Posted on 02/21/2011 12:46:29 PM PST by blue-duncan
THERE are certain maxims which are applicable not only to the subject of Bible Study but also to every other form of human endeavour. The secret of success in every department of life is hard work. The man who wants to have a competent knowledge of his Bible must be prepared to work hard at it. Lightly come, lightly go ; but for real value and permanent worth there must be steady and sustained effort, and the results accruing will always be in proportion to the sacrifices made, the pains taken, and the industry displayed.
Nothing can come out of nothing. A man does not learn a language, or gain the power to play the violin, or to command a ship, without a considerable amount of steady, honest, faithful, plodding work. It is the same with Bible Study. It begins with drudgery, but by and by drudgery leads to mastery, and with the sense of mastery comes a consciousness of power which turns the drudgery into a delight.
The point at which a piece of hard work ceases to be irksome, and becomes a source of pleasure, is the point of mastery. The thing that creates interest and brings satisfaction to the worker in every department of toil and study is efficiency, and for the attainment of efficiency there must be some knowledge and some application of the methods that lead to mastery.
We are not all gifted in the same way, but everybody can do something well, and the mastery of the content of the English Bible is one of those things that lies within the compass of all. We need not envy the gifts of others. We are not all D. L. Moodys, or Campbell Morgans, or F. B. Meyers, but even " unlearned and ignorant men " have the capacity to make themselves masters here. Everybody can read the Bible. Everybody can understand it; Everybody can attain to some measure of usefulness, if not of distinction, in imparting the truths it contains to others. This is the justification of the calling of the lay-preacher and the Sunday School teacher who have been denied the inestimable advantage of a university education or a complete course of college training.
The subject lies within the reach of the ordinary wage-earning working man, and there is no occupation which yields a bigger return, in the way of intellectual interest and spiritual enjoyment, than that of Bible Study. Everything counts and counts for ever. The mind is interested, enriched, and ennobled by a course of consecutive Bible Study, and the benefits, which such a course of study confers are not merely permanent, they are eternal.
For the mastery of the English Bible the foregoing methods of Bible Study are strongly recommended, but especially, the synthetic method of Bible Study by books. The Bible is well worthy of systematic, comprehensive, consecutive study, and any pains taken in attempting to master its content will be amply rewarded. The main thing is to read the Bible itself, not merely books on the Bible ; to read it copiously, continuously, consecutively, repeatedly, independently, and prayerfully, getting our own interpretation of its meaning and purport direct from the Holy Spirit, the Author, the inspirer, and the only true Interpreter of the written Word of God. The Bible is a supernatural Book, and it can only be mastered by supernatural aid. Therefore let the reading of the Bible be punctuated with prayer.
The complete mastery of the content of the whole Bible, and of every book in it, is a matter that takes time ; but no better investment of time can be made, for what we sow in time we shall reap in eternity. But even apart from the harvest of eternity, there is no occupation which yields so rich a return of real enjoyment and pure pleasure as the study of the Word of God, provided that this study is undertaken in order to satisfy the soul's desire for God. We must not study the Book of Books merely as a means of gratifying our scientific and literary tastes and ambitions, or for the sake of satisfying our own intellectual curiosity. The Book was written for the purpose of introducing us to a Person, to One Who is alive, and Who is, if we only knew it, the very heart of our heart, the very life of our life. If we read it in order to find our way to Him, the result will be a renewal of the soul's interest in the life of fellowship with God, the life of personal holiness, of believing prayer, of active Christian service, and abundant missionary endeavour.
"Break Thou the Bread of Life, Dear Lord, to me, As Thou didst break the loaves Beside the sea. Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord; My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word."
Make the best of your second best. If your time is limited and your obligations and claims in other directions are heavy, do not fail to give to Bible Study the limited amount of time and strength that you can spare for this purpose.
Go on bettering your very best. The riches of Bible truth are inexhaustible. The more we read and study the Book the more convinced we are that "the Lord hath yet more light and truth to break forth from His Word."
the “Sola Scriptura Caucus”
I kinda think the whole point is to let the Bible master you.
“I kinda think the whole point is to let the Bible master you.”
Actually the point is to let God, who has revealed himself in the Bible, master you. But you first have to read it.
True. We ARE on the same side. The Bible, being the Word of God, and Jesus, the Word, is God. It gets down to the same thing.
You must read more than one English translation. To really learn the Bible also study Greek and Hebrew.
I find that reading the bible, thoughtfully and using Strong’s Concordance on every page, taking notes on lined paper and leaving them in my bible for next time, is just like walking thru a field strewn with precious jewels, and every time you walk thru you see something you never noticed before.
>> “But you first have to read it.” <<
.
There’s always a catch!
“more than one English translation”
Which translations do you like? There are many English paraphrases of the Bible (effectively commentaries, “this is what we think it means”), but few true English translations.
What I have found helpful is using a chronological study Bible for daily devotions. There are 3 or 4 good ones on the market now.
Well said.
Hi Blue — great thread and looking forward to it; thanks!!!
Hoss
He must increase, and I must decrease.
You are so right. Reading the Bible chronologically was one of the most exciting experiences of my life.
It also helps to have a Bible you can understand. It’s unfortunate for us that the tribes of New Guinea have a translation of the Bible that is more plain spoken to them than most of us use.
I agree that the original autographs are the actual word of God, we have less than pristine translations.. BUT God is not in the business of hiding Himself.. He has preserved all that is necessary for our salvation and growth in Christ.
Most people do not have the time or the energy to devote to a language study.. if we really believe that education is the only way to understand Gods word.. then we make the Bible the possession of only the wealthy or educated.. The scripture were written for ordinary believers and the Holy Spirit is one great teacher :)
There are some fine study guides and aids that will give the various usage for the Greek or Hebrew.. also knowing the culture and geography is useful.. but thanks to the internet.. it is all right there for us
Now you did not ask me :)
I love the KJV for the poetry... Our church uses the NIV.. (uggg) The NEV is a great translation..
I also like to look up verses in Youngs Literal Translation.
I suppose this could cause a few comments but my very favorite commentary is still Gill,
Thanks to the internet many are available and I often search them .. .. but Gill wins my vote
Does this mean that anyone who would question the premise of Sola Scriptura is not allowed to post?
Memorizing Scripture has got to be one of the best ways of letting the Bible master you. You have it with you all the time and can meditate on it when you are otherwise occupied instead of having to sit down with the open book in front of you.
Of course, it’s not easy, but it sure pays in the long run.
Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
I just found out there’s a new NIV version for 2010. While I like the 2010 NIV, it’s messing me up with what I’ve memorized in the 1984 NIV. Sigh.
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