THE BIBLE MADE SIMPLE 
Volume 2

William T. Barrett

© 2007

The Bible Made Simple Volume 2

13 Bible Study Lessons

Lesson 1

1. Study to know what God says.

2. The Hidden Treasure of the Bible.

3. The Teaching Methods of Jesus.

4. Bible Word Pictures.

5. Discovering Hidden Treasures

BIBLE STUDY - Lesson 1

1. Opening Prayer

2. Study to know what God says.

3. The Hidden Treasure of the Bible.

4. The Teaching Methods of Jesus.

5. Bible Word Pictures.

6. Discovering Hidden Treasures

7. Closing Prayer

Study to know what God says

Do not read the Word in the light of former opinions. Do not try to make everything agree with your creed. With a mind free from prejudice, search the Word carefully.

We cannot obtain wisdom without earnest attention and prayerful study. Some portions of the Scriptures are indeed too plain to be misunderstood; but there are others whose meaning does not lie on the surface, to be seen at a glance. Scripture must be compared with Scripture. There must be careful research and prayerful attention. And such study will be richly repaid. As the miner discovers veins of precious metal concealed beneath the surface of the earth, so will he who perseveringly searches the Word of God as for hid treasure, find truths of the greatest value, which are concealed from the view of the careless seeker.

Never should the Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening its pages we should ask for enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and it will be given.

1

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The Hidden Treasure of the Bible

“We do not perceive the meaning of the word of God without much study; but the reward of the study of the Bible is exceedingly precious to him who fears God, and earnestly searches for truth as for hidden treasure. At the present day there are a large number in our churches who are not sufficiently interested in Bible study to seek to understand the mysteries of truth. They do not go below the surface. Those who are living in these last days, who acknowledge the binding claims of the law of God, have no ordinary responsibility. They are not to be satisfied with the surface truths. That which lies plainly revealed, which costs us no effort, will not be esteemed as highly as the treasure that costs us diligent, prayerful research and investigation.

Celestial truth is represented as treasure hid in a field, “which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matthew 13:44) that he may work every part of it to discover the golden ore or precious gems. The earth itself cannot reveal treasures of as great value as can the Bible. No toil can so repay the diligent worker as can the search for truth. Let the mines of revelation be properly worked, and the unsearchable riches of Christ will be revealed.”

2

Proverbs 2:3-5 “Yea if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God”.

“Scripture is the key that unlocks Scripture”

3

“The Bible is its own expositor. One passage will prove to be a key that will unlock other passages, and in this way light will be shed upon the hidden meaning of the word”.

4

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The Teaching Methods of Jesus

“Teachers should copy the example of the Great Teacher, who from familiar scenes of nature drew illustrations that simplified His teaching and impressed them more deeply upon the minds of his hearers. He connected the visible works of the Creator, with the Words of life which He spoke, that when ever these objects should be presented to the eyes of the hearer, their thoughts might revert to the lessons of truth He had linked with them”.

5

By identifying a real object in a Bible text and then looking it up in the Bible Word Pictures, you can discover the Spiritual meaning of the real object.

BIBLE

WORD

PICTURES

This is a sample of a separate

Reference booklet containing

240 BIBLE WORD PICTURES

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Principles For Bible Study

Study Principle 1

Prayfor theHoly Spirittoguide youas you study

the Bible and search for truth.

James 1:5If anylack wisdomlet himaskof God

John 16:13When He theSpiritof truth is come He willguide youinto all truth.

Study Principle 2

Let theBibleexplain itself.One textwill prove to be akeythat willunlockother texts, and in this way you will discover thehidden meaningof God’s Word.

1 Cor. 2:13 ”…not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which theHoly Ghostteacheth ;comparingspiritual things with spiritual”.

Study the illustrationon thenext page

and you will see how this is done.

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COMPARE

SCRIPTURE

WITH

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 25 :4

“Take away the

dross from the

silver, and there

shall come forth a

vessel for the finer”.

( )

Take away the dross from the

( )

silver, and there shall come

( ) ( )

forth a vessel for the finer.

FINER = THE LORD

(REFINER)

Zech.13:9 “… I will… refine them as silver is refined… they will say, The Lord is my God”.

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DISCOVERING HIDDEN TREASURE

Bible Verse: Psalms 104:15

“And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart”.

1. Think about the PHYSICAL: On the surface, what is the Main Physical thought?

Think about the SPIRITUAL: On the surface what is the Main Spiritual thought?

4. Rewrite the verse: Substitute the Spiritual Meaning of the Key Word back into the Bible verse and Rewrite it to discover what God wants to do for us Spiritually!

________ (new wine) makes a man happy in his ________ (heart) and the ______________ (oil) gives his______________ (face) the ability to____________(shine), and the ____________(bread) strengthens a man’s ______________ (heart) as he studies it.

NOTE: ANSWERS ON PAGE 10

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DISCOVERING HIDDEN TREASURE

Bible Verse: Psalms 104:15

“And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart”.

1. Think about the PHYSICAL: What we Physically eat will make us Physically strong or weak.

Think about the SPIRITUAL: What we Spiritually eat will make us Spiritually strong or weak.

4. Rewrite the verse: Substitute the Spiritual Meaning of the Key Word back into the Bible verse and Rewrite it to discover what God wants to do for us Spiritually!

True Doctrine (new wine) makes a man happy in his mind (heart) and the Holy Spirit (oil) gives his mind (face) the ability to teach truth (shine), and the Bible (bread) strengthens a man’s mind (heart) as he studies it.

William T. Barrett

Bible Made Simple Ministry