How I study the bible & what tools do I use to prove my Faith?
I was guided in my faith by my father, Rev. Charlie Cohenour Sr. Rev. Cohenour taught me to listen attentively to what we studied, guided by patience and prayer. To demonstrate my approval before God, I was instructed to study diligently. Similarly, I was encouraged to work at my own pace and complete my own tasks, free from the influence of the world or its teachings. (2 Timothy 2:15 1Th 4:11 1Th 4:12)
My father firmly believed that the King James Version Bible was a divine revelation, passed down to each generation as God’s Word. I was raised to trust this belief with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
It came to a time when I had to demonstrate that the King James Bible was the Word of God for our generation. Upon studying King James, I discovered that he was not the author. Instead, he was the publisher, whom I believe was divinely guided by God to create this living embodiment of God’s Word.
I also discovered that King James personally convened the Hampton Court Conference on January 1, 1604, to officially initiate the monumental translation project. He meticulously established strict translation guidelines to guarantee the objectivity of the translators and ensure that only the most accurate and pure translation of the Scriptures was translated into English.
The Bible was divided into six teams of scholars, each comprising two members. These teams were established at Westminster, Oxford, and Cambridge. Not only did they utilize the most reliable Hebrew and Greek texts, but they also made use of every available version to compare the varying readings. Consequently, the basic text was completed within four years.
The translation underwent two additional years of meticulous verification. In 1610, a team of two individuals from each of the original six teams conducted a final check. After nine grueling months of proofreading, the authorized Bible was printed in 1611. Its impact on Western society is immeasurable, having profoundly influenced our thoughts and shaped our understanding of the world.
Finding this information was a start, but how could I be certain that this version was and is the correct Word of God for our generation to seek for ultimate truth? I’ve read the NKJV, NIV, ASV, an Interlinear Bible that includes the Greek and Hebrew, and a few other versions. Each of these versions was remarkably different, which violated the commandment of false reporting (Exo 23:1). These counterfeits omitted or altered the true meaning of the Word of God. Naturally, I based my findings on the KJV. I’ve learned to distrust these books and even to avoid reading them, as they were based on lies and fallacies.
Knowing that comparing the KJV to other misinterpretations of God’s word would only lead to intellectual confusion, I sought guidance from my spiritual leaders. My father, a devout believer and God-called preacher and teacher of the word, exclusively used the KJV for teaching and living by. This was a steadfast fact that I could rely on for confirmation. My mother, Ruth Naomi Cohenour, was another spiritual leader I deeply trusted. Jesus blessed and favored her greatly. Ruth was the musical leader in our home church, part of the Body of Christ. She was also an exceptional preacher of the Word of God. Ruth received divine inspiration to write numerous songs based on scripture from the KJV. She is a steadfast believer in the KJV.
The next inspiration for me was the Rev. William Sowders, the founder of the Body of Christ. Bro. Sowders used and taught the doctrines of Truth for our generation using the King James Version (KJV). All of this was a compelling natural truth to me that the KJV is the Word of God for this generation.
However, I needed some other unquestionable spiritual truth from God himself to be an undeniable truth.
Charles Fox Parham, often referred to as the ‘father of the Pentecostal Movement,’ is most renowned for proclaiming and subsequently imparting the experience of baptism with the Holy Spirit, marked by the initial manifestation of speaking in tongues. Charles Fox Parham received his revelation of the Holy Spirit from the pages of the King James Version of the Bible. Through this endeavor and this sacred text, the Holy Spirit descended upon the United States of America in a mass revival.
That settled the question of whose Bible was blessed by God as the Word for this generation.
Having settled on this foundational truth, I found a way to prove God’s word. This truth was discovered independently, without consulting another Bible or seeking further truth in any other writing. The Bible itself serves as its own proof.
I don’t use a concordance or a biblical reference book. I believe that God has shown me that anything written by humans will also be influenced by their faith. I am guided by the principles of Exodus 23:1 and Revelation 22:19, which prompt me to seek truth in its most understandable form. Just as God left us His teachings based on His decrees and beliefs, every author leaves their mark on their writings. I believe that the King James Version is proven, validated, and verified by its own text.
I also believe in divine inspiration, as the spirit guides me to uncover hidden truths. I firmly believe in the power of biblical familiarity. Repeatedly reading the word will deepen your understanding of its teachings.
That being said, I do use a dictionary to clarify words. I believe a dictionary is as unbiased as I can find to aid in understanding word definitions. To enhance my grammatical comprehension, I use a thesaurus. Additionally, I utilize a computer Bible program based on the King James Version to facilitate quick searches in the KJV.
I also have a collection of numerous study notes written by my father. These notes cover a wide range of topics and doctrines, and I often refer to them for reference.
Lastly, I follow (Exo. 32:1, Exo. 23:32 and Rev. 22:19).
That’s the essence of my study habits.
