The Scriptures answer, “One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren” (Matthew 23:8). We should not follow man, nor manmade creeds or systems. God exercised the supervising care over His consecrated people. “Now hath God set the members, every one of them, in the body, as it hath pleased him” (1 Corinthians 12:18); therefore, he advises Christians to come together to assist in building each other up in the most holy faith (Hebrews 10:24,25).
He directs the church to select elders – not lords or masters (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:5-9). These are “overseers” to feed the flock of God (Acts 21:28; 1 Peter 5:1-3). The Apostle Paul says, “Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ.”
The most faithful have been followers of the apostle, who followed in the footsteps of Jesus. This is not following man but following the Divine leadings through the Lord and the apostles. Similarly, today we note God’s leadings through His servants. In this we are following Jesus Christ, not man. Individual study of the Bible seems indispensable to proper Christian development, and is commendable, just as individual study of geology would be commendable; but one must not ignore the aids to Bible study which God has providentially furnished; to do so would be as unwise as for an astronomy student to ignore the astronomical instruments and findings of others who have preceded him in the study of the same science.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God (not unto men); rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Additional Resources:
(PDF) How to Study the Bible and Have it Make Sense
Christian Questions Podcast How to Study the Bible
