It’s not enough just to read it. 

Move from milk to meat!

 

How Bible literate are you? We can all read and write. We, for the most part, all have basic literacy skills. But literacy is more than just the ability to read and write.

There is a growing problem in our world today amongst Christians. Bible illiteracy. Bible illiteracy is widespread. People just don’t read and study their Bibles. Or they read only certain likeable parts.  We know our basic Bible stories. We understand the basic timeline of events. Maybe we know the order of the books of the Bible. We know the basic who’s who of the Bible. But we don’t really KNOW our Bibles.

Bible literacy is NOT just factual knowledge, such as who did what. That’s knowledge – it is important, but Bible literacy goes beyond the storing of facts and trivia.

Bible literacy is not dependant on church attendance – sitting in church each week doesn’t guarantee you will go home with a better understanding of the Bible or who God is.

Bible literacy involves a deeper awareness of the meaning of what’s in the Bible. It’s the ability to rightly read and understand the Bible by using the proper tools of study.

Bible literacy involves a person’s ability to read the Bible with enough understanding to explain its basic meaning and comprehend what is meant.

Bible Study goes even deeper than Bible literacy - it is more rigorous and detail-focused. It is research focused interpretation (known as exegesis- the careful analytical study of scripture). It involves more than reading for meaning. Bible study focuses on the world behind the text such as the biblical culture and context, the archaeology and geography that support the Bible.  The social issues and events at the time the writers wrote the text.

Bible study looks into the heart of the text through word studies and language meaning etc.

Studying the Bible naturally leads to increase in Bible literacy.

In order to know God better, we have to develop a holy curiosity for the Word of God and a desire to dig deeper into the pages of Scripture. God loves to show us truth. He loves it when we have a holy curiosity for his Word and a hunger and thirst for the pages of Scripture.

We need to read our Bibles with an eager desire to learn. We need to read with passion and interest. We need to be on our way to heaven with a curiosity about what we’ve read and a fire that won’t be quenched. A fervent, excited, engaged mind, always wanting to read more, know more, learn more. We need to have such a love for the Word of God that we can’t go even one day without opening its pages to reveal the truths that lay in front of us.

We can’t rely on our Pastors and teachers and Christian reading material and commentaries to feed us. We need to be in the Word ourselves. Searching the Scriptures daily.

We need to be like the Bereans in the book of Acts.

Acts 17:11 KJV - These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

These Christians searched the Scriptures, making sure the things they were being taught were the truth. They didn’t just take Paul’s word for it.

I fear, that all too often, we think that the Pastor has all the answers and is always right. But we need to fact check them, and the others we listen to or watch, myself included. We need to make sure that what they’re saying lines up with the Word of God, and the only way we can do this is by being in the Word ourselves. Having our own personal study time.

We have to make a choice to be students of the Word.

Study of the Bible requires diligence and perseverance but it’s worth it.

A Canadian preacher from the 1800’s once said:

God has hidden every precious thing in such a way that it is a reward to the diligent, a prize to the earnest, but a disappointment to the slothful soul. All nature is arrayed against the lounger and the idler. The nut is hidden in its thorny case; the pearl is buried beneath the ocean waves; the gold is imprisoned in the rocky bosom of the mountains; the gem is found only after you crush the rock which encloses it; the very soil gives its harvest as a reward to the labouring farmer. So truth and God must be earnestly sought. A.B.Simpson:

Christians in general, and we have all been guilty, are often haphazard and lazy rather than diligent in their approach to God’s Word. We don’t systematically read, study or memorize it. We jump from passage to passage, pulling verses out of context. We don’t settle in and stay for a while. We don’t search diligently to discover what God’s Word teaches.

The Bible isn’t just a collection of nice stories and truths that make good song lyrics and saleable books. It really is our instruction manual for life. It needs to be studied and applied.

Bible study is essential for spiritual growth.  I understand that we all go through different seasons of life. And certain seasons may not allow us as much time in the Word as we would like. But if we want to grow in our Christian walk, then we must make time for it!

Study requires consistent reading, prayer, understanding and application. It helps us distinguish truth from error, overcome trials, deepen our relationship with God, and become better witnesses for him.

In studying the Bible, we are trying to understand what the Author has said and not allow our own opinions or views to cloud the meaning of what was written.

I began studying a verse in 2 Timothy recently and shared with my Ladies Bible Study the things I found. Stay with me as I try and expound on it a little.

First of all, who was Timothy? He was the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother. He joined Paul on a missionary journey. He had a Godly mother and grandmother. From a child he was taught the truth. He pastored a church at Ephesus.

Timothy had incredible advantages. He was taught the Word of God, he was discipled by Paul, he served with Paul in ministry. Timothy knew the Word of God and was well-equipped.

The book of 2 Timothy was written by Paul to Timothy, from a prison in Rome, shortly before Paul’s death.

Paul used his last words to express his concern for the churches and specifically for Timothy. He wanted to encourage the church to persevere (2 Timothy 3:14 KJV - But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them) and to proclaim the gospel (2 Timothy 4:2 KJV - Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.)

As I read through the book of 2 Timothy and thought about this idea of studying the Bible, I was reminded of a very familiar verse.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Despite Timothy’s history and Godly testimony and heritage, Paul still told Timothy that he needed to be diligent in the study of the Word and in rightly dividing the Word of truth. Paul knew that without staying in the Word, Timothy would not be able to stand firm and maintain sound teaching.

Paul warned him to pay attention to his teaching 1 Timothy 4:16 KJV - Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Paul encouraged Timothy to present himself a workman approved by God, who would not need to be ashamed because of his handling of the Word.

