Acts 17:11, commentary and pictures

Those in Berea were counted more noble than those in Thessalonica because they welcomed the message with open, eager readiness and examined the Scriptures every day to test whether what they heard was true, and as a result many believed. True nobility is not intellect or learning but receiving the word with a humble, teachable mind and proving every claim by comparing Scripture with Scripture rather than resisting until forced by overwhelming evidence. Such searching must be personal, daily and independent, done earnestly and prayerfully as for hidden treasure, with prejudice and human authority laid aside. All doctrines and new light, including the Sabbath of the fourth commandment and present messages of warning, are to be brought to the Scriptures as the only rule of faith and supreme decider of controversy, not to ministers, churches, learned men or majorities. Faithful searching brings conviction on the sure foundation, protects from error and seducing doctrines, and opens new light with joy and power to confess and share the truth.

Berea's Historical Setting

After compulsion to leave Thessalonica, Paul was sent on by the brethren to Berea, where the hearers were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to test whether those things were so. That noble receiving and daily searching was followed by belief, for many of them believed, also honorable Greek women of high standing and not a few men. The verse commends diligent searching by those who honestly desire to be right, not questioning doubts and obstinate unbelief, and in these last days the same diligent searching when truth is presented will produce belief as in Berea. The opposite is to be unable to controvert the doctrine yet refuse to investigate the evidence, to treat it as of little consequence whether it is truth, and to hold that old customs and faith are good enough. God holds people responsible for the way they treat the message of heavenly origin sent through His messengers, and judges all according to the light presented to them, and workers disappointed by lack of interest are to keep sowing the seeds of truth in faith and hope, trusting that kind and courteous hearers will yet be brought to the light of truth and believe.

The Bereans welcomed the apostles' teaching with open, eager minds, and prejudice did not narrow their minds. They were willing to investigate and receive the truths preached, eager to learn more about the way of life and instructed in the principles of their faith. Their example is that sincere seekers carefully test teachings by God's word rather than reject them from prejudice or accept them without investigation, testing messages by Scripture and being willing to receive truth. Clinging to error and pleasing fables blinds the mind, while truth of heavenly origin purifies the heart and gives light to the mind and life to the soul, leading to loyalty to God's law, with thousands loyal where there is one today.

Their daily examination compared Scripture with Scripture and compared the preaching with what was recorded there, to learn what Scripture said about the promised Messiah and about Christ. They searched seeking understanding rather than satisfying curiosity, and heavenly intelligences enlightened their minds and impressed their hearts as they searched. The same searching breaks down prejudice and superstition and makes dark subjects plain, especially the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, with new light shining upon the understanding. Heavenly intelligences come very near to every soul who searches, angels hover over them and impress their minds with the truths contained in what they have read, and by searching daily with watching and earnest prayer, with the Word open daily as the bread of life, searchers learn how to conduct themselves so as to please God and come to know every intimation of the divine will as plainly revealed in His Word.

The verse embodies the spirit of candid inquiry in the question whether these things are so, asked by willing examiners of teaching. Around Monroe, people in the sections of country were examining the preaching to see if it was true, and that inquiring interest was an opportunity where wise management and thorough labor would have preserved a large living church there. After hearing of Christ's death, hearers likewise began searching the Scriptures, and their search following the report led many to conversion. Unbelievers who would anxiously investigate the truth may be discouraged by disorderly or unqualified and self-appointed messengers.

Meaning of True Nobility

To be more noble is to receive the word with all readiness of mind and to search the Scriptures daily to see whether those things are so, and therefore many believe, including honorable Greek women and not a few men. Such nobility is the eager welcome of teaching with an open mind by those who honestly and sincerely desire to be right, making diligent searching a duty when truth is presented, and in these last days the same searching will produce belief as in Berea. It does not mean resisting teaching as long as possible until compelled by overwhelming evidence to decide in its favor, assuming that opponents are wrong, or waiting until no choice is left. God holds all responsible for how they treat the message of heavenly origin sent through His messengers, judging each according to the light presented.

True nobility is not a matter of literacy or intellect, for even those the world counts as illiterate can have divine enlightenment in mind and heart by connection with the God of wisdom. The simple who gain understanding are not deficient in intellect or good sense, but are those who are not so self-centered, self-important, self-satisfied and self-confident that they will not take the trouble to search. They search for themselves, independent of any man, with a burden to know what is truth and with a humble, teachable, meek and lowly spirit instead of self-confidence and slowness to receive evidence, and that course leads to belief and advancement while neglect leaves one resisting truth through failure to investigate. Searching in this spirit leads to learning the truth preached, whereas studying only to defend one's own position and condemn a teacher is its opposite.

