Book Review: Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul

Earlier this year, a group of young people from our church went to the New Attitude Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
While there I purchased a couple of books. This will be the first that I'm going to review.

As the title implies, this book is about knowing Scripture. About how to read the Bible rightly. It discusses different safeguards from falling into false teachings and discusses hermeneutics. In fact, it has an entire chapter devoted to hermeneutics. (Hermeneutics is the science of interpretation.)

This is an excellent book! At 125 pages it is a fairly small book, but packs a lot of information into those 125 pages. This is a great introduction on how to read and understand the Bible. For instance, one of the safeguards given is how to distinguish between a proverb and a law. In another chapter, Dr. Sproul discusses different translations of the Bible and gives different resources that he finds helpful in how to study the Scriptures.

My favorite chapter in the book was chapter 4 which is titled "Practical Rules for Biblical Interpretation". In this chapter, Dr. Sproul sets forth 10 practical rules that safeguard us from misinterpreting the Scriptures. Rule number eight seemed to strike me the most. Rule eight is to "Observe the difference between the Spirit and Letter of the Law". Sproul explains that to keep the letter of the law yet break the spirit of it is legalistic. What is meant by the letter of the law is for example do not murder. To keep the letter of that commandment would be to not murder anyone. While keeping the spirit of that law would be to not hate someone.

J.I. Packer wrote the foreword to this book. While I was reading the book a part of J.I. Packer's foreword resonated in my head. "The Bible excites him and his excitement is infectious!"
Dr. Sproul has a vast knowledge of studying the Scriptures and is very willing to guide you to learn how to study them for yourself. I would whole heartily recommend this book to any Christian, whether they are new in Christ or a seasoned believer.