Have you been challenged by anyone to compete in a game or competition? If yes, didn’t you look for an advantage to help you to win? Didn’t you work hard to gain an advantage? When you ponder your knowledge of God’s word, does anyone challenge you towards knowing the Bible better? Are you even convinced of the value in studying—or meditating on (Psalm 1:2)—the scriptures?
Throughout the Bible we have challenging examples of God’s people striving towards a greater understanding of God’s word.
It is my conviction that believers should be challenged to grow in their knowledge and understanding. But, I’d add, this isn’t merely my conviction. Church history is full of individuals whose example in this area is a challenge to us. Men and women who endeavoured towards a richer grasp of God’s written word. Robert Murray M’Cheyne is an obvious case. But before we turn to these figures, we can turn to biblical examples. For even there we have challenging examples of God’s people striving towards a greater understanding of God’s word to them.
So below I offer up three biblical examples: Old Testament priests and kings; Christ Jesus himself; and the early church saints. Each of these demonstrate how a passion for God’s word bears the fuller fruits of our faith, hope, and love.
Three Challenges to Know the Bible
1. Old Testament Priests and Kings
The kings and the priests of the Old Testament challenge us to better know the word of God. God commanded new kings to make a copy of his law for their life-long reading. The presiding priests were the ones to approve this copy of the law. Deuteronomy 17:18-20 states that both the king and priest were to know the scriptures. The former was to know through copying; the latter by reading to approve.
Both the priests and kings would’ve had a longing for the Christ stirred by their study of scripture.
The functions of the offices of the king and the priest were informed by scriptures, whether in rituals for the priest or justice for the king, both of which pointed to the need of Christ’s coming. Both the priests and kings of Israel would have had a longing for the Christ stirred by the study of scripture. Living this side of advent, the better we know our Bibles the more of Jesus we’ll see and rejoice in.
2. Jesus Christ
The kingly and priestly offices found their consummation in Christ. All written scriptures prior to Christ pointed to his coming. Thus it’s unsurprising that he was well versed in them. Reading the Gospels we meet Jesus who ably answered questions on doctrine and biblical practice, taught authoritatively, conquered tests, and fought temptation. Explicitly, we read, he did all of this by the scriptures.
Though the subject of the scriptures, Jesus knew them and spoke of how they applied in his life and ministry.
Though the subject of the scriptures, Jesus knew them and spoke of how they applied in his life and ministry. Interestingly, in Matthew 22:29 Jesus concluded that the Pharisees did not know the scriptures. On the road to Emmaus Christ showed how the scriptures were about him dying and rising from the dead (Luke 24:44). Christ’s example is another challenge for us to know the Bible. After all, it is one of the key ways we get to know him and his works.
3. New Testament Believers
Those first few generations of Christians also provide a challenging model. First century believers knew scriptures. For example Stephen’s speech is packed full of the scripture (Acts 7:1-53). Paul’s letters show that he knew them (for example, Romans 9-11). Timothy also knew the scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14-17). Peter acknowledged that Paul’s writings were equal with Old Testament scriptures (2 Peter 2:16). Let’s not forget books like Hebrews and Revelation, sustained expositions of the Old Testament.
The Bible is full of characters who knew and lived by God’s word. Thus we should desire and devote time to knowing our Bibles.
We Have Fewer Excuses Than Them
Why then don’t we know the Bible? Whom among us hold a valid reason for not knowing the scriptures? What excuse do you offer?
Whom among us hold a valid reason for not knowing the scriptures?
Consider that until the 1500s, the vast majority of saints didn’t have a copy of the scriptures. For centuries most believers relied on public Bible reading. This was true both for those who lived through the Old or New Testament periods and all those who came afterwards. But we have far greater access than those saints. In fact, we have access to more theological material alongside Bible translations than any previous generation of saints.
We have free and affordable options to aid us in knowing the scriptures. If we aren’t able to read, we can listen to the Bible. There is no shortage of formats and platforms where we can find the Bible. Furthermore we have countless reading plans and podcasts, as well as devotional literature and a growing repository of sermons online. So what excuse do you have for not knowing your Bible? So much better off than the characters mentioned above, why is our biblical literacy so low?
The Advantages of Knowing the Bible
The ultimate aim of reading and listening to the scriptures isn’t knowing more content, but knowing God. It’s to know the one who speaks through the Bible. And it’s to revel in Christ, revealed in all his glory and grace. This is a knowledge that provides us with rest, for page after page we read the gospel. And we see the Son. Yes, the Bible is for all of life, teaching us how to practically express our faith and embody our Lord. Yet more than this, the Bible is there to move us towards love, of both God and neighbour. In the end, how well we’re doing in those areas is the greatest indicator of how well we know our Bibles.