Nobility includes being attentive and affable to all, uniting kindness of heart with humility and self-control. It is readiness to listen to the opinions of others and to weigh their arguments, and then to test all theories and doctrines calmly, without passion or excitement, by the word of God. That testing is done with sound reasoning and thorough knowledge of the Scriptures that refutes error and exposes falsehood. Searching to see if these things are so is the mark of having the Spirit of God in the heart, and those who have it recognize the manifest movement of the Spirit in a moment. Believing is not natural and fostering unbelief is the besetting sin, while those who lack the Spirit are credulous toward the testimony of others yet will never search for themselves.

The opposite of nobility is to be unable to controvert the doctrine yet refuse to investigate the evidence, treating it as of little consequence whether it is truth and holding that old customs and faith are good enough. It is to have minds narrowed by prejudice with no desire to change from error to truth, but to cling to pleasing fables of Satan's creation, for error never sanctifies the receiver while truth of heavenly origin purifies the heart. Those who love error more than truth refuse this searching and refuse to repent and be converted even when evidence is clear and convincing, because truth opposes their inclinations and course of action and requires denying self and lifting the cross, as seen in unwillingness to give up their own way to keep holy God's Sabbath. Those who refuse to search and acknowledge the evidence stay blinded, cling to published falsehoods, and work to turn seekers away from truth, while following the Berean example of daily comparing every message with what is recorded leads to loyalty to God's law, with thousands loyal where there is one today, and gives light and life.

How to Search Scripture

Searching must be personal, daily and independent, never left to another to do. Every person must study the Bible for self to know what is truth and to gain clearness of perception to distinguish truth from error. Precious moments are to be devoted to this searching instead of light and trifling reading, and such personal research plants the feet on solid rock. Closely investigating a doctrine in the Bible before accepting it is both a privilege and a duty, and seeing chapter and verse in one's own Bible helps establish what Scripture actually teaches. Obeying Christ's command to search brings great benefit and His special favor as loyalty to revealed light, and understanding the treasures of God's word requires diligent thought rather than leaving investigation to someone else.

The search compares Scripture with Scripture, weighs every thought, and considers and compares every claim with other scriptures before receiving it. It tests whether one follows God's light or merely one's own ideas, for neglecting the search leaves a person vulnerable to turning from God's way. God places light and darkness, truth and error, before minds endowed with power to discriminate between right and wrong, intending decision from weight of evidence rather than impulse. Had prejudice been laid aside and written prophecy compared with the facts of the life of Jesus, a beautiful harmony would have been perceived between the prophecies and their fulfillment in the lowly Galilean. Believers are to agree to walk in all the ways of the Lord made known or yet to break forth, confident more truth and light will yet break forth, following no teacher farther than he has followed Christ and not stopping where Luther, Calvin or other lights were left, since they did not penetrate the whole counsel amid thick darkness.

It is diligent, earnest, prayerful toil with watching and prayer for guidance and enlightenment, seeking as for hidden treasure and precious ore. The Word is the field of revelation and storehouse of unsearchable riches, holding truths as treasure hid in a field that must be searched before its precious things can be brought to light, and by grace and the Spirit's enlightenment believers can possess its hidden treasure and master every part. Hearts are to be softened, subdued and reverent, studying thoughtfully and explaining clearly rather than skimming the surface or reading many chapters hastily without purpose. Studying a passage until its meaning and relation to salvation is clear is more valuable than purposeless reading, and includes text-by-text study of foundation doctrines and reasons of faith. Prayerful study brings the Spirit's guidance, establishes faith, and stores the word in the heart to rely on when alone or opposed, so that every claim can then be brought to Scripture.

Searchers come with minds open to conviction and a personal desire to learn truth for self, laying aside prejudice, unbelief, preconceived opinions, misconceived ideas, much talking, human ideas and traditions handed down. They come to the Word as lesson book and study book to learn what God says and then receive it gladly without measuring results, not letting another turn them from seeking truth. No idea is accepted as infallible merely because responsible men or leaders sustain it, for no one is freed from personal study by leaders' authority. Receiving teaching on human authority alone is no different from receiving priests and popes.

