-busting,” delivered by Dr. Abner Chou, TMC professor of Biblical Studies, at the Unlocking the Mysteries of Genesis Conference on October 11, 2014.)
Those who have attended one of Dr. Chou’s Bible classes at The Master’s College know to arrive at least 10 minutes early if they want to get a seat. Students are willing to stand against the wall or sit on the floor for the chance to hear his teaching.
Dr. Chou, who will be a featured seminar speaker at the 2016 Shepherd’s Conference, is committed to clearly explaining the Scripture in its context. His love for the gospel and earnest desire to see God’s glory displayed through His Word epitomizes a Biblical Studies education from TMC. Each of our world-renowned professors share that passion.
TMC’s Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies is now available both on campus and online. Our fully accredited online BABS program offers classes in biblical interpretation, Greek, biblical counseling, apologetics, and much more.
TMC Online also has two exciting degree programs in the works. Pending approval by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Counseling and a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies are scheduled to begin accepting students this summer.
Information about other online degree programs (Organizational Management, Christian Ministries and a Master of Business Administration), general education and dual enrollment options, and our Biblical Equipping Collection of non-credit DVD courses can be found online.
Don’t miss your chance to sit under the teaching of Dr. Abner Chou and the other respected authors, language scholars, scientists, counselors, businessmen, and apologists who comprise our faculty. They seek to see their students—on campus and online—worship God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), which is only possible when they are “accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
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