The Opening Paragraph of the Preface to The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (1982 edition) states: “The contemporary evangelical church is in many ways flourishing. A great and needed emphasis is being placed on problem solving in the Christian life. Seminars with many and varied topics are available to the believer. Yet, in the midst of this expanding movement is an area that needs serious addressing: it is the need of solid biblical teaching. The evangelical church is in large part biblically illiterate. Anything that can be done to alleviate that need should be done…A contribution to that alleviation is this publication of The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge…”
Comparing scripture with scripture
Although readers of the Tidings would not consider themselves biblically illiterate, much benefit can be gained by using The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK) in our Bible study. The numerous cross references provided by TSK can nourish a Berean-like approach to Bible study (Acts 17:11; I Cor. 2:13).
Many of us endeavor to complete the daily readings using a pattern (e.g. the Bible Companion) that takes us through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in a year. Regular reading coupled with the practice of comparing scripture with scripture continually increases our knowledge of God’s word. This balanced approach encourages the discovery of the correct interpretation of scriptures. Individual reading and study enable each of us to participate fully in our fellowship without the necessity of a central authority to dictate our beliefs (Isa. 28:10; I Thess. 5:21). This biblical approach is superior to the authoritative one that has led evangelicals to biblical illiteracy (according to the TSK preface).
As part of Christadelphian outreach, the Bible seminars were designed to present the scriptures in a way that improves biblical literacy. When reading scriptures, presenters often draw attention to scriptural cross references, especially those found in the Bible margin. The use of a concordance is also demonstrated so that students can discover for themselves how the original Hebrew and Greek words have been translated into English. This continued emphasis on God’s word, at the basic level, provides considerable insight as to how the scriptures can be properly interpreted. Soon our Seminar students can confidently read the scriptures with understanding.
Expanded cross references
Bibles commonly used today list fewer than two cross references per verse. Margin size naturally limits the number of cross references, so for the sake of brevity many potentially useful cross references must be omitted. Thus, just as we prefer to use an exhaustive concordance such as Strong ‘s rather than an abridged work such as Cruden’s, the TSK can be a powerful replacement for our limited Bible margins.
The TSK boasts a large number of cross references (500,000), more than ten times that found in a typical Bible. This large number provides many additional opportunities for relating a verse to another portion of scripture. Indeed, the preface in an earlier edition (Bagster’s 1967) of TSK claims: “There is no other commentary so helpful as the Bible itself. There is not a difficult passage in the Bible that is not explained and made clear by other passages of the Bible, and this book (the TSK) is marvelously useful in bringing to light those other parts of the Bible that throw light upon the portion that is being studied.” By using TSK you will discover that this summary is in large measure true.
The Bible will explain itself
As Christadelphians and Bible students, we constantly stress the importance of comparing scripture with scripture (interestingly the TSK preface gives this method the name “analogy of faith”). Wrong doctrine can be the result of failure to examine the context of a verse or failure to relate the scripture passage to other scriptures. Referring to Lucifer as the devil rather than the King of Babylon is a good example of failing to use “the analogy of faith” am 14:12 compare 14:4). Indeed many errors prevalent in orthodox Christianity can be attributed to neglecting OT scripture when attempting to interpret NT scripture. By including more references than do Bible margins, TSK naturally provides more OT cross references.
An example from II Corinthians
An example of its usefulness has been drawn from this month’s readings (II Cor. 5:1-4). A casual reading of this passage might suggest Paul is teaching heaven going — “if our earthly house…were dissolved, we have a house…eternal in the heavens” (II Cor. 5:1).
The KJV margin (in KJVs published by Nelson) lists six cross references for this passage (II Pet. 1:13; Phil. 3:21; Heb. 11:10; Rom. 8:23; Rev. 3:18; I Cor. 15:53) while several other publishers (e.g. Oxford) provide a similar number. Almost all cross references are to the NT but the Oxford interlinear AV/RV, considered by many to have the best margin, also provides an OT reference (ha. 38:12).
For the same verses (II Cor. 5:1- 4), the TSK provides a total of 33 references, including eight from the OT. Several of these OT references are very helpful in arriving at the proper interpretation of this passage.
For example, the first OT reference is: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:25,26). Parallels in “analogy of faith” (i.e., comparing scripture with scripture) suggest that Paul is speaking of resurrection and immortality and not of heaven going.
Several of the other OT passages referenced by TSK confirm this first impression that the “earthly house” is consumed in the grave: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen. 3:19); “Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance” (Job 30:22).
With this OT background the reader is prepared to interpret what Paul is really saying. Again TSK provides some helpful references: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (I John 3:2).
“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom. 7:24).
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (I Cor. 15:53,54). From this assortment of verses it is evident Paul is speaking of an existence on earth in a body that is immortal and incorruptible.
Thus by using the “analogy of faith” we have confirmed that, just as TSK claimed, “other parts of the Bible…throw light upon the portion that is being studied.”
Notes:
- I haven’t assessed the commentary in TSK, having used only the cross references. (While care must be used, the commentary provides much useful information, ed.)
- Early editions of TSK references were designed for interleaving with Bagster’s Polyglot Bible (i.e., extensive marginal notes). A more recent edition (Hendrickson Publishers, 1982) has a slightly larger typeface than the earlier one. Computer Bible programs that include TSK make looking up cross references very easy.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One