Beyond a Mere Reading of the Bible
BEYOND THE BASICS | Scott Long | Marietta, Pennsylvania
Some Christians are content with a habitual, yet casual reading of the word of God. They believe that since they are not aiming to become preachers, that reading is all that is necessary. how many times have we heard someone say, “I have read the Bible seven times from cover to cover” as if to convey some deeper level of understanding? To which I say, “So what?” Paul chastised Christians for such an attitude, “I fed you with milk and not with solid food, for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able“ (1 Corinthians 3:2). They had not moved beyond the basics. But what about the Christian who wants to be a true follower of the Lord? Is reading enough for him? In no way. Reading a biology textbook does not make someone a doctor. In the same way, simply reading the Bible will not make a person become a faithful disciple. Let’s spend some time talking about why Christians must move beyond reading of the Bible into deeper studies of God’s word.
Reading the Scripture is necessary and presents great benefits up to a point. Paul says in Ephesians 3:4, “…when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.” On the other hand, Peter says in 2 Peter 3:15-16, “…consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation – as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which some things are hard to understand…” Paul says read and understand, but Peter says what Paul writes is sometimes hard to understand. This seeming contradiction shows us that Paul must have intended more than a casual reading would be necessary for understanding.
What eventually happens to a Christian who merely reads the Bible without any deeper effort to study, investigate and meditate?
1) A lack of growth in the scriptures and regression. Peter commands us to “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). How do we grow in the knowledge of Jesus? Through time spent in His word, but not through shallow reading alone.
2) An avoidance of prophetic passages in the Old Testament and difficult passages in the New Testament, such as Revelation. Many Christians have become satisfied with never understanding Revelation. We must move beyond a simple reading of the Bible. Consider Nehemiah 8:8. After Ezra and others read the word publically to the people, “…they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.”
So, what should our time spent in the word look like? We should transition from merely reading into studying. Studying is necessary for all Christians of all ages. No one expects the average Christian to teach college-level classes, but there should be an expectation of being able to rightly divide the word, especially as the years go by (2 Timothy 2:15). I have known Christians whose scriptural knowledge has not really grown in relation with their years as a disciple. They have not been studying. How much time do we spend studying?
First, let us define the concept of study. My favorite dictionary, the 1828 Webster’s, defines studying in this way: “Literally, a setting of the mind or thoughts upon a subject … for the purpose of learning what is not before known.” Obviously, studying involves more than reading. Studying involves the mind, a subject, and a purpose. How do we set our minds on the Scriptures to learn what we had not before known? Before we discuss some ideas on studying, remember that any successful effort in the service of God must be accompanied by prayer to the Lord. Daniel says that the Lord “gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:21).
In addition to praying, there must be a resolve to study. We will never have enough time to do all the things we have to do or want to do. There is a constant battle between the enjoyable things of life (family, recreation, entertainment, etc.) and the spiritual things, like studying scripture. We must resolve that spending time in the scripture is the best use of our time. Then, we must put that resolution into action by making the right choices as to what we do with the precious time God has given us. We must make the choice between binge-watching Monk or spending time with the Bible.
Maybe you do not know how to proceed to go beyond mere reading into real study. I am not a degreed scholar in the Bible; I do not know Greek. I did not study at the feet of Jesus. Chances are neither are you and neither did you. Ask yourself, what do I want to get out of my study? The purpose of studying is to gain an understanding of the word of God and to make sense of what it says.
Let me describe my process by using 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 as an example text, which is a difficult passage. For many years, I simply listened to what preachers told me the passage meant, but then I studied it for myself and came to a different understanding.
Start out with the Bible passage and a blank notepad or Word document. Clear your mind of everything you have previously thought about the passage. Doing so will allow you to test what you have believed. Some people suggest to copy the passage longhand. Also, it helps to know the basics of the book (ie. author, audience, background, etc.). Read the passage several times, then make comments and list questions in the document. Compare multiple translations to spot variations. Try to establish the context. Why does Paul discuss this matter where he does? How does it fit into his message to the Corinthians as a while? What do the previous and succeeding passages discuss?
Look for keywords. What does “pray” mean? How about “prophecy”? Paul uses the word “head” several times. What does he mean in each case? It may help to determine the meanings by looking at other passages where the word is used. However, be careful to remember even though the same word is used in two places the meaning may not be the same. Ask questions such as how were the praying and prophesying being done? Who was praying and under what circumstances? Identify phrases such as “for this reason” which indicate a conclusion being drawn from what was said before. Look for transition words like “but” which indicate a change in tone. In verse 3, Paul says “but.” He had just praised the Corinthians in verse 2 and now he must correct them.
Make note of the universal principles Paul appeals to in this passage:
verse 3, “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”
verses 8-9, “For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.”
verses 11-12, “Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.”
Ask yourself what argument Paul is making, why these principles are used, and how these principles bolster the argument Paul is making.
Other important questions arise through a study of 1 Corinthians 11. What type of covering is Paul speaking of? Metaphorical? Literal? Separate from the hair? What other Biblical passages might bear on this subject? In this case, a study of 1 Corinthians 14 would be relevant.
After writing all of your own thoughts and questions, looking at all the particular words and principles, and trying to determine the setting and actions dictated by the passage, you may then turn to outside sources. Sometimes we don’t know the questions to ask in regard to a passage. Commentaries can be useful in introducing us to other ideas and helping us see if we are on track with our thoughts. Many older commentaries can be found online for free. Be warned that you will have to sift through any man-made notes to test whether they harmonize with scripture. Online websites such as netbible.org, bible.org, studylight.org, and blueletterbible.org offer tools such as search, commentaries, and interlinears (direct comparison between the English and original language texts).
We’ve read the passage. We’ve dissected the passage and put it back together again to understand its meaning and its place in the larger context. Now we are done, right? If we think so, we are no different than the man James speaks of in James 1:23-24, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” He has looked at his face (read it) and considered the wrinkles and contours and whiskers (studied it) but then gone away and completely forgotten. If we read and study only, we miss out on other opportunities to grow, meditate, and contemplate the scriptures. Any preacher will tell you that often ideas strike while driving in the car, showering, or mowing the lawn. Why? Because he is meditating on the things he has read and studied. He has not forgotten.
Meditating on the word is a great way to gain deeper understanding. The psalmist says in Psalm 119:148, “My eyes are awake through the night watches that I may meditate on your word.” Now, we are not talking about mystical eastern meditation, chanting “Om” and all that. We are talking about giving consideration of thought beyond the time it takes to read and study. Have you ever been lost in the contemplation of a butterfly or a cloud? Paul says in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” Take time to contemplate on spiritual things.
Paul’s advice to Timothy rings true for all who are working toward growth in the word: “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (1 Timothy 4:15). Think about and contemplate the things you have studied. Roll them over and over in your mind. Eventually, more questions come. Often understanding comes where there may have been little before. Give yourself entirely to thinking about the word you have read and studied. It is in this way that we become immersed in it and will grow.
Reading is not enough for the Christian who wants to please the Lord. While reading is important, it is only the starting point. Study is essential to gain the sense of the scriptures. And meditating on the word, pondering it, will help us gain deeper insight and make it truly part of our being. As Paul says in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” Hopefully, the desire exists within all of us to explore and gain a greater understanding of the riches that His word affords to all who want to serve him.
19.04.02 | GROW magazine
