As I was studying through Galatians, I learned a “how to study the Bible” lesson from the Apostle Paul, and he wasn’t even trying to teach that lesson.
I saw that when he studied his Bible (it would have been just the Old Testament at that time!) he didn’t just read through it devotionally, picking out the things he could apply to his life. He looked for doctrine. He saw places that the Old Testament talks about Christ that the average person wouldn’t pick up on. He read and studied his Bible deeply.
Briefly, here’s what I’m talking about: In Gal. 3, Paul is talking about the Old Testament law vs. faith, highlighting Genesis with Abraham (he believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.) He says in Gal. 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written ‘Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.’” (He’s quoting from Deut. 21:23.) But here’s the verse that taught me the lesson: (verse 16) “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, ‘And to seeds’ as of many; but as of one. ‘And to thy seed,’ which is Christ.”
I sat back and thought, “wow!” Paul read Gen. 13:15 and noticed there wasn’t an “s” on the end of “seed” and concluded it was talking about Christ. Had there been an “s” on the end of “seed,” the verse would have meant something entirely different. (Perhaps the word “seeds” would have meant that the promise was for Abraham and his descendents.) Paul concluded that Gen. 13:15 looks forward to Christ.
Do I read and study the Bible so intently that the very letters (an “s” or no “s”) grab my attention and teach me deep doctrinal truths?
I did due diligence, and I went back to Gen. 13:15 to see if the Bible really does say “seed” and not “seeds.” Yes, it does.
By the way, I read the King James version, antiquated as some may think, because I’ve been taught that it is the most accurate translation. So I wondered how NIV and NASV read in Gen. 13:15. Do they also say “seed” with no “s”?
Nope. NASV says “descendants” and NIV says “offspring.” Anyone have any thoughts on that? I think those two renditions make Paul sound like an idiot in Galatians. -- To my point, it’s important to study the Bible, not just read it. The words are important, not just the general idea (so go for the most accurate translation, not simply the easiest to read). Paul looked at words, and I’m sure that’s what he taught Timothy when he said, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15)