The other day I was studying the word “fear” as part of the sermon series we just finished on fasting and feasting. I looked at a Greek Lexicon, which is a book dedicated to all of the Greek words in the Bible, their meaning, and where they could be found. I did the same thing with a dictionary of the Bible which I have.
As I was studying, I was able to more deeply understand what many people have asked me from time to time. “How do I know if I’m studying the Bible correctly?” Or, “Why is I that when I read the Bible it is so confusing?” All of these point to the difficulty we all have of studying the Bible by ourselves. We run the risk of either giving up because it is confusing, or worse, getting ourselves locked into a particular interpretation of a passage, or even a slant on reading the entire Bible. That is why I encourage people to do two things as they study the Bible.
First, I encourage people to have at least one time of Bible Study that takes place with other people during the week. Whether it is in a Sunday School class or a Bible Study or Wednesday night Bible study, doing the work of understanding the Bible in the context of a community of people helps to hold us accountable, and forces us to listen to different points of view other than our own.
We might not agree with what is said, but at the very least it will force us to strengthen our own view or consider if there are different alternatives. Likewise, if a person is studying alone, I encourage them to not only consider one source for authority, but many. Do not just read one devotional book, or read only one commentary or article on a particular passage. Read at least a couple.
This has the same effect as Bible study within the community.
Reading from more than one source pushes us to consider a couple of different options, and then to think for ourselves about how a passage might apply to us. It might verify what we were already thinking; it might help us to not just see a passage as just black or white; it might even change our mind, and give us fresh insight.
Bible study is a daunting task, but it is also an important task, and one that helps us to grow to deeper faith. Don’t give up because it is hard. But also, don’t let yourself get caught up in either taking the easy way of doing it yourself, or letting someone else do it for you. Go deeper. Read from others. Study around others. And pay attention to the Spirit of God as it works through you.
I hope that worship is meaningful for you this week.
Blessings, Sonny