The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 600
such a class that Jesus declared: “Ye know not the Scriptures, neither
the power of God.” Mark 12:24. The language of the Bible should be
explained according to its obvious meaning, unless a symbol or figure is
employed. Christ has given the promise: “If any man will do His will, he
shall know of the doctrine.” John 7:17. If men would but take the Bible
as it reads, if there were no false teachers to mislead and confuse their
minds, a work would be accomplished that would make angels glad and
that would bring into the fold of Christ thousands upon thousands who
are now wandering in error.
We should exert all the powers of the mind in the study of the
Scriptures and should task the understanding to comprehend, as far
as mortals can, the deep things of God; yet we must not forget that
the docility and submission of a child is the true spirit of the learner.
Scriptural difficulties can never be mastered by the same methods that
are employed in grappling with philosophical problems. We should not
engage in the study of the Bible with that self-reliance with which so
many enter the domains of science, but with a prayerful dependence
upon God and a sincere desire to learn His will. We must come with a
humble and teachable spirit to obtain knowledge from the great I AM.
Otherwise, evil angels will so blind our minds and harden our hearts that
we shall not be impressed by the truth.
Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mystery,
or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and instruction to him
who has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason why many
theologians have no clearer understanding of God’s word is, they close
their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice. As understanding
of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought
to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after
righteousness.
The Bible should never be studied without prayer. The Holy Spirit
alone can cause us to feel the importance of those
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