“HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE” Part 3 - THE BIBLE IS DIFFERENT ..
as published in Toms River Church of Christ bulletin
“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what  the will of the Lord is " (Ephesians 5:17).
Although the Bible is different from other books because it is divinely authorized-by God, it should be treated with logic and common sense as any intelligent writing. The art of good  reasoning is a natural qualification and must be understood and developed. Simple rules of logic will prove most rewarding and the following practices must be avoided to prevent misunderstanding God's Word:

1. Prejudice: no one is completely free of prejudice. Personal experiences, favorite ideas and early training may hinder our understanding. The real prejudice could be attributed to the effect of fear and feelings. How about the individual who states in good faith, "I should go to the doctor and have a physical check-up but I'm afraid he'll find something wrong with me".
2. Preconceived Opinion: this comes from the practice of supposing something exists or assuming something is true with- out sufficient study or proof. We are to go to the Bible to obtain our doctrine, not to sustain it. The Bible is not a mirror of one's own views.
3. Wishful thinking: to wish so strongly for something to be true that one comes to believe that it is true. We all have our desires, wants and loves. We have our feelings. Rationalizing is another form of wishful thinking by searching for logical reasons for doing what we want to do, or intend to do.
4. Generalization: drawing sweeping conclusions from particular instance is dangerous. "Every time I don't study, the teacher gives a test." "The church is full of hypocrites." "Preachers' kids usually turn out bad." Don't jump at conclusions.
5. Appeal to Human Authority: "My preacher says ......Simply mentioning a specific name or creed or tradition should never stop further- thought and investigation Only God is final in authoritv.