How to Study the Bible by S. N. Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 23, 1914

How to Study the Bible

By S. N. Haskell

THE Seventh-day Adventist minister should be the best informed on Bible subjects of any minister in the world. The times and the truth itself demand it. What may be said of the minister, applies with equal force to every Bible worker and to each lay member.

Jesus said, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." John 5:39. "To search" does not mean to read occasionally or carelessly. Solomon says, "Incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." Prov. 2:1-5.

Timothy, who had been instructed in the Scriptures from his youth up, was counseled by the apostle as follows: "Strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." He then mentions Hymenæus and Philetus as examples of those who go off on a tangent, and make everything of one particular point. 2 Tim. 2:14-18. They evidently founded their argument on the fact that when Christ arose, he brought from the grave "many bodies of the saints which slept." Matt. 27:51-53. A more general knowledge of the Scriptures would have taught them the truth concerning the resurrection of the dead.

When Jesus walked with the disciples on their way to Emmaus, "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." Luke 24:25-27. He compared scripture with scripture, and showed that, like an English navy rope, the red thread of the cross runs through every inspired book. God's mind gave it all.

Inspiration cannot be counterfeited so that the spiritual Bible student cannot detect the counterfeit. Each inspired writer gives the same truth in a little different setting. To divide the Word aright is to see a perfect harmony in the scriptures; not merely to believe them as a matter of fact, but to be able to show the harmony from the scriptures themselves. There are no abstract truths in the Bible. Each and every truth has one common center.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable" for four things: (1) "Doctrine;" (2) "reproof;" (3) "correction;" (4) "instruction in righteousness." 2 Tim. 3:16. A field of study is here presented that is inexhaustible. There is no place for the minister to rest satisfied with his attainments.

Before I went to India about twenty-five years ago, I thought I understood the Scriptures quite well. I could give the different lines of prophecy in Daniel and Revelation, explain the mark of the beast, prove the seventh-day Sabbath, and kindred truths; but as I became acquainted with experienced missionaries in that field and conversed with them, I soon found that they understood principles of Bible truth about which, it seemed to me, I knew nothing. Then and there I made up my mind that if the Lord spared my life a few years longer, I would be a more thorough Bible student.

The truth of God upon every point is like himself: "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper

than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea." Job 11:7-9.

There is an infinity in every expression God has ever used in his Word. God saw the end from the beginning; he spoke for all time, to meet men in all conditions. "Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him." Eccl. 3:14. "There is no new thing under the sun." Eccl. 1:9. Men may truthfully say that they do not comprehend it; but it is true nevertheless.

God has given special messages at different times to meet men under special conditions; but each of those different messages is based on the eternal principles which are characteristic of God. This makes the Bible different from every other good book in the world. It bears the mark of infinity.

Truth continually unfolds; and the minister who has been graduated at some school, has his diploma in his pocket, and thinks he has a perfect knowledge of the Bible, needs to tarry at Jerusalem until he "be endued with power from on high." The more he gains in the knowledge of God, the more surely will he see that there is an infinity beyond. "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Prov. 4:18.

Whatever may be a minister's intellectual or literary acquirements, however many books he may have read for self-improvement, let him not for one moment think that he does not need to search the Scriptures daily for more light. More light will not overthrow old positions that have been dug out by earnest prayers and confirmed by the spirit of prophecy.

As a people, we are called to be students of prophecy. The third angel's message is not a new gospel, but it is the age-lasting gospel. It is a resetting of Bible truth, free from the error of tradition and the customs of the people. When ministers are at ease, satisfied with their present enlightenment, they can be assured that God is not with them. It is God's will that we should be ever moving forward, with increasing light shining upon God's Holy Word.

We are to be quickened according to the Word of God. "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." Ps. 119:130. The word comes to us from the throne of God: "Ye must be born again," "not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. . . . The word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." John 3:7; 1 Peter 1:22-25. We need a daily supply of the unfolding truths of God's Word just as surely as we need a daily supply of food to nourish our bodies.

There is no book that throws more light on the study of the Old Testament than "Patriarchs and Prophets;" and none that unfolds the truths of the New Testament more than "The Desire of Ages." God has mercifully given these two books to aid us in the understanding of the Scriptures. Then shall we not become familiar with the truths developed in them?

"God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of his Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions. These facilities are not to be despised nor condemned; they are ordained of God, but they can furnish only the exterior qualifications. God will manifest that he is not dependent on the learned, self-important mortals."—"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. V, page 82.

The man healed at Gadara had never heard a sermon from the lips of Christ or the disciples. His soul thirsted for knowledge, and he desired to go with Jesus. When the crowd constrained Jesus to leave their coasts, the man was about to enter the boat, "howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee. . . . And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel." Mark 5:19, 20. There is nothing obtained from books that can take the place of genuine Christian experience.

S. N. HASKELL.