2. Why Should We Believe The Bible? How Did The Bible Come Down To Us? What Books Belong in the Bible? Does Historical & Archaeological Evidence Support The Trustworthiness of the Scriptures? Does Bible Prophecy Support the Divine Origin of Scripture? Has the Text of the Bible Been Corrupted? To What Extent Is The Bible Inspired? Can We Understand the Bible Alike? How Do You Explain The Alleged Contradictions In The Bible?

3. Who gave us the Bible? Either God could but wouldn’t, or He would but couldn’t

4. *Is the Bible so difficult that the common man cannot understand it? *Is the Bible so difficult that we need a guide to help us (such as a direct operation of the Holy Spirit or some church authority) *If it can be understood – then it can be understood alike!!

5. *The Bible was written to be understood! *God expects us to understand His word “ALIKE!” *Why is it that many do not understand the Bible “ALIKE?” *We MUST understand God’s word!!

6.  "Have you not read...?" - Mt 12:3,5; 19:4  Consider the Berean Jews and Timothy - Ac 17:11; 2 Ti 3:14-15  Yet, it contained a mystery that needed to be revealed- 1 Peter 1:10-12; Ep 3:3-5 The Old Testament... Rom 15:4

7. The New Testament... Ephesians 3:3-5 Ephes. 3:3-5 (NKJV) how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, [4] by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), [5] which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

8.  The O.T. mystery revealed- Romans 16:25,26  "The writers expected their readers to understand" – Luke 1:1-4; John 20:30- 31; 2 Co 1:13; Ep 3:3-5  Aren't some things hard to understand?- 2 Peter 3:16- 18; Revelation; Co 1:10 The New Testament... Ephesians 3:3-5

9.  He desires all men to come to a knowledge of the truth - 1 Tim 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9  He commands it of His children - Eph 5:17; 2 Pet 3:18  He Expects Us To Understand It Alike - John 17:20; 1 Co 1:10-13; Ph 2:2 Would God desire and command the impossible?

10.  "Only 'Spirit-filled' people can understand it“ 1 Co 2:14 Reasons Often Given... 1 Cor. 2:1,4-14; Eph 3:2-5 We don't need some special guidance of the Spirit to understand the Word; the Word of God itself is the Spirit's own revelation of God's will! 1 Cor. 2:1,4-14; Eph 3:2-5

11.  "Only 'Spirit-filled' people can understand it“ 1 Co 2:14  "It can't be understood alike“  “Only the Catholic Church can properly explain the Bible”  “That’s what the preacher, (pastor) is for” Reasons Often Given...

12.  Many study for the wrong reasons  Many make little or no effort -  Many fail to follow the common laws of human communication! The Real Reasons... 2 Ti 2:15 The problem is not with God's Word; the problem is slothful, sloppy handling of God's word - cf. 2 Ti 2:15

13.  Many study for the wrong reasons  Many make little or no effort -  Many fail to follow the common laws of human communication!  Many do NOT have a love for the truth!! 2 Thes. 2:10- 12 The Real Reasons... Honesty & Humility Are MORE important than intelligence!

14. John 6:44-45 (NKJV) No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. [45] It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

15. 1 Peter 1:22-23 (NKJV) Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, [23] having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

16. *God has revealed His will to us through words. *Words are vehicles of thought and convey concepts. *We can understand God’s will through accepting the words of Scripture.

17. *The Bible was written to be understood! *God expects us to understand His word “ALIKE!” *Why is it that many do not understand the Bible “ALIKE?” *We MUST understand God’s word!!

18. *By children *By truth seekers *By babes in Christ -- Though parts of it will always challenge even the mature Christian