The Right Use of the Scriptures

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 31, 1906

The Right Use of the Scriptures

We are told that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” but we are nowhere told that the Word of God is profitable for argument. The purpose of the study of the Scriptures should be to learn the way of life, and not to find weapons of warfare. The gospel of the grace of God has been revealed to us in order that we may be prepared to dwell with him throughout eternity, and not that we may be prepared to maintain a theological dispute with men throughout time. We are to feed upon a living Word rather than to dissect or to embalm the dead form of the Word.

When there is a sincere desire to understand the Scriptures in order that the life may be in harmony with them, the Spirit of God gives discernment, and the truth is made clear to the mind. It is the spirit of rebellion which darkens the mind, and prevents even the talented reader from perceiving the beauty of holiness.

“Human theories and speculations will never lead to an understanding of God’s Word. Those who suppose that they understand philosophy think that their explanations are necessary to unlock the treasures of knowledge, and to prevent heresies from coming into the church. But it is these explanations that have brought in false theories and heresies. Men have made desperate efforts to explain what they thought to be intricate scriptures; but too often their efforts have only darkened that which they tried to make clear.

“The priests and Pharisees thought they were doing great things as teachers, by putting their own interpretation upon the Word of God; but Christ said of them, ‘Ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God.’ He charged

them with the guilt of ‘teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’ Though they were the teachers of the oracles of God, though they were supposed to understand his Word, they were not doers of the Word. Satan had blinded their eyes, that they should not see its true import.

“This is the work of many in our day. Many churches are guilty of this sin. There is danger, great danger, that the supposed wise men of to-day will repeat the experience of the Jewish teachers. They falsely interpret the divine oracles, and souls are brought into perplexity and shrouded in darkness because of their misconception of divine truth.

“The Scriptures need not to be read by the dim light of tradition or human speculation. As well might we try to give light to the sun with a torch as to explain the Scriptures by human tradition or imagination. God’s holy Word needs not the torchlight glimmer of earth to make its glories distinguishable. It is light in itself—the glory of God revealed; and beside it every other light is dim.

“But there must be earnest study and close investigation. Sharp, clear perceptions of truth will never be the reward of indolence. No earthly blessing can be obtained without earnest, patient, persevering effort. If men attain success in business, they must have a will to do, and a faith to look for results. And we can not expect to gain spiritual knowledge without earnest toil. Those who desire to find the treasures of truth must dig for them as the miner digs for the treasure hidden in the earth. No half-hearted, indifferent work will avail. It is essential for old and young, not only to read God’s Word, but to study it with whole-hearted earnestness, praying and searching for truth as for hidden treasure. Those who do this will be rewarded; for Christ will quicken the understanding.

“Our salvation depends on a knowledge of the truth contained in the Scriptures. It is God’s will that we should possess this. Search, O search the precious Bible with hungry hearts! Explore God’s Word as the miner explores the earth to find veins of gold. Never give up the search until you have ascertained your relation to God and his will in regard to you. Christ declared, ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.’”

“Men of piety and talent catch views of eternal realities, but often they fail of understanding, because the things that are seen eclipse the glory of the unseen. He who would seek successfully for the hidden treasure must rise to higher pursuits than the things of this world. His affections and capabilities must be consecrated to the search.

“Disobedience has closed the door to a vast amount of knowledge that might have been gained from the Scriptures. Understanding means obedience to God’s commandments. The Scriptures are not to be adapted to meet the prejudice and jealousy of men. They can be understood only by those who are humbly seeking for a knowledge of the truth that they may obey it.

“Do you ask, What shall I do to be saved? You must lay your preconceived opinions, your hereditary and cultivated ideas, at the door of investigation. If you search the Scriptures to vindicate your own opinions, you will never reach the truth. Search in order to learn what the Lord says. If conviction comes as you search, if you see that your cherished opinions are not in harmony with the truth, do not misinterpret the truth in order to suit your own belief, but accept the light given. Open mind and heart, that you may behold wondrous things out of God’s Word.

“Faith in Christ as the world’s Redeemer calls for an acknowledgment of the enlightened intellect, controlled by a heart that can discern and appreciate the heavenly treasure. This faith is inseparable from repentance and transformation of character. To have faith means to find and accept the gospel treasure, with all the obligations which it imposes.

“‘Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.’ He may conjecture and imagine, but without the eye of faith he can not see the treasure. Christ gave his life to secure for us this inestimable treasure; but without regeneration through faith in his blood, there is no remission of sins, no treasure for any perishing soul.

“We need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit in order to discern the truths in God’s Word. The lovely things of the natural world are not seen until the sun, dispelling the darkness, floods them with its light. So the treasures in the Word of God are not appreciated until they are revealed by the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness.

“The Holy Spirit, sent from heaven by the benevolence of infinite love, takes the things of God, and reveals them to every soul that has an implicit faith in Christ. By his power the vital truths upon which the salvation of the soul depends are impressed upon the mind, and the way of life is made so plain that none need err therein. As we study the Scriptures, we should pray for the light of God’s Holy Spirit to shine upon the Word, that we may see and appreciate its treasures.”