PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY

      If you received a letter from someone you dearly love and deeply respect it would be natural for you to read the letter repeatedly and ponder over the thoughts and emotions conveyed; so, what does your attitude toward the Holy Bible say about your attitude toward God?

Some insist that the unsaved should not be encouraged to read and study the Bible, but that is wrong. Bible reading and study and applying Bible teachings is beneficial for anyone. The important difference is that for an unbeliever the word of God is convicting and for the born-again believer the word of God is cleansing.

Among other benefits, reading through the Holy Bible will help you make a habit of looking at Bible passages in relation to immediate context and the whole Bible. Heresies often sound like Bible truths until you ask pointed questions and interpret Bible passages in relation to immediate context and the whole Bible and pay attention to words and grammar.

Reading through the Bible is not as major an undertaking as it may initially appear. For example, if you read four chapters of the Bible every day or read three chapters of the Old Testament and one chapter or more of the New Testament every day, you would read the whole Bible within a year. Also, the King James Version on CD or Audio Bible is a good investment. Pray for understanding and as you read (or listen) apply questions like these to each chapter: What did this account or passage convey to the first readers? What does this tell us about God and His truths and standards? What lessons can we learn from this that apply to us today? You will not always be able to answer each question, but they will make the Bible more interesting. (Also, note that the New Testament cannot be understood without the Old Testament.)

While Bible reading is a form of Bible study it is also important to study the Bible topically. A simple program of topical Bible study is to pray for guidance and use a Reference Bible, Topical Textbook, Bible Concordance that gives the meaning of words in the Hebrew and Greek texts, Bible Dictionary, etc., and study a different subject every day. Avoid focusing on just a few pet topics while neglecting other topics as this can lead to being cranky or argumentative, and even a nuisance, about your favourite subjects while knowing nothing about other subjects that are equally important.  

Making a habit of applying these questions to specific beliefs, teachings, and issues (including those that you consider settled) will help you recognise heresies and help you distinguish between absolutes and conscientious differences of opinion:

 • Have you prayerfully studied to learn what the Bible says about this, and what would be your response if an unbeliever were to ask why you believe this or why this is true or false or right or wrong? (Proverbs 2:6; 3:5-7; 2 Timothy 2:14-15; 3:16-17)

 • How important is this in relation to other matters and what Bible truths and principles or standards apply? (Matthew 23:24; Romans 14; 1 Timothy 1:5-7)

 • Was this true in the distant past and will this still be true in the distant future? (Psalm 33:11; 119:89; Proverbs 19:21; Ecclesiastes 1:9-10; James 1:17)

 • What is the origin of this teaching or belief? Is this what the Bible says or what someone thinks the Bible ought to say? Can you verify this with Scripture? (Psalm 33:10; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 1:20; 2:5; Colossians 1:9; 2:8)

The exact program of Bible study is not essential, what is important is regularity, and whether you study for half an hour or several hours per day the Word of God will have power in your life because of being in your mind regularly.