I always read this verse as ‘study’ as in study. Literally study. Look into. Reading. Devoting time and attention and acquiring knowledge. But I believe that it’s not just a command to study the Bible. There is more to the meaning than that.

The word ‘study’ here in this verse (used 11 times in the Bible):  translates in Greek as Spoudazo. Meaning: endeavour, do diligence, be diligent, give diligence, labour. To exert oneself. To make effort. To strive. Be earnest. To hasten.

It has the idea of hastening to do something with energy or with intense effort and motivation. It suggests zealous (fervent) concentration and diligent effort. It speaks of intensity of purpose. Intensity of effort toward that purpose.

It means giving maximum effort, doing your best, sparing no effort, hurrying on, being eager. Hastening to do a thing, exerting yourself, endeavouring to do it. Following through.

Study in this context does not stop with affecting your state of mind, but it also affects your activity. It’s a holy curiosity that leads to a holy zeal that demands dedication and action.  

So yes, we need to study the Bible, but it’s not all about reading, it’s about being diligent in everyday life. Living out what we learn. Applying it.

2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God- this phrase is only found in the KJV. It is basically saying – present yourself to God in such a way that you receive His approval.  

When I began to look into this word ‘approved’ I found that in the original language, the Greek word is dokimos. It has the idea of being ‘tried and true’ or tested and proven genuine.

Donald Barnhouse (a Presbyterian Pastor in the USA) said this about this word: In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens, to stop the practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money. They were men of honour who put only genuine full weighted money into circulation. Such men were called “dokimos” or “approved”.

The idea is that when you put metal through a fiery testing, it comes out the other side proving itself genuine. A dokimos man or character is like metal which has been cleansed of all alloy and impurity.

In the book of James, we are reminded of the blessing that comes from trials.

James 1:12 KJV - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

We are to be diligent to present ourselves as a tried-and-true worker, worthy of God’s approval.

We go through testings and trials and Lord willing, we come through them stronger and more full of faith.

Note that it says, ‘unto God’. What we do is for the glory of God. Not in order to boast of ourselves.

Paul encourages Timothy to become a workman, a labourer in God’s kingdom, that is unashamed.

Sometimes we are ashamed at how little we know of the Bible. Which books were written by who. What the big words we use all the time mean. We often can’t explain them and find it difficult to recall references to well-known verses.

But if we are diligent and work hard at living life as God would have us to, serving him, glorifying him, going through trials with a good attitude, we can live unashamed.

But the main reason we can live unashamed is found in the last phrase of the verse.

“Rightly dividing the word of truth”: In the Greek it is the word Orthotomeo.

Orthos – right, standing upright, continuing in a straight direction. Right or proper.

Temno – cut or divide. Make a straight cut.

This phrase ‘rightly dividing’ is the only time it’s used in the New Testament. It basically means ‘cutting straight’.

There are differing ideas on the imagery used – that of farming – ploughing a field into straight furrows. Dividing the law into sections. Carpenters cutting timber. Dividing food evenly amongst family. Masons setting a straight line of bricks. Workmen building a straight road.

One commentator’s take on it is that Paul, being a tentmaker uses the expression that tied in with his trade. Paul used certain patterns. In ancient times, the tents were made from skins of animals in a patchwork design. Every piece was cut to fit together properly. If one was cut wrong, it would affect the end product.  

Whatever the case, the present tense used in this verse teaches us that we are to continually rightly divide the Word of Truth. We are to take no short cuts when we interpret and apply it. We are to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and the enabling grace of Christ to make sure we cut it straight. False teachers have a habit of twisting the Scripture to their own benefit.

We are all teachers and preachers, or should be, to our family and friends and those we come in contact with on a daily basis. We need to make sure we are not deviating from or distorting the Bible’s message in any way. It is made very clear in Scripture how God feels about it.

Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV - Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Proverbs 30:5-6 KJV - Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Revelation 22:18-19 KJV - For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

We have to have the desire to rightly divide the word of truth and make sure who we listen to are doing the same.

If we are rightly and skilfully teaching and handling the Word of God, then, we need not be ashamed. We may not know all the answers or know how to communicate as clearly as we like, but if we are doing our best to study and understand and apply the Bible, we can live unashamed, worthy of God’s approval.

Correctly handling the Bible will involve much study, and much prayer. It involves bringing an open mind, an open heart and a teachable spirit.

Paul wanted to make sure that Timothy understood the importance of reminding his hearers of the sacrifice of Christ, the need for serving Him and the need to work diligently to be approved workmen before God.

In order for us to not be ashamed, we need to be diligent in our study, not just in our reading of the Word, but in our everyday lives. Being diligent, endeavouring to glorify God in all we do and say. Living out what we believe and showing the world a Godly testimony. Making sure we are worthy of God’s approval by rightly dividing the Word of truth.

Reading the Word of God is not enough!

We need to be diligent and strive to look into the Word of God, digging deeper into the words we read, longing to understand their meanings, desiring a closer relationship with the Lord, wanting to know him better in order that we will know how to live our own lives.

We need to ask God to:

Psalm 119:18 KJV - Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

We have to have a teachable heart and make time to spend in his Word.

Reading is easy. Study is hard work. It requires time and patience. But God promises to reward those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We need to stop being Bible illiterate and become students of the Word of God. Don’t be satisfied with a surface Christianity that is content to live on a diet of milk forever.

We need to move from milk to meat. Look for those hard passages and do some study of your own. Make time for it. And God will show up.

 

Deuteronomy 4:29 KJV - But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

Proverbs 8:17 KJV - I love them that love me; and those that seek me early (diligently) shall find me.

Jeremiah 29:13 KJV - And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.