Is It Necessary to Read the Bible Through? by Milton E. Kern

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 13, 1916

Is It Necessary to Read the Bible Through?

By Milton E. Kern

BIBLE study is essential to Christian living. How shall we study it? There is one way that we should not study it, and that is carelessly. If we read here and there, “hit or miss,” anywhere we happen to open, without plan or purpose, we are not likely to obtain any comprehensive knowledge of the Bible.

One way is to read the Bible through, book by book, chapter by chapter. Another way is to study it topically, going through from cover to cover and gathering what is said on a single topic. Still another way is to do intensive work on a single text, word by word, studying it in the original languages if possible. Each of these methods is important, and should probably be followed in the order mentioned.

I wish now to emphasize the importance of reading the Bible through, in large portions at a time. The division of the books of the Bible into chapters and verses for the sake of easy reference has probably prevented many from appreciating their unity and continuity of thought. Paul was burdened for the church at Thessalonica (the Saloniki so prominent in our thoughts just now). He wrote a letter to it. No one can truly appreciate the spirit and power of that letter unless he reads it through, and gets the complete message which the Lord gave him for the Thessalonian church at that time. And really one is hardly prepared to select sentences from the letter to prove certain doctrines until he knows something of the setting in which the thoughts were uttered. It is possible that the germ of life in the grain of corn might be removed from its starchy bed and placed in soil under such conditions that it would grow, but it is much more likely to develop when left where nature placed it. So detached sentences or verses from the Word of God may lodge in our minds and bring forth fruit, but we are much more likely to get the real thought of God (and hence the real help which we need), if we study the particular thought in the light of the story in which it occurs, or the whole sermon or epistle from which it is taken.

Even though we have read the Bible through, and have done much topical and critical study, we need often to read it all over again, lest in the topical study, by means of marginal references or concordance, or in the close study of isolated passages, we lose sight of the great plan; lest, too, we should overlook important texts in which there is much light for us, but which were not impressed on the mind when read.

While any plan for reading the Bible through in a given time would require definite assignments, these assignments are more to show us day by day how we are progressing than that we should read so much and no more. Personally, I often find the assignment so fascinating that I read on and on.

It seems to me that we should frequently read an entire book through at one sitting. We scarcely know how the Bible tastes when we read such little bits at a time. Let a young man prayerfully read through, without reference to chapters and verses, Paul’s first letter to Timothy, and it will make such an impression upon his mind as can hardly be made in any other way. Or read the gospel of Mark without stopping, and get the single comprehensive view which is given of the life of Christ. Then read the story as recorded by the beloved John. Very likely Jesus will appear more real to you than ever before.

As previously announced, the assignments for the Bible Year are to be in partial chronological order. In our English Bible the historical, poetical, and prophetic books are each grouped by themselves. So we sometimes forget, for instance, that Haggai and Zechariah really belong back with Ezra and Nehemiah. The arrangement this year will help us to see that the poetry and philosophy were given and that the prophets uttered their messages as the history of God’s people was in the making.

And now let us stop, think, and listen! It has been said that “the Bible has become buried beneath a landslide of books and periodicals. People read far more than of old; but they read the Bible far less.” If this indictment convicts us, let us face the situation and change about. Let us during the year 1916 give first place to the Bible in our reading.

M. E. KERN.