It has already been suggested that systematic Bible study is dependent upon persistent, systematic Bible reading. When Christ was here in person He taught the Scriptures. After His resurrection, we read, when He was conversing with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, "He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24: 25-27. And on the same evening He said to the disciples who were gathered in Jerusalem: "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." Luke 24: 44-48.
These texts show with unmistakable clearness that Christ Himself emphasized the necessity of becoming familiar with the entire Bible; and it is only through a constant reading of the sacred Book, that the Lord is able to open the understanding to the Scriptures.
The plan as suggested for the year is to read three chapters each day during the week and five chapters on the Sabbath, so that we may finish the entire Bible during 1914. The schedule suggested for the week ending January 31 is Genesis, chapters 29 to 36, Psalms 25 to 31, and Mark 1 to 8.
We have recommended the reading of "Patriarchs and Prophets" as one of the best helps in the study of the Old Testament, and "Desire of Ages" for the New Testament. If these two books can be read through during the year, in connection with your regular Bible reading, you will find that you have acquired an immense fund of helpful Bible knowledge.
