Search the Scriptures by Stephen N. Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 14, 1884

Search the Scriptures.

By Stephen N. Haskell

WE have never as yet fully realized the importance of Bible-readings. Connected with our colporter work they become a power. Every colporter and missionary worker who visits from house to house should be prepared to give them upon the various subjects which relate to the truths of the Bible.

The apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to study to show himself "approved of God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Timothy was a young man of promise, having known the Scriptures from his youth. His ancestors on his mother's side were individuals of piety. While in Rome, and about to be brought before Nero the second time, Paul writes to him as follows: "Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." And yet, notwithstanding the faith of his mother and grandmother, and the knowledge of Scripture he must have had, the apostle exhorts him to study to show himself approved of God, "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Each writer of the Bible has spoken in a style peculiarly his own concerning doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness; "that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." To rightly divide the word would be to gather all the truths upon the same point, as each Bible writer presents them, and so arrange them that the evidence of the truth of the doctrine may appear in its most forcible manner. The Waldenses understood this method of rightly dividing the word. Their missionaries, who went among the Catholics throughout Europe, carried with them portions of the Scriptures of their own transcribing, according to the arrangement in which they had been instructed from youth up. That people have left a record which has come down to us through all the dark ages of the past. The divine mold, given in generations past, is now seen upon the descendants.

There is a power in the word of God that convicts and converts the soul. Nothing can be more important than the word of God. Says David, Ps. 138:2, "Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name;" and again, "The entrance of thy word giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." With a fountain that is so complete in itself, and with a promise of the aid of that Spirit which inspired the word, we have no excuse. Many will be found wanting in the day of Judgment because of its neglect.

Those who are looking for Christ to come in the clouds of heaven, and expecting that soon every earthly thing will be dissolved, should be the most thorough Biblical students in the world. It will be a sin of no small magnitude for us, with the privileges we have, to come up to the day of Judgment without a knowledge of the teachings of the word of God. The language of the apostle Peter is not confined to ministers, when he says, "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is within you, with meekness and fear." These words apply to all the followers of Christ. If it is so important that all the people of God be prepared to give a reason for their hope, how should it be with those who go out as missionary workers?

Our brethren should not only read the Bible, but study it, not simply to commit to memory without regard to order, but to rightly divide the word of truth. The words of our Saviour are as important in this generation as they were when he walked the country of Judea. "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and these are they which testify of me." The Jews rejected Christ because they did not know him. They were not familiar with the scriptures that described the manner of his coming and his character. He said to them, "Had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me;" and yet they had the Scriptures in their houses, and heard them read in the synagogues every Sabbath-day. They did not see the force of them; had not understood their bearing, and so they themselves fulfilled the Scriptures they professed to believe, in condemning him.

There are some subjects which I have made a special study during my entire ministry, and within the past few months have given many Bible-readings upon these same subjects, but never without seeing some new beauty in them. They seem to shine out with a clearer light. These long winter evenings should be occupied by our brethren in giving Bible-readings, either with their neighbors, or among themselves. Solomon with all his learning never reached a time when he did not feel the necessity of searching to find out "acceptable words, even words of truth." Eccl. 12:9, 10.

We have schools where the Bible is made prominent. A specialty is made of teaching the students how to present the truths of God's word in the most forcible manner. Hundreds of young men and women should be thus studying, that they might go forth as light-bearers to those who sit in darkness. Not only are the young and middle aged wanted, but what could be more pleasing in the sight of God than to see gray-haired men and women devoting their time to the study of the word, that they may go forth with the experience of age and gather souls for the kingdom of God? It should be thus. Our schools should be honored with men of mature judgment, preparing themselves to labor in the cause of truth. There are men who have reached their threescore years, at our College in California, preparing themselves to go as missionaries to the islands of the Pacific Ocean. May God bless them, and as they go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, may they be comforted with the thought that they shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them; for they that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

S. N. HASKELL.