Searching is candid and cautious rather than hasty, letting the word lodge in the heart and prayerfully considering every point. Every ray of light sent is to be received, including testimonies in reproof and warning and truths buried under rubbish to be revived and reset in original setting, with hearts open to conviction and candid consideration of what is set before them. Those who accept truth act nobly when they do not move hastily but examine carefully over a long time, even six months, until they understand and move understandingly. Studying only to defend a position and condemn a teacher is the opposite, and unwillingness to make this personal search dishonors God and grieves His Spirit.

Searching is also done together, attending meetings faithfully morning and evening with great interest and longing to learn all possible about truth. Teachers and others meet often at a favorable time to study the Word freely and compare ideas in order to know how and what to teach, standing in clear light with faith working by love rather than seeking controversy or bigotry. Young men should attend gatherings not to argue but to study with others and raise helpful questions, and when believers differ they pray and search until differences are resolved and truth is clear. Companies sometimes assemble and even devote whole nights to prayerful searching, in which the Holy Spirit brings truth to mind and establishes main points point by point on solid foundation with clear definition of truth and error, while heavenly intelligences come very near to every soul who searches daily with watching and earnest prayer to know every intimation of the divine will.

Scripture as Final Authority

All teaching must be brought to the Scriptures for testing, for they expose error and are the only rule of faith and doctrine. They are the great detector of error and the supreme divine authority in matters of faith, to which everything must be brought and which decides all controversies. Even the pillars of faith should be able to withstand such investigation, and differing beliefs should receive a fair hearing and be examined in Scripture rather than refused candid consideration from prejudice. Hungry children are taught by God himself to find their Father in His Word rather than depending on the church alone to give the Bible and explain it.

No one's opinion is to be received without comparing it with the Scriptures, studied reverently as by diligent students with wisdom and power above the human, with softened and subdued hearts and sacred reverence for inspired truth. Human smartness is not to be mingled with divine truth, nor Scripture used to give sharp thrusts against opponents in controversy, which mixes the human with the divine and the common with the sacred and belittles the Word. Searching in this way leads to receiving the ingrafted Word, knowing the truth, and teaching it as it is in Jesus. The test is Scripture rather than a minister, church, or friend, and rather than human assertions or the testimony of religious teachers.

No bishop, pastor, theology professor, ruler, learned man, good or great man, majority, or leader is guardian of doctrine or authority for belief, for the same Bible source from which light was received is open to all for proof so each can give a reason of hope. Looking to leaders in place of God leaves people led by their will and vulnerable to heresy, perverted interpretation, and suppression of freedom. God's Word will judge at the last day, so truth once found must be held fast even when it brings conflict. Nobility is searching the Scriptures daily with earnest prayer to know what is truth and then obeying it at any cost to self without reference to great men or good men.

Bible truth is not found by relying on the majority, the learned, rulers, or professedly good men, since truth has ever been found among the minority rather than the majority. If truth is in the Bible, ordinary and lowly people can find it there as well as good and great men, and by finding it become wise unto salvation. No idea may be accepted as infallible merely because men bearing responsibilities and holding positions of influence accept and sustain it, and no one is freed by leaders' authority from personal Bible study, for receiving teaching on human authority alone is no different from being taught to receive the words of priests and popes. Ministers especially must not take things for granted or take truth as positive fact from others' lips and let others search for them, for such dependence is laziness.

Each must gain personal knowledge by individual research and close, critical study that sets feet on solid rock, with deep conviction of the Spirit of God upon heart and mind and with angels round about to help such endeavor. This requires much less time preaching and far more time on the knees before God pleading for Him to open the understanding to the truth of His Word. Learning what is truth from the Scriptures is the first and highest duty of every rational being, then walking in the light and encouraging others to follow that example. With divine help each person is to form opinions for himself by studying the Bible diligently day by day, weighing every thought and comparing scripture with scripture, because each must answer for himself before God.

Believers agree to walk in all the ways of the Lord, made known or yet to be made known, confident that more truth and light are yet to break forth out of His Holy Word. Every claim is to be examined, considered, and compared with other scriptures before it is received, and no teacher is to be followed farther than he has followed Christ. There is to be no stopping where Luther, Calvin, or other burning and shining lights in their time were left, since they did not penetrate into the whole counsel of God and perfection of knowledge could not break forth at once out of such thick antichristian darkness. Receiving truth may involve a cross, but the safe course is to follow the light God gives and to study earnestly to understand His will and then do it intelligently, lest neglected light become darkness.

