Effective Bible Teaching and Interpretation

Notes from a question and answer session by Guy N. Woods

Introduction

Guy N. Woods was a renowned gospel preacher who conducted open forums at the Freed-Hardeman College Lectureship for about 30 years. He found question and answer sessions to be highly effective for addressing a wide range of topics that might not be covered in the average sermon. Woods recommended that every preacher occasionally hold a Q&A session to deal more specifically with matters of interest to the audience.

The Age of the Earth

When asked to harmonize Bible classes teaching a 6,000-year-old Earth with modern science claims, Woods emphasized that the Bible does not specify the Earth's age. The first verse of the Bible, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," leaves room for the Earth to be 10,000 years old, a million years old, or any other vast age. Woods found attempts by men to fix an age for the Earth's beginning to be absurd, as humorously demonstrated by a story of a witty scientist and a park guide.

The main reason some want to assign great ages to the Earth is to make a case for the evolutionary hypothesis, which requires vast amounts of time. However, Woods rejected this notion, stating that given enough time, a monkey pounding on a typewriter would never produce the Declaration of Independence or the Sermon on the Mount. He trusted the eyewitness testimony of the Holy Spirit in the Bible's account of creation.

Interpreting Difficult Passages

Woods addressed several challenging Bible passages:

1. Matthew 19:9 on divorce and remarriage: The text is straightforward in meaning that whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another commits adultery. Woods emphasized the importance of believing and following the Lord's teaching rather than trying to justify one's own actions.

2. 1 Corinthians 15:29 on baptism for the dead: Understanding the context is crucial for proper interpretation. The subject under consideration is the resurrection of the body, not baptism. Paul was making an argument based on the symbolism of baptism (burial and resurrection) to support the doctrine of bodily resurrection, countering the Pagan notion held by some in Corinth that the body is the seat of evil.

3. Revelation 20 and the thousand-year reign: Woods clarified that the Bible does not mention Christ reigning for a thousand years on Earth or anywhere else. The passage refers to the reign of the souls of the martyrs with Christ, not Christ's reign. The thousand years marks off their reign, which continues unbroken, not the Lord's reign.

Withdrawal of Fellowship

Woods addressed the issue of withdrawing fellowship from a congregation in error. He explained that disfellowshipping is itself a withdrawal - a ceasing of participation and a declaration of non-participation. If individuals in a congregation support false doctrine, withdrawing from all who participate effectively withdraws from the whole congregation.

However, Woods noted that there is much misapprehension about the withdrawal process. Elders, as elders, do not withdraw; rather, they determine the necessity of withdrawal and recommend it to the congregation. The congregation then carries out the withdrawal by ceasing fraternal relationships with the individuals involved. Woods emphasized the need for teaching on this vital matter, illustrating with an anecdote about a brother who misunderstood the meaning of withdrawal.

Bible Translations and Scholarship

When asked about the reliability of Bible translations, Woods shared his extensive background in studying Greek grammar and texts. Based on his judgment, he considered the American Standard Version (1901) to most nearly reflect the meaning of the Greek text in English. However, he also strongly believed that one could learn all that God intends and go to heaven using only the King James Version.

Woods cautioned against overemphasizing accredited scholarship, noting that liberalism often makes a great display of it, intimidating some brethren. He distinguished between real scholarship, which comes from long years of intensive study, and the so-called scholarship that can lead people away from the truth. Woods advised young men with a good high school education and English background to attend preacher schools for preparation to effectively serve in the world.

The Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)

In Acts 2:38, the gift of the Holy Spirit refers to a miraculous endowment bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands. This understanding is supported by the grammar of the passage and comparison with parallel passages such as Mark 16:17, Acts 3:19, and Acts 10:45.

Worship, Service, and Kingdom Terminology

Woods noted the overlap between the concepts of worship and service. Regarding the meaning of being "least" or "great" in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:19-20), he explained that it refers to one's status or position in the kingdom based on their obedience to and teaching of God's commandments.

The Greatest Threat to the Church

While many perceive threats to the church such as indifference or liberalism, Woods identified the fundamental issue as a lack of respect for and dedication to the authority of God's word. This underlies all other challenges the church faces.