How do you treat your Bible?
I’m not talking about where you place it when you are not reading it or do you carry it around all the time or how you read it or if you just display it on your coffee table. I’m talking about how do you use your Bible? Do you consider it a Source or a Resource?
Now, in my mind, reading and studying the Bible are two different things. Reading, takes you directly from point A to point B, while studying takes you on a tour of the vistas and special attractions as you journey from point A to point B. In a study, you get to think about what you’ve read, ask questions and take notes. Also, if you really liked what you studied, you can study it again and discover new things without the pressure of having to finish it.
I love studying the Bible! I think it is the most life changing, innovative, inspiring, money making, truth telling, put you on your knees, challenging, adventurous, jaw-dropping, comical (yes, in certain parts), healing book I know.
I must also add that sometimes as I just read my Bible, it tends to become a study. I want to know more about the how, who, what and why of certain events or passages of scripture. It can get pretty intense and take up an entire day, which I absolutely love!
Anyway, back to my original question… How do you use your Bible? Do you consider it a Source or a Resource?
Let’s take a look at a high-level definition of the words ‘Source’ and ‘Resource’:
- Source is something that you go to as the final authority or used to provide evidence in research on a certain situation, event or statement.
- Resource is what you cross-reference to further understand a situation, event or statement or to recover something.
Recently, I was searching for a Bible study attend. I found one at a church near by and I was excited to go. I arrived and was warmly greeted and then I was immediately asked to register. Now, perhaps it’s just me, but I was surprised to have to register for a Bible study. This was something new for me. I understand ‘tracking’ participation in church events is becoming the norm but sometimes these administrative things can take some of the intimacy out of attending a Bible study.
I registered and then I proceeded to say hello to a few people and find a seat. After I was seated, I whipped out my Bible, notepad, pen and readers (no age assumptions, please! 🙂 ) in anticipation of what I now call, “hard core” Bible study.
However, as the room silenced and the speaker began, what I expected to be a Bible study took on the form of an inspirational talk with biblical reference points. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think these types of events are extremely valuable but only valuable to a point. It is not a Bible study.
When I think of a Bible study, I think of taking the Bible as the primary book and sometimes using other books to help understand word definitions, biographies and timelines of the people and events we read about in the Bible. However, what I noticed is that it is a growing trend to take a book written by a very notable Christian author or leader as the primary book and then use the Bible as a reference for that book. What happened to just plain old “hard core” study of the Bible? The Book can hold its own.
Today, there are various Bible version translations and interpretations of the original Greek and Hebrew that make it easier to read by itself. Some versions you may have heard of are the New International Version (NIV), Amplified (AMP), New Living Translation (NLT), and The Message (MSG), the list goes on and on. My favorite is the New King James Version (NKJV). I was taught it is the best translation to use especially for studying the Bible. Yes, it’s a bit old English heavy with the “thee’s”, thou’s” and ‘shalts’ but that works for me. Starting with the Bible as the primary book helps you stay with the Source of your faith and lessens the possibility of mixing opinion with truth.
The Bible in and of itself is a Source and a Resource book. You can read a passage of scripture from the Old Testament and find a reference to it in the New Testament that will give you increase your knowledge and understanding and vice versa. You can read something in the New Testament and find a cross-reference to it in the Old Testament that can make you say, “Oh, that’s it!”
Studying the Bible by itself can seem a bit overwhelming. First of all, it contains words and phrases that you’ve never seen or even tried to pronounce. Secondly, it references events and a way of living that is not familiar to us, today, making it challenging to see how to apply what we read to our everyday lives.
Here is something I’d like you to remember, the Bible is the inspired Word of God, in 2 Timothy 3:16, it says, “All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]”. So we must not forget that there is a Spiritual element when reading and studying the Bible. He is called the Holy Spirit.
In John 4:24, it says “God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Also, in John 16:13, it says, “when the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” You must trust and give the Spirit of God the opportunity to bring understanding as you read your Bible.
Also, reading the Bible not only causes us to gain better understanding and knowledge of who we are in Christ but it also causes our relationship with Him to deepen.
So, how do you use your Bible? Do you consider it a Source or a Resource?
Here is how I define using your:
Bible as a Source: Using it as your launching pad of insight, wisdom, knowledge and understanding in how to live your everyday life. Discover the wonders of the God you serve first hand. Go to it first!
Bible as a Resource: Picking up a book by a notable Christian author or leader written on a topic you’re struggling with and then use the Bible as a cross-reference to what was written in their book. Warning: This can sometimes cause to give more credit to the author than to the Word of God in helping you live every day in Christ.
There are millions of books written to help us understand the Bible and how to apply it to our everyday lives. I think that is wonderful! Just remember that those books would be nothing but man’s opinions without the Source of their books, the Holy Bible, itself.
Please take the time to read just your Bible, treat it is as your Source. Just open the Bible, select a book, chapter or verse and start studying it. You’ll be surprised what faith, trust and the Holy Spirit will bring to light in your life.
Grace and Peace!