Yes — approach the Bible by searching it for yourself and comparing Scripture with Scripture.
Les's stock response to questions is "What does your Bible say?" and he urges people to search the Scriptures to see whether the things they are taught are so. The Bible itself warns that unlearned and unstable people twist difficult passages, so the individual's safeguard is personal study of the whole Word, not dependence on tradition, denomination, or a preacher's conclusions.
2 Peter 3:16 — Warns that Scripture contains hard sayings that unlearned and unstable people twist, pointing to the need for careful personal study.
2 Peter 1:20 — Declares that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation, supporting the practice of comparing all Scripture together.
The Bible openly acknowledges that not every part of Scripture is easy to grasp. Peter writes of Paul's letters, "in which are some things hard to be understood" (2 Peter 3:16). He also warns that "they that are unlearned and unstable wrest" these scriptures "unto their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16). Scripture also declares that "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20). In other words, a biblical passage is not to be handled as a single isolated statement that can be explained from one person's viewpoint; the whole of Scripture must be taken into account.
Les Feldick consistently teaches that no one should take a teacher's word, a denomination's position, or a tradition at face value. His stock answer to people who ask him questions is "What does your Bible say?" and he says that if someone cannot find a teaching in the Bible, they should run from it (Clip 1). He describes his own ministry as an informal Bible study, not arm-twisting, and he stresses that he wants to help people see what the Book really says (Clips 2, 4, 6). The method Les teaches is simple: compare Scripture with Scripture. He explains that no Scripture is a private interpretation and that a person can make the Bible teach almost anything if they build a doctrine on one verse here and one verse there (Clips 2, 3). He also emphasizes that the Bible is progressive revelation and should be allowed to unfold. His counsel is to study a passage where it sits, not lift it out of context, and to determine first to whom the words were written or spoken (Clip 5). He even points out that Peter himself admitted Paul's letters contained some things hard to be understood, so difficulty is not an excuse to twist Scripture (Clip 0). Finally, he tells students to be just as aware of what the Bible does not say as what it does say, because people often bring preconceived ideas and traditions to the text (Clips 4, 6, 7).
Scripture itself warns that there are in the apostolic writings "some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest" (2 Peter 3:16). Les takes this seriously and tells his audience that the only thing we have to go by is "what does the Word of God say?" He refuses to make denominational or traditional groups the standard, and he says that if you cannot find something in your Bible, you should run from it. Rather than accepting a preacher's conclusion, the individual is to search the Scriptures and see whether these things are so.
Les explains that no Scripture is a private interpretation, so a doctrine cannot be built on one verse here and another verse there. The right approach is to use all the Scripture from Genesis through Revelation and make sure it all fits. When the whole Book is compared together, seemingly contradictions fade away and are seen not to be contradictions at all.
Les describes the Bible as progressive revelation that should be allowed to unfold. His counsel is to always study the Word where it is and not lift a verse out of context to make it say something it does not say. If a passage does not make sense right away, wait a while. The first thing to determine is to whom a portion was written or spoken.
Les says many people are hidebound by tradition and have been brainwashed into thinking certain things are in the Bible when they are not. His remedy is to be just as aware of what the Bible does not say as what it does say. By coming to the Book as an informal Bible study with no axe to grind, he wants to help people see what the Book really says and let go of preconceived ideas.
Even Peter Found Paul Hard to Understand
Les observes that the Apostle Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, admitted that Paul's writings contained things hard to be understood, showing that difficult passages do not excuse twisting Scripture.
Search the Scriptures Yourself
Les's stock answer to Bible questions is "What does your Bible say?" He tells people to search the Scriptures and, if they cannot find a teaching in their Bible, to run from it.
Compare Scripture with Scripture
Les says no Scripture is a private interpretation and that sound Bible study compares all of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation rather than building doctrine on isolated verses.
No Single Verse Stands Alone
Les explains that God did not wrap His revelation in just one verse, so the way to search the Scriptures is to compare Scripture with Scripture.
Be Aware of What the Bible Does Not Say
Les encourages students to study the Book on their own and to notice that people are often brainwashed into thinking things are in the Bible that are not there.
Study Progressive Revelation in Context
Les advises students to leave a verse where it sits, let the Bible unfold as progressive revelation, and first determine to whom it was written or spoken.
Guard Against Tradition
Les warns that tradition can lock people into ideas that are not in line with Scripture, so the goal is to open the Word and help people see what it really says.
Let Go of Preconceived Ideas
Les tells students to be just as aware of what the Bible does not say as what it does, since many so-called Bible ideas are actually preconceived misconceptions.
2 Peter 3:16: As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
This is the passage Les cites to show that even Peter found some of Paul's writings hard to understand.
2 Peter 1:20: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Les uses this verse to explain that no single verse can be interpreted on its own.
No. Les says the only thing we have to go by is what the Word of God says, not what any denomination or group says. If you cannot find a teaching in your Bible, his advice is to run from it.
According to 2 Peter 1:20, no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. Les explains that no verse is meant to stand alone and that you cannot build a doctrine on one verse here and another there.
Peter himself wrote that Paul's letters contain "some things hard to be understood." Les draws from this to remind students that difficulty is normal and the answer is honest study, not twisting or explaining away the text.
Les says the first thing is to determine to whom it was written or spoken and to leave the verse where it sits, since revelation unfolds progressively.
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