Is it wrong to read and believe the clear reading of scripture? How does one reach a place of confidence in Gods Word?
Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
It is only wrong to those who have not spent much time studying, or those who do not agree with what is plainly said in the Bible. I helped to set up activities at a family reunion over the weekend, and I put together a Bible trivia for the relatives to try. One person was willing to try it, and she was a pastor's wife. She got all but 2 or 3 right. Most were not confident in their Bible knowledge and are not familiar with most of it. They wouldn't try it. Here are the trivia questions:
1. Who complained that her sister Mary would not help her prepare food as Jesus taught them?
2. Why did Sarah laugh when she found out she was going to bear a son?
3. How many people were present at the Last Supper?
4. Which specific law did the Pharisees accuse Jesus of breaking?
5. Who wrestled God for a blessing?
6. Complete the verse- Though I speak with the tongues(languages) of men and of angels, but have not _________, I have become
as sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
7. What part of the body is the light of the body?
8. In the parable of the sower and the seed, what are the four places on which the seed fell?
9.What did David take with him to meet Goliath?
10. Who was Moses’ successor?
11. What are the colors of the four horsemen’s horses in Revelation?
12. What did Jesus do right before and after saying, “Let he who is without sin throw the first stone.”?
13. The river, which flowed from the Garden of Eden, divided into how many rivers?
14. How many times was the Apostle Paul stoned?
15. Who did Jesus name the “Sons of Thunder”?
16. How many brothers did Joseph in Genesis have?
17. Where did Mary and Joseph take Jesus to hide from Herod?
18. Who was Ruth’s famous great-grandson?
I don't think the questions are too terribly hard. Anyone who has studied the Bible or listened to a Bible-based preacher or went to Sunday School for a decent period of time should be able to answer many of the questions. Knowing the Bible should allow you the confidence to understand it.