Fruit of Diligent Searching

Faithful searching leads to belief, for the Bereans were more noble than those in Thessalonica because they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things were so, and therefore many of them believed, also honorable Greek women and not a few men. That diligent searching is commended in those who honestly desire to be right, not in questioning doubts and obstinate unbelief, and the same searching awakened in these last days when truth is presented will produce belief as in Berea. People should investigate truth diligently for themselves rather than assume that those they disagree with are wrong or wait until overwhelming evidence leaves them no choice, and the opposite is to be unable to controvert the doctrine yet refuse to investigate the evidence, to treat it as of little consequence whether it is truth, and to hold that old customs and faith are good enough. God holds people responsible for the way they treat the message of heavenly origin sent through His messengers, and judges all according to the light presented to them. Searching the Bible for oneself to see if these things are so gives courage to take a position for truth, to confess the truth, to identify with God's commandment-keeping people, to declare boldly for reformation even after delay, and to become fearless supporters even when convictions have not yet been declared, so that those convinced plant their feet on the Eternal Rock and give cause for thankfulness. The example encourages workers disappointed by lack of interest to keep sowing the seeds of truth in faith and hope, trusting that kind and courteous hearers will yet be brought to the light of truth and believe.

Faith so founded rests upon a sure foundation, the tried stone that sustains the whole structure of Christianity. It lays hold of eternal unchangeable truth, is not shaken by storm or tempest, does not depend on changeable feeling because feelings are changeable, and remains firm through trials. Diligent Bible study makes Scripture appear more beautiful, increases the desire to study it, and has a sanctifying influence on life, strengthening rather than weakening spiritual life unlike light reading and fiction. The written word discerns and tests all things and, together with daily circumstances, teaches the duty to be done each day, so searching Scripture daily should take the place of unhelpful daydreaming and lead to obeying the truth and faithfully doing present duties.

Close searching, text by text, for the strong evidence that sustains the fundamental doctrines upon the platform of eternal truth gives every believer an intelligent knowledge of what is truth and an understanding of the reasons of faith, rather than resting in superficial faith and superficial experience dependent on many sermons. This keeps believers from going out from the truth giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils and from being deceived by false prophets, religious fallacies, seductive spiritualistic ideas, and vain words. Daily searching to know the way of the Lord protects clear spiritual perception and keeps truth and holiness, because the world is full of false theories that destroy perception and lead away, and especially at this time daily searching is needed to let no one deceive. It tests whether one follows God's light or merely one's own ideas, and neglecting that search leaves a person vulnerable to turning from God's way. Bible truth is the only safety against errors and delusions and new doctrines pressing in, and searching means searching with much prayer, earnestly asking God for guidance, sometimes devoting whole nights to it with companies of devoted men and women assembled together, in which the Holy Spirit brings truth to the mind, establishes the main points of faith point by point on a solid foundation, and gives clear definition of what is truth and what is error, so believers can stand when everything that can be shaken is shaken.

Searching brings new light to the understanding, joy in receiving the Bible's teachings, and transformed piety and religious life that adorns profession. Daily searching, joined with earnest fervency and genuine love, knits hearts together in love and gives a powerful and convincing evidence for the truth to the world. Those who do this overcome prejudice against Seventh-day Adventists and become sound Christians fully united in the faith. Such searching enables lay men and women to do just as efficient work as ministers, for when conviction comes through seeing the marked change in the features and characters of neighbors who have received it, with one or two souls receiving the truth every week, lay people search diligently and women take the Bible and address the congregation excellently when ministers are called away. It marks intelligent, excellent seekers deeply stirred by the Holy Spirit who attend every meeting, and leads them to take their stand for truth, paying tithe and deciding to keep the Sabbath even under great opposition and without peace until they obey, as part of the harvest God teaches, blesses, and gathers.

