1. Every time of private home study, should be prefaced by following the instructions found in
James 1:5 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.
2. Having asked wisdom and understanding of God, you must study His Word with a mind willing to receive and believe whatever you find there, even though you find some things you have not believed before, and fail to find some which you have all your life supposed were true.
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
3. We know that God’s Word cannot contradict itself. When, therefore, in your study you come upon seeming contradictions, you must search carefully for the clue that will harmonize the apparently contradictory passages. This you may always find if you follow the Scriptural injuction found in
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says Jehovah.
1 Corinthians 2:13 Comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.
2 Timothy 2:15 Rightly dividing the word of the truth.
4. You must note with special care to whom or of whom different passages are written; also to what period of time they refer. Much of the confusion of belief among God’s true children arises because of a failure to notice these distinctions.
5. You must carefully distinguish between plain statements and figurative sayings, parables, types and symbols.
6. When you want proof you must compare Scripture with Scripture, instead of comparing Scripture with the traditions of men, expecting to find proof there.