The First Secret to Learning the Bible
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
Brandon Staggs asked:
Psst — there’s a secret to learning the Bible. It’s a secret any good Bible teacher, preacher, and pastor knows. Since the Bible is God’s mind revealed to man, this secret is one that allows you to know God on a personal level. Before I expose this secret, let me tell you some things that have nothing to do with learning the Bible.
Things that have nothing to do with learning the Bible
1. Learning the Bible doesn’t have anything to do with learning Greek or Hebrew. You do not have to spend time in the original languages of Scripture to learn what the Bible teaches. In fact, someone who tries to learn Greek or Hebrew just to find golden nuggets in God’s word that they think are missing in English is more likely to get tripped up, confused, and sent down rabbit trails than someone who doesn’t bother. And why is that? It’s simple: It takes a lot of time to learn a language as well as you already know English. You’re better off reading the language you understand rather than trying to learn a language for the sake of Bible study.
2. Learning the Bible doesn’t have anything to do with going to school. I know this might ruffle some feathers, but this is really quite simple. God’s word is not hidden away in the crypts of academia and scholarship. God’s word is for everyone. I know of no passage that makes this more clear than Deuteronomy 30:11-14: “For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.“
3. Learning the Bible doesn’t mean understanding everything the first time you read it. When you come across a problem verse, it’s okay not to “get it” the first time.
4. Learning the Bible doesn’t mean trusting a man to tell you what it means. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek help; quite the contrary. But your ultimate trust must be in God, not in men, for your understanding of Scripture. Proverbs 29:25 states: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” If your understanding of a verse is based on your trust of what someone else has told you, you are not in a safe place.
The first secret to learning the Bible is…
Study.
That’s right, this big secret is study.
1st Timothy 2:15 states: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” See that key word there? Study. (As a side note, not only does this this verse tell us to study, it tells us how. But I’ll leave the how for another article.)
All the systems and methods someone can teach you are irrelevant next to this simple truth: learning what the Bible says takes study. The old Webster dictionary, published in 1828, says study is “a setting of the mind or thoughts upon a subject; hence, application of mind of books, to arts or science, or to any subject, for the purpose of learning what is not before known… To endeavor diligently.“
A lot of us probably don’t like the idea of study, since we often associate it with hard work and mind numbing rote, though true study is far more than just memorization. Even the writer of Ecclesiastes said (12:12): “much study is a weariness of the flesh.” And that’s a good thing. As anyone who takes time to work out at the gym knows, whipping your body into shape is weariness! So to it can be with study.
In the end, the secret is that there is no secret to learning the Bible. Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” And God’s will is revealed to you in that he wants you to study, as study shows your approval to God, and it is the study of the word of truth (Scripture) that gives us understanding of the mind of God.
Brendan
Psst — there’s a secret to learning the Bible. It’s a secret any good Bible teacher, preacher, and pastor knows. Since the Bible is God’s mind revealed to man, this secret is one that allows you to know God on a personal level. Before I expose this secret, let me tell you some things that have nothing to do with learning the Bible.
Things that have nothing to do with learning the Bible
1. Learning the Bible doesn’t have anything to do with learning Greek or Hebrew. You do not have to spend time in the original languages of Scripture to learn what the Bible teaches. In fact, someone who tries to learn Greek or Hebrew just to find golden nuggets in God’s word that they think are missing in English is more likely to get tripped up, confused, and sent down rabbit trails than someone who doesn’t bother. And why is that? It’s simple: It takes a lot of time to learn a language as well as you already know English. You’re better off reading the language you understand rather than trying to learn a language for the sake of Bible study.
2. Learning the Bible doesn’t have anything to do with going to school. I know this might ruffle some feathers, but this is really quite simple. God’s word is not hidden away in the crypts of academia and scholarship. God’s word is for everyone. I know of no passage that makes this more clear than Deuteronomy 30:11-14: “For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.“
3. Learning the Bible doesn’t mean understanding everything the first time you read it. When you come across a problem verse, it’s okay not to “get it” the first time.
4. Learning the Bible doesn’t mean trusting a man to tell you what it means. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek help; quite the contrary. But your ultimate trust must be in God, not in men, for your understanding of Scripture. Proverbs 29:25 states: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” If your understanding of a verse is based on your trust of what someone else has told you, you are not in a safe place.
The first secret to learning the Bible is…
Study.
That’s right, this big secret is study.
1st Timothy 2:15 states: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” See that key word there? Study. (As a side note, not only does this this verse tell us to study, it tells us how. But I’ll leave the how for another article.)
All the systems and methods someone can teach you are irrelevant next to this simple truth: learning what the Bible says takes study. The old Webster dictionary, published in 1828, says study is “a setting of the mind or thoughts upon a subject; hence, application of mind of books, to arts or science, or to any subject, for the purpose of learning what is not before known… To endeavor diligently.“
A lot of us probably don’t like the idea of study, since we often associate it with hard work and mind numbing rote, though true study is far more than just memorization. Even the writer of Ecclesiastes said (12:12): “much study is a weariness of the flesh.” And that’s a good thing. As anyone who takes time to work out at the gym knows, whipping your body into shape is weariness! So to it can be with study.
In the end, the secret is that there is no secret to learning the Bible. Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” And God’s will is revealed to you in that he wants you to study, as study shows your approval to God, and it is the study of the word of truth (Scripture) that gives us understanding of the mind of God.
Brendan
