God has given man the Bible; it is a great gift. “The Bible alone is the Bible only, in word and deed, in profession and practice; and this alone can reform the world and save the church,” wrote Alexander Campbell nearly 200 years ago (The Christian System, preface, x).
However, many do not think this way of God’s Word. Muhammad scornfully called Christians, “People of the Book.” Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism, in defense of the Book of Mormon, spoke in derision of those who put their trust solely in the Bible, “A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible and there cannot be any more Bible… Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible” (B of M, 2 Nephi 29:3, 6). Many false religions say they believe the Bible, but it is the Bible plus their sacred writings, and the Bible takes a backseat to their books!
When we look at the subject, “The Christian and His Bible,” we must remember that there are consequences for not studying the Bible. With five alliterated words we offer some thoughts on Bible study.
Priority
Profitable Bible study calls for a place of priority. The Bible is not a book to be relegated to last place in our reading. The Bible must have priority over all other writings of men – books, newspapers, magazines, even those written about the Bible, such as commentaries, reference works, theologies, etc. They are the lesser, the Bible is the greater. Yet, men put more stock in what others write about the Bible than in studying what it has to say for itself! Surely we do not recognize the value of Bible study if everything else takes priority over it. Ezra is a great example for God’s people in every age: Ezra “prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” (Ezra 7:10).
Personal
Profitable Bible study calls for personal study. It is very helpful to sit in a class where the Bible is being taught by a competent teacher or to listen carefully to a sermon expounding God’s Word, but nothing takes the place of personal study. A failure to study personally leaves one with a second-hand faith (Romans 10:17). Saving faith is personal faith. Personal faith comes from personal Bible study. Personal faith gives to us personal convictions that will cause us to stand for right and to condemn error. Faith that has conviction comes from personal Bible study. Personal study causes us to see that the truths of the Bible are directed toward the individual. “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). We should see the Bible as a mirror where we see our own image first (James 1:22-25). The first rule of Bible study is “What is the Bible saying to me?”
Prayer
Profitable Bible study should always begin with prayer (James 1:5). Sincere prayer opens up the heart to God, and an open heart is essential. One should have the attitude expressed by young Samuel, “Speak Lord, your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10). Prayer makes us aware of our weaknesses and frailties, and it causes us to be dependent upon God. When we are aware of our weaknesses, we are better prepared to look to God’s Word for help.
Purpose
The Bible should be studied with purpose. The Bible has several purposes valuable to the Christian. The study of the Word of God is not just a mental exercise. Bible study involves life and death. Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). One should study the Bible with the end in mind of his soul’s salvation. If our study doesn’t lead us to salvation, we have completely missed its purpose for our lives. I read of a king of Spain that was kept in prison for 39 years. During this time he had only the Bible to read. He counted all the chapters, verses, periods and comas, but he knew little else about the Bible. We should not take Bible study lightly. The knowledge it contains results in eternal life. To be sincere in our religion, we must grow and develop in the doctrine of Christ, His worship, duty and moral teaching. “Look to yourselves” (2 John 8-9).
Practical
The Bible is the most practical book ever written. It is designed to meet man where he is. The characters of the Bible were men and women just like those today. It is a mistake to think of the persons of the Bible as super-humans, always having a miracle or miracle-worker at their fingertips. They had the same weaknesses, frailties and frustrations that people have today. The paths that led them into sin are the paths that will cause sin in us. The principles that made the characters of the Bible strong will produce the same strength in us today.