Those who search with readiness have truth opened to them step by step, have the Holy Spirit impress it on their hearts, find the Bible a treasure house of knowledge, learn to expose error, and have troubling points cleared up when they bring them for explanation. Those who studied publications about present truth opened their Bibles with renewed interest to see whether the teachings were so, prayed humbly for guidance into all truth, and received the teachings with joy as the truths became clear, especially the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Noble hearers do not take new strange and interesting Bible light on trust but search their own Bibles daily to see whether those things are so, continuing until they find it for themselves, as unlearned hearers in poor stables listened with intense interest, at first thought what they heard was not in the Bible, then searched and found it, and kept searching, especially wanting to see the evidence for the Sabbath themselves. That searching gives evidence from the Scriptures that leads to taking a decided position upon the commandments of God, including observing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, as in Lausanne where seventy souls searched in this way, saw the evidence, and took their position. Those who refuse to search and acknowledge the evidence stay blinded, cling to published falsehoods, and work to turn seekers away from truth.

Testing Present Truth Messages

The Sabbath of the fourth commandment stands as a central test of present truth, and those who studied publications on present truth opened their Bibles with renewed interest and prayed humbly for guidance until the truth became clear, especially on the Sabbath, receiving it with joy as new light broke down prejudice and superstition and made dark subjects plain while angels impressed their minds. Every Christian has the duty to inquire diligently with earnest prayer and laid-aside prejudice whether he keeps the original seventh-day Sabbath on the authority of a Thus saith the Lord or keeps the first day as an institution of the papacy, a common working day with no foundation in the Word of God. Those who search in this way see the breach in the law where the Sabbath has been trampled, ignored, desecrated and laid waste, humble themselves in true contrition for not searching before and for leaving the broken place waste while exalting an idol sabbath, refuse to cling to Sunday for its age or supposed holiness, and accept the light to build the old waste places. This searching belongs to all hearers of new truth including the Sabbath, to families and persons of good intellect from other churches such as Methodists and Baptists and among the higher classes when Bible readings awaken interest, and it gives scriptural evidence that leads to decided position on God's commandments, as at Lausanne where seventy souls saw the evidence and took their stand.

When new and advanced unpopular truth is presented, such as the fourth commandment and the third angel's message, the noble course is close investigation of the Scriptures to test whether it is true rather than opposition and denunciation as heresy, even when opposition comes from former brethren united in the faith and glorious hope of the Lord's soon coming with power and great glory. The same testing applies to the messages of the first, second, and third angels and the beliefs built on them, with attention kept on Christ's final ministry as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary and the work of judgment.

The message borne by A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner as God's message to the Laodicean church, both message and messenger, was to be tested by Scripture with unprejudiced mind and readiness to receive, not barred by reports creating prejudice against the heart. Searching in that way puts the searcher on vantage ground and far advances Christian experience, for truth received into a good and honest heart makes one a living channel of light with clear perception and sanctified imagination, exalted conceptions of truth, a heart joyful in God, and a clear powerful convincing testimony. Taking a prejudiced first position against the message and messenger instead becomes a continual snare and stumbling block, forfeiting rich experience and providential advancement.

What was heard at Minneapolis should likewise have been examined by searching the Scriptures daily and praying for divine guidance instead of answering with ridicule, criticism, jeering, laughter, and calling the manifestations of the Holy Spirit sent in love and mercy with the presence of Jesus fanaticism. Refusing the Berean test brings shame before God, is noticed by the heavenly Watcher and written in the book of remembrance, shares the spirit that actuated the rejecters of Christ, and must be answered for at the judgment throne unless blotted out through sincere repentance, while every return to that same spirit endorses former deeds and renews responsibility. Unwillingness to make this personal search dishonors God and grieves His Spirit away, and the required course is to receive no man's word untested but to lay aside prejudice and much talking, prayerfully consider every point with heart open to conviction, receive every ray of light sent including testimonies of reproof and warning, and give candid consideration so that truths buried under rubbish may be revived and reset in their original setting, rather than turning away from messages God sends as was done at Minneapolis.

In the great cities a decided awakening and careful searching of the Word must take place, where minds are awakened not by eloquent preachers but by humble workers bearing witness of Jesus through His Word, as doors were opened and people instructed in Greater New York, holding no fanciful theories, rejecting everything contrary to the Word as false, submitting judgment to the plainly revealed Thus saith the Lord, and bringing souls to knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. All who minister the Word and all teachers of truth are accountable to search whether increased light is so, for it is dangerous to turn the flock away when God has much light, and in the last days God sends messages warning His people not to be found among transgressors of His law, which messages must be tested because error hates the light lest its deeds be reproved while truth challenges every teacher to search. God's mercy in sending warnings and repeated messages about Christ's coming calls for diligent searching of heart and daily study to divest errors handed down from heathen and papists, that He may bring out a people where He can work in greater power and where they can keep all His commandments. While many in the world are careless and treat the most momentous truths as idle tales with no impression and no change of character, some will give heed and will not rest until they understand the Word, and when the warning that Babylon has fallen is heard they question former teachers and demand a clear answer from God's Word rather than human authority. The set time has come for enlargement and for light on God's law to shine in places such as Maitland and Newcastle among those dissatisfied with the spirituality of their churches, and those who show contempt for the law and refuse to search will lose rich blessings.

