Are You Qualified To Study The Bible?

From time to time someone will say something to the effect of, "Oh no, I can not study the Bible on my own, I am not educated enough." This feeling of inadequacy can haunt every Christian and the fact is, it is not true. Now education can help and I am very glad for the education I have, but it is not essential for studying an understanding the Bible.

A much more important qualification than education is your heart attitude. Psalm 119 spends a great deal of time on this attitude. We can sum it up this way: "Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from Thy law." {Psalm 119:18} This verse is a request for God to provide spiritual sight into his Word. Without this spiritual sight it is very difficult to understand the Bible. One of the ministries of God the Holy Spirit is to "illuminate" the Word to us.

Another aspect of this attitude is humility. The Psalmist says, "I have told of my ways, . . . " {Psalm 119:26} He confessed his ways to God. It is always a good idea to confess our sins to God but doing it when we are about to study the Scripture is important. It restores our fellowship with God. It also reminds us that God has the answers and not only do we not have the answers we do not even ask the right questions.

From this it is a natural step to ask for God to teach us, "Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes, . . . Give me understanding that I may observe Thy law," {Psalm 119:33a & 34a} God does work through the Word to teach us and he does want us to understand enough to obey him. In fact, Jesus said, "when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." {John 16:13}

Tied into all of this is the heart commitment to use what God gives us and obey it. As the Psalmist requested, ". . . and I shall observe it to the end. . . . and keep it with all my heart." {Psalm 119:33b a, 34b} For our eyes to be opened, and our minds and spirits taught to understanding we must be teachable. Being teachable includes the deep desire to obey it, apply it, and live it out.

One New Testament example of people approaching the Scripture seriously like this is the people of Berea. "Now the Bereans were of a more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." {Acts 17:11} They not only went to the Scriptures to check out what Paul was preaching, they went with this kind of attitude as evidenced by the reference to their "noble character." Another evidence is the comment in verse 12 that many believed.

If you ever have the opportunity to improve your Bible study skills, do so. The work that groups like (Precept Ministries) do in this area are invaluable. However, nothing substitutes for praying before and during Bible study and a teachable / obedient spirit. Which is one reason why I often hear very important insights - applications from "uneducated" Christians.

Pray for God the Spirit to lead you into truth, get back into God's Word, and purpose to live it.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker May 2004



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker