How to Study the Bible

if you read enough you will really find seemingly contradictory statements. it is like having a right hand and a left hand, opposite of each other.

however, if you just read just some more, ideally everything, seeing the whole picture, the seeming contradiction will be resolved. yes, even w/o all the theological *gesis stuff.

and most amazingly, the process of resolving seeming contradictions  in EGW writings is the same process of resolving seeming contradictions in the Bible.

if you google for "biblical contradictions" you will find a lot of pages dedicated to that. a lot. most of them from atheists.  does that mean they are correct? no, that just means they don't understand.  not understanding calculus doesn't mean calculus is wrong. hehe.  nobody claims to understand everything.

so the process of resolving seeming contradictions is:

0) obey. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine" John 7:17. disobedience make our deceitful heart deny/defend against truth.

"One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God's word is, they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice. As understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness." {GC 599.2}

1) read everything ("all scripture" 2 Tim 3:16) diligence (Prov 31:5 "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want."; Proverbs 21:5 wisdom says, "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.") 

2) remember the writers/penmen are human and can commit mistakes / inaccuracies (numerical or referential) (Romans 3:23, "all have sinned")

3) figures of speech (Matthew 13:11 "why do you speak in parables?")

4) lack of space/time to write everything (Heb 11:32 "time would fail me to tell")

5) need to ask for spiritual wisdom to understand / interpret (Mat 7:17 "ask and it shall be given"; Daniel 9:23 when daniel prayed, an the explanation was sent)

6) most-recent-instruction (Deu 1:42 israel doesn't attack when God says, but attacks when God says not to)

7) weigh the benefit (Luke 14:28 "count the cost"). if we believe this, what is the benefit? if that, what is the benefit?

8) quality of reference (Isa 8:20 "according to this word") also "compare scripture with scripture"
"Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support." {GC 595.1}

9) the more you study, the more you understand (Psalm 119:99 "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation")

10) distinguish between scripture and comment/policy (Mat 16:6 "Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."; Isa 8:20 "according to this word")

11) God wants us to know the truth (Acts 14:17 "Nevertheless he left not himself without witness")

12) Word of God is perfect, not like comments & science (Psalm 19:7 "The law of the LORD is perfect"; Psalm 18:30 "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried"; Psalm 93:5 "Thy testimonies are very sure"; Psalm 111:7 "all his commandments are sure")

13) more references, better (2 Corinthians 13:1 " In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."; Deut 19:15 "at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.") “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Pet 1:20

14) know / research as much as you can about the opposite side of the argument (Numbers 13:17 "Moses sent them to spy out the land")"He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him." Prov 18:17

15) obey and God will reveal more.
"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much" Luke 16:10
"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48
Psalm 25:9 – "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way."
John 7:17 – "If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority."
Matthew 5:6 – "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
James 1:5-6 – "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting..."
Psalm 25:9 – "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way."

"Had you followed the light which He has given you, then He would cause more light to shine upon you; but while you neglect the counsels, warnings, and reproofs that have been given, how can you expect God to give you more light and blessings to neglect and despise? God is not as man; He will not be trifled with." {5T 664.2}

16) "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" [Isaiah 28:10]

17) lift Christ. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." [John 12:32].
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." John 5:39
"The prophecies are to be studied, and the life of Christ compared with the writings of the prophets" [SpTEd 231.2, FE 382.2].

18) "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual" [1 Corinthians 2:13].

"Compare Scripture with Scripture For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." [LHU 114.1].

19) "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:"

Mat 7:7

"Study God's word prayerfully" [SC 35.2].

"The Bible should never be studied without prayer" [Pr 95.2, AG 199.5, CSW 38.2, RC 116.4, GC88 599.3, YRP 112.3, RH, September 10, 1914 par. 5, RH, January 10, 1907 par. 2, TSS 122.1, 4SP 418.1, AU Gleaner, June 9, 1909 par. 8].

20) expect to be changed, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." Ps 19:7
"A daily study of the Scriptures has a sanctifying, uplifting influence upon the mind" [CT 138.3, RH, January 30, 1913 par. 8].

"In your study of the Word, lay at the door of investigation your preconceived opinions and your hereditary and cultivated ideas" [ST, October 3, 1906 par. 4, YI, July 24, 1902 par. 7].

21) expect to possibly find out you are/were wrong, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" [Matthew 22:29].

"Ev 201.2 Here a Little, and There a Little.--Those who have been educated in the truth by precept and example should make great allowance for others who have had no knowledge of the Scriptures except through the interpretations given by ministers and church members, and who have received traditions and fables as Bible truth. They are surprised by the presentation of truth; it is as a new revelation to them, and they cannot bear to have all the truth, in its most striking character, presented to them at the outset. All is new and strange and wholly unlike that which they have heard from their ministers, and they are inclined to believe what the ministers have told them, that Seventh-day Adventists are infidels and do not believe the Bible. Let the truth be presented as it is in Jesus, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little.--Undated Manuscript 79." [Ev 201.2]

22) the wise appreciate correction, "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee" [Proverbs 9:8].

[Job 6:24] Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

23) search. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." John 5:39

23) "Mark 12:37 And the common people heard him gladly." [Mark 12:37]

 "The Bible with its precious gems of truth was not written for the scholar alone. On the contrary, it was designed for the common people; and the interpretation given by the common people, when aided by the Holy Spirit, accords best with the truth as it is in Jesus. The great truths necessary for salvation are made clear as the noonday, and none will mistake and lose their way except those who follow their own judgment instead of the plainly revealed will of God." {5T 331.2}

24) when to interpret?
"The truths most plainly revealed in the Bible have been involved in doubt and darkness by learned men, who, with a pretense of great wisdom, teach that the Scriptures have a mystical, a secret, spiritual meaning not apparent in the language employed. These men are false teachers. It was to such a class that Jesus declared, "Ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God." [Mark 12:24.] 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙗𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙮𝙢𝙗𝙤𝙡 𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙙. Christ has given the promise, "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine." [John 7:17.] If men would but take the Bible as it reads, if there were no false teachers to mislead and confuse their minds, a work would be accomplished that would make angels glad, and that would bring into the fold of Christ thousands upon thousands who are now wandering in error. {4SP 416.3}
"The Bible is its own interpreter. With beautiful simplicity one portion connects itself with the truth of another portion, until the whole Bible is blended in one harmonious whole. Light flashes forth from one text to illuminate some portion of the Word that has seemed more obscure" [OHC 207.5, RH, August 13, 1959 par. 5, 2MR 89.6].
"Unaccustomed to accept God's Word exactly as it reads, or to allow it to be its own interpreter, they [the priests and instructors of the people] read it in the light of their maxims and traditions. So long had they neglected to study and contemplate the Bible, that its pages were to them a mystery. They turned with aversion from the truth of God to the traditions of men" [3MR 431.1].

25) beware of perverting. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim 4:3-4

28) even Jesus does not contradict established prophets/truth. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matthew 5:17

AI helps in searching inspired writings:

a) KJV+EGW Answerer 
https://a.aolis.aup.edu.ph/bibleegw/

b) KJV+EGW NotebookLM 
https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/2449b710-dce6-4953-bb0d-3260f57df832