The Sabbath-School by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 17, 1883

The Sabbath-School.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Advantages of Bible Study.

ONE great benefit to be derived from the study of the Bible is mentioned by Paul, when he says to Timothy, "From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." This is why the Bible was given. It is the revelation of God's will to man. Nowhere else can man learn his duty to God and his fellow-men. Those nations that have not the Bible are sunk in degradation and crime. In ancient Greece and Rome, although there was culture and wisdom of a certain kind, which are the admiration of the world to-day, the greatest crimes were openly committed, and even protected by the laws. There is nothing that will teach men what they ought to do in order to live happily and peaceably here, and worthy of a life hereafter, except the Bible.

And the Bible is a complete rule of life. As Paul further says, it "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." It contains, then, all that is absolutely necessary to be understood by mankind. A little thought will convince any one that this is so. All will agree, in answer to our Saviour's question, that it will profit a man nothing to gain the whole world and lose his soul. All the wealth, honor, and wisdom that this world affords, cannot for a moment be compared with that which eternity offers. A man may have all that this world can give, yet if he is not "wise unto salvation," he loses it all, and is as though he had never acquired anything. But though he be destitute of worldly riches, and ignorant of the things which the world calls wisdom, if he only has the "wisdom that comes from above" (James 3:17), he will finally be admitted into "a better country," where, with unclouded intellect, and the angels of God for teachers, he can in a few years learn more than his unbelieving neighbor did in a life-time. And then he has a whole eternity before him, in which to explore new fields, and increase in knowledge.

It is only through the Bible that we learn of Christ, without whom we cannot hope for eternal life. The Bible is the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works, and guides us into the ways of truth and knowledge. It is the Bible alone that teaches us the fear of God,—which the wise man tells us is the beginning, or rather, the principal part, of knowledge. Surely, then, the Bible, of all books, is the one that should be the most studied. The only reason why we study it so little, is because we underestimate "the things that God hath prepared for them that love him," and which can be gained only by careful study, and obedience to, his word; we appreciate the things that we see, more than those which are unseen. If we could but obtain a glimpse of the glories of Heaven, I believe we would take the course necessary to gain it, even at the expense of everything else.

But this is not all the benefit we gain from the study of the Bible. We do not mean that anything more or better can be gained than that of which we have just spoken, but that we do not have to wait till we get to Heaven, before we begin to reap the benefit of Bible study. The apostle Paul says of godliness that it "is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." So the Bible, besides showing us the way to eternal life, gives wisdom and a culture that can be obtained from no other book in the world. The psalmist says: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments." This also is susceptible of proof, as we shall show.

What is education? It is simply the development of the mind. Webster says: "Education is properly to draw forth, and implies not so much the communication of knowledge, as the discipline of the intellect, the establishment of the principles, and the regulation of the heart." To educate is "to lead out and train the mental powers." According to this, any one can get a thorough education from the Bible alone. Children go to school, and men go to college, not for the few facts that they may learn, but for that development of mind that will enable them to think correctly, to reason soundly, and to judge correctly of things. In order to gain this, years are spent in the study of what is called the classics—the productions of the great minds of earth. By closely studying these models, the student almost unconsciously makes them his own. By unraveling the deep sayings of the wise men, he becomes able to think deeply for himself. By daily reading the writings of the best authors, he learns how to use language, and acquires a good style of expression. Continued application increases his ability to receive ideas and make them his own, and to think for himself; it expands his mind; in other words he is educated. A man who has the will to apply himself in this manner may become as truly educated as though he had every advantage of the schools.

But will the study of the Bible furnish this culture of mind? It certainly will, and more. Let us reason upon it. Sin has brought disease and death into the world, and causes not only physical ailments, but mental weakness. Mankind has degenerated mentally as well as physically. The men from whose writings thousands gain their mental discipline, were weak mortals. They were subject to the curse. Although we speak of them as having "giant intellects," they were dwarfs beside what they would have been if they had had their ancestors never transgressed moral or physical laws. Many of them were themselves wicked men, men who were slaves to their appetites and passions. And yet from these men the culture of the world is derived.

Now consider the Bible. It was not written by sinful men, but "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Pet. 1:19. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." God is the source of all knowledge. These men of whom we have spoken were dependent upon God even for the mind with which they acquired their wisdom. Now is it possible that we can obtain more education from them than from the Fountain-head? Most assuredly not. Peter says that the Spirit of Christ was in the men who wrote the Bible, and that even angels desire to look into the things that were revealed to them. Surely, the Bible contains enough to draw out the mind of man to an unlimited extent. We repeat, then, without any fear of successful contradiction, that if a man were to study no other book but the Bible, and would apply himself to it as closely as men do to their ordinary studies, he would have a discipline of mind far greater than those would have who took the ordinary course of study.

In the Bible we have many varieties of style, as the Spirit worked through different minds. All the complete code of laws is open to the student. All human laws are derived from this source. If we wish to develop the reasoning faculties, Paul's epistles afford an ample field. If we wish to cultivate the memory, there is an abundance of history for us to learn. In short, whatever we desire in the line of knowledge may be found in the Book of books.

This mental culture is not the primary object of studying the word of God. The Bible was given that we might learn God's will; but in studying to learn that which is of the greatest importance, we necessarily acquire that for which so many in the world strive, often in vain. And thus it is that God withholds no good thing from them that walk uprightly. If we seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, all things necessary will be added unto us. We serve ourselves best by serving God.

Let no one, then, complain of meager opportunities, or waste time in vainly wishing for knowledge. If we wish to obtain treasures we must dig for them. All have the Bible. It is God's gift to man. It was not designed for a few favored ones, but for all. Its pages are open to all. And here the unlearned man may be on a level with his more favored neighbor, if he only has sincere love for its Author; "if any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine." And help is given that the ordinary student knows nothing of. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

In conclusion, it is not merely our privilege to avail ourselves of the wisdom and culture which the Bible affords, but it is an imperative duty. We are commanded to "search the Scriptures." Every individual must arm himself with "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." And this is the object of the Sabbath-school,—to educate us in the things of God. The lessons given us there to study, form a nucleus around which we may gather vast stores of Biblical knowledge. How many are there who think that the Sabbath-school as well as the day school affords opportunity for mental training? There are possibilities in the Sabbath-school of which few of us have even dreamed. May God help us to avail ourselves of them in so faithful a manner that they will not condemn us in the final day of accounts. E. J. W.