p. 166 | On Bible Study by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 12, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 11.

On Bible Study.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

[From an address by Elder J. H. Waggoner, before the General Sabbath-school Association at Battle Creek, Mich., November, 1884.]

THERE is a great difference between reading and studying. This is true of the Bible; it is a truth which every Sabbath-school scholar needs to understand. Fifty years ago the principal labor of the Sunday-school scholar was to recite verses. The child who learned the most verses to repeat, received the largest number of credit cards. It is well to have the mind well stored with the words of Scripture, but it is quite possible to be able to repeat many verses, and yet be ignorant of their meaning. Indeed, it is not favorable to the thorough understanding of a subject to tax the memory too heavily. "A well balanced mind" is that where no one power is exalted at the sacrifice of another.

I have seen rules for reading the Bible through so many times in a year; so many chapters each day, and so many additional on the Sabbath; and this without regard to the length or subject of the chapters. I was never successful in reading the Bible in this manner. It is not difficult to read several chapters in the historical parts of the Bible; but in most parts, if carefully read, one expression brings to mind another in some other place, and thus a chapter leads to the comparing of many other chapters. This is profitable reading.

Paul directed Timothy to "meditate on these things." Unless we meditate and reflect upon the things that we read, our "understanding is unfruitful." We might as well read in an unknown tongue as to read in our own tongue, and yet have no understanding of that which we read. There is far too little attention paid to the understanding of children. With a fair exercise of the memory, a child may answer all the questions in a lesson, and repeat all the texts cited, and yet have no true knowledge of the subject treated in the lesson.

There is a needless prejudice against "doctrinal preaching" and doctrinal teaching. This prejudice is not only needless, but it is pernicious. The doctrines of the Bible are neither more nor less than the truths of the Bible. The world is perishing because of the neglect of the doctrines of the Bible. The doctrine of the Sabbath is the truth of the Bible concerning the Sabbath. The distinction usually made between doctrinal and practical teaching should not be made. A correct faith lies at the foundation of a correct life; and a correct faith depends upon a proper understanding of the truths of the Bible. All Scripture has but one and the same object,—"that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:17. Therefore all the doctrines of the Bible are practical; and if they are not made practical, there is a defect in the teaching. Doctrines and duties are closely related; they are inseparable.

Children must be early taught to respect authority; and the true foundation of respect for all authority is reverence for God's word. I believe that children, as well as adults, need to understand the doctrines of the Bible. The importance, the necessity, of our present series of doctrinal Bible lessons for the Sabbath-schools, cannot be estimated. The fear is that they will not be thoroughly studied by the scholars, and intelligently and forcibly impressed by the teachers. Our young people need to realize that their eternal life is in the Son of God; that they must soon meet the most terribly trying ordeal. It must be stamped into their very being that there is no knowledge in death; no future life without a resurrection; and that the dead will be raised to glory and immortality when Christ comes. They must fully understand "the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ," in order that they be not deceived by false christs and lying miracles.

Teachers should not be listless in this work, nor think lightly of it because it is "doctrinal" teaching. The safety of the pupils is concerned in this matter; their eternal life is at stake. Not a doctrine suited to the wants of the present and the future, not a point of "present truth," should be neglected. By careful attention to these things, our children may be made sensible of the dangers which now beset them, and the greater dangers which they soon must meet. They must be made to understand and to realize that the Bible is for them; that its truths are their truths; that Christ is their Saviour from present dangers, and that he is soon to appear for their deliverance if they trust his promises and the power of his blood, and reverence the authority of the word of God.

Teachers bear great responsibilities, and they have great privileges. They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever and ever. We cannot imagine any greater joy than that of the Sabbath-school teacher who brings his class of little ones, or of the youth rising to manhood and womanhood, and presents them to the Saviour at his coming, as trophies of divine grace, saved through his faithfulness. May God give us wisdom and grace to faithfully strive for such a crown.