What Is the Purpose of Reading and Studying the Bible?
Why Read the Bible
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Many people feel that reading the Bible is a good thing. People who don’t trust it as an authority still recognize the literary quality of the writings. Also, although they are not intended as primary functions of the Bible, there is scientific, historical, geographical, and practical life information that can be gathered through reading the Bible. The Bible has long been recognized as a significant influence on the cultural behaviors and attitudes in much of the world. Therefore, some reasons why the Bible could be read are:
for exposing to good literature
for knowledge
for basis in cultural references
These are all respectable purposes for reading and studying the Bible, but for a Christian, there is so much more. The Bible is God’s message to man. For someone who has accepted Christ as their savior, a primary goal is to become more like Christ and the Bible is the key to that.
But Wait, There’s More
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The Bible tells its own purpose. II Timothy 3:14-17 says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God my be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Wisdom and Equipment
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The Bible is full of wisdom. It has the instructions in it to direct us how to become saved, through faith in Jesus Christ. It is able to teach us things we didn’t know, train us to develop a proper way of life, correct us when we do something we didn’t realize was wrong, and rebuke us when we do something we know is wrong. It is able to equip us with what we need to face the world. Not being equipped would be like a soldier going into battle without his gear–no flak jacket, no rifle, no ammunition. Or a firefighter jumping on the truck without his helmet and boots and air tanks. How well could they do their jobs that way?? Why would anyone do that? The Bible is here to equip us with what we need when we face the world.
Renew and Transform
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Romans 12:2 gives us these instructions: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
We are inundated constantly from the world–TV, radio, podcasts, youtube, friends, coworkers, the cashier and the guy in line behind us–there are opinions everywhere! But to grow in Christ, we have to allow the Bible to be the thing that changes our minds. Society changes, people change, opinions change, but the Bible has been the same and will always be the same.
According to this verse, our end goal is to transform our minds, Let’s say you think your car has a bad muffler and you take it to the auto repair shop, and the technician says, “No, it’s not your muffler, it’s the catalytic converter.” You just changed your mind because someone with knowledge gave you information. Now the next time you talk to someone, you’re not going to say, “My muffler is bad,” you’re going to say, “My catalytic converter is bad.” You just transformed your mind. You just changed your opinion based on truth that was brought to you. Now you’re not going to go to a mechanic and ask to have your muffler fixed, but you’re going to ask to have your catalytic converter fixed. Your actions now are going to change following the change that happened in your mind.
Too often when we Christians read something in the Scriptures, we don’t listen, we don’t obey, and we’re out there trying to fix a muffler and that’s not even what the problem is. Because we didn’t listen, we didn’t pay attention, we didn’t allow that truth to change us.
Reveal
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It can be scary sometimes because the Bible doesn’t deal with us just on the surface.
Hebrew 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
So maybe I’m doing something really good, but my motive is prideful. The Bible can get down even into that. And God may say to you to stop doing that thing, and your reaction would be, “What? This is a good thing to be doing!” but God knows that it is just feeding your pride and no one else maybe would know that, but the Scriptures can tell–the Holy Spirit knows. So if I read what the Bible says about pride, and I know the Holy Spirit is convicting me about that, but I continue to do my activity in a spirit of pride, what did it profit me to have read the Bible? What was the point of me even reading it?
James 1 gives us a word picture to help us understand the role of the Bible in our lives. “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word, but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it–not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it–they will be blessed in what they do” (verses 22-25).
It makes me think of waking up on a Saturday morning and when I first look in the mirror, I see my hair all smooshed up to the side from sleeping on it, dried drool beside my mouth, and yesterday’s makeup streaked on my face. Then I leave the mirror, I just leave everything the same and go about my day. I just say, “Oh, that’s too much work to fix my hair and wash my face, I’m just going to go to the store anyway.” No one would do that!! God gives us the Scriptures as a mirror on purpose so we can see and start dealing with it. Sometimes my hair gets really messy and it takes literally minutes just to comb it out, but I can’t leave it like that no matter what a pain it is. I just have to do it. Sometimes things are not fun. It may not be fun to get up early enough to read your Bible before you start your day, it may not be fun, for example, to squelch that pride and put that laziness aside, but we’ve got to do it. Or we’re just like that person—walking around with hat head all day long.
The Point
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So the purpose of reading and studying the Bible is to do what it says, to allow your mind to be transformed, to become equipped, to welcome training, correction, rebuke, and teaching. There is little point in looking in a mirror if you don’t intend to wash your face, brush your hair, and fix your makeup, and there is little point in reading the Bible if you don’t intend to obey what it says.
Share a comment: Are these concepts new to you? Are they reminders of what you have already learned?
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