Charge to Ministers and Witnesses

Ministers are to follow the Berean pattern of welcoming the message and testing it by searching the Scriptures daily to see whether it is true, studying with humble prayer, comparing Scripture with Scripture, and thereby learning to teach the way of life more perfectly. Fitness to teach others requires earnest, prayerful familiarity with the Bible in order to understand its truth. Diligent, prayerful searching is needed to gain a thorough understanding of Bible doctrines and the practical lessons of Christ, rather than confining labor to a few familiar subjects. Those who labor in word and doctrine must search the Scriptures daily and pray earnestly and constantly for divine enlightenment, receiving it when it comes through the heavenly anointing, for such daily searching and prayer expresses dependence on the Lord rather than self and brings the power of God upon their efforts for great good.

Ministers, watchmen, and all who hold position as teachers of truth are accountable to God to search the Scriptures fully and see whether increased light is so, testing messages of warning and reproof by the Word in order to warn the people. It is dangerous for ministers to turn the flock away from truth instead of searching, for God has much light for His people, and in the last days He sends messages warning them not to be found among transgressors of His law. No minister is to pronounce truth to be error before careful, prayerful investigation, comparing Scripture with Scripture and searching like the noble Bereans to see whether those things are so. Those who open the Scriptures to others must know for themselves what is written, for the present and eternal good of their own souls and of those they claim to guide in holiness. Refusing to search like the Bereans bars truth from the people and leaves them to false and spiritualized interpretations, ignorance, and bondage, while error hates the light and will not come to it lest its deeds be reproved, and the cause of truth challenges every teacher to search. Religious teachers should receive the messages God sends with readiness, lay aside prejudice, and unite in prayer and searching of the Word with His servants instead of refusing to study, and those who take this Berean stand are safe in coming to the Word, with the Holy Spirit giving understanding of truth for this time, unlike those blind and ignorant of the Scriptures.

No member is excused to be an idler or to hang blindly upon the decision of a favorite minister, for every individual has personal responsibility and personal work to test the messages God sends. Placing a minister where God alone should be, carrying all troubles to a mortal subject to temptation and defects of character, exalting him and nearly ruining him, and following responsible men when they refuse warning, is turning from Christ the living Fountain to broken cisterns. The message and messenger God sends with warning must not be set aside because they do not coincide with the voice and ideas of trusted ministers, but must be proved by coming to the Bible and searching its pages with softened hearts and unprejudiced minds unbiased by personal opinions to hear what God speaks from His Word.

Witness advances when missionary work leads people to search the Scriptures, including bringing publications into families and speaking and praying with them, which also educates workers for pastoral labor. Open-air preaching conducted on right principles is good, following the example of placing truth in the great thoroughfares of travel where the voice is heard by thousands and precious words lodge in hearts and move many to search and verify in Scripture. Christ’s manner of teaching causes His words to sink deeply into hearts, so that hearers go home to search the Word as never before, and many who come careless and indifferent go away so convicted that they at once begin to ask God for soul-saving truth, which searching with readiness of mind is the true spirit of the gospel and the higher standard workers are to reach. Even when truth-filled reading matter comes into honest hands by providence through those who rejected it, the readers are aroused to search the Scriptures and pray to know what is truth, and they do not seek in vain, for angels minister to their need and those open to evidence yield to the Spirit’s conviction and are converted. Those who carry God’s words to others should receive fair Berean examination of testing what they heard by daily study, and it is hard when hearers instead mock and mistreat the messengers, as Christ was mocked and mistreated. Bible readings that awaken interest call hearers of new truth, including the Sabbath, to examine the Scriptures for themselves to verify teaching, and this applies to families and people of good intellect from other churches, including Methodists and Baptists, and among the higher classes.

Diligent searching of the Scriptures by those who honestly desire to be right, not in questioning doubt and obstinate unbelief, produces belief as in Berea, where many believed, and the same searching should be awakened in the last