Study
Along with prayer, Bible study tops most people's experience with spiritual discipline. Perhaps we should dare to ask ourselves if what we do is really "study" or if we stop somewhat short of making the effort implied by the word. Study involves the exercise of our intellectual powers to acquire knowledge, understanding and wisdom - typically through reading or experimentation. It suggests deep thought about the subject and requires mental processing of the data as opposed to merely recording facts in our memory.
Among several biblical references to study is Jesus’ challenge to the Pharisees in John 5:39-40: "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." In Acts 17:11 we find that study was an activity of the early church: "Now these Jews" the ones in Berea, "were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." Paul had several things to say about study. He challenged Timothy with these words: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV) and wrote to the Romans: "...whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4
Study helps us to align our understanding of reality with God’s. The Bible sometimes seems inscrutible, but this impression is lessened if we diligently apply the best methods of study to clarifying our understanding. Study is necessary to discover God’s truth revealed in the Bible. Some of it can be discerned in little more than a cursory reading. Some must be mined with considerable mental effort. But "study" applied to God's word does not stop with the mere apprehension of the facts. Its purpose is to conform our minds and thinking to God’s. Transformation and renewal are good words to describe what we hope to gain from Bible study.
The most dangerous pitfall associated with this lofty practice may lie in the realm of motivation. We need to guard against the desire to be able to demolish others who see things differently. Study for this purpose will taint the results and nullify the potential spiritual growth associated with it. We also need to guard against being satisfied with an academic mastery of the text. While understanding the Bible's concepts at the level of words, phrases and sentences, if we stop short of allowing the Truth to make a positive impact in our lives, we've shortchanged ourselves.
As with all of the spiritual disciplines, we need to be intentional about Bible study. Regardless of its frequency, Bible study time must be purposefully chosen. While we may pick the Bible to read on a casual basis, we need to be more deliberate about setting aside time for study.
It seems to go without saying, but we need to pay attention when we study. One of the reasons we forget so easily is that we don’t truly pay attention. It helps to eliminate distractions as much as possible - this includes elements in your environment and in your own mind. And be firm with yourself. When your attention drifts, consciously pull it back. Making notes will help you know where to come back to when you wander. Most of us have to be prepared to exercise determination.
One of the real values of study comes with making connections. Connect new material with what you already know. These connections help us assemble the truth of the Bible into a “big picture” view which leads to an understanding of the whole. Connections also help us to filter out erroneous ideas because they won’t fit with the big picture.
For most of us repetition is valuable in locking information in our memory. There are several approaches to memorization. Some prefer to learn individual verses, others concentrate on memorizing chapter themes within a book. Still others champion the value of committing to memory the links which tie specific ideas to the big picture.
There is one more thing I'll mention here, though it is really a discipline all on its own. That is meditation. As we go over nuggets of truth repeatedly, we'll deepen our understanding and achieve our goals in studying.
Remember that the purpose of study is not to conquer the material but that God conquers our hard hearts and shapes us into the likeness of His Son.
Ron Hughes
© June 2008
