STUDYING GOD’S WORD

“STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” – 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Beyond reading, hearing, and listening to God’s Word, there is a vital place for STUDYING the WORD. Paul exhorted Timothy: “STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God…” (2Tim.2:15a KJV). This exhortation is especially relevant for pastors and bible teachers, but every Christian should strive to fulfill it. All believers should study the Word of God to be able to accurately handle His truth, and not be ashamed to stand before Him, but rather are approved by Him. Reading gives you breadth, but study gives you depth! If you simply read through the Bible at several chapters a day, you’ll get a good overview, but it’s not until you slow down and study that you will really begin to understand Scriptures. Paul described the Berean’s attitude to God’s Word: “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and SEARCHED the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Searching the Scriptures DAILY is what it means to study the Word!

Ezra is a model of Study: “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). Ezra was committed to doing three things: study, practice, and teach the law – the Word. And he had prepared or set his heart to do these things. Ezra disciplined himself to study the Word. Are you imbibing such attitude? Are you being diligent to study God’s Word? Apostle Paul also disciplined himself to study God’s Word. We get a glimpse into his heart from his last inspired words: “Bring the cloak that I left with carpus at Troas when you come – and the BOOKS, especially the parchments” (2Tim.4:13). The “books” and “parchments” were most likely copies of the Scriptures. So, even in a cold prison cell waiting to be beheaded, Paul’s priorities were a cloak to keep his body warm and the Scriptures to keep his mind and spirit warm. If the great apostle needed to study the Word, surely you and I do as well. Here are a few tips to studying the Bible effectively:

Begin by praying that God will grant you revelation knowledge and understanding by the Spirit of His Word (Eph.1:17-19).

If you are already reading the Bible, just slow down and keep a pen and notebook open before you. Start recording observations about the passage. ASK: Who is writing? Who is being written to? What is the central idea of the passage? What are the connecting words: “for, therefore, nevertheless, but, as, like”? What questions come to your mind from the text? Look up cross-references in the margin of your bible to get answers to the questions. Look up key words in the verse(s) you are studying and trace how they are used in the concordance or in an online Bible app. Ponder on the 5 W’s – Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. Notice repeated words or phrases. You might also outline a chapter, paragraph by paragraph, and when you have finished the chapter, move on to the next, until you have outlined the whole book.

As you get more familiar with the Bible, you can engage in topical, character, and word studies. But be cautious not to use detailed study Bibles, until you have exhausted your own study. If you run straight for the answers from someone else’s work, you will rob yourself of the fulfilment of discovering truth for yourself. If you have prayed and searched the Scripture and you are still puzzled by something, then consult study bibles or commentaries to see what insights you might glean from other writings. Beloved, studying the Word is ‘work’ – it is a spiritual discipline that you must work at. Christians who enjoy God the most are the ones who are willing to expend the most effort in their pursuit of Him. Truly godly people are also truly devoted to His Word. The path to true godliness is commitment and devotion to God’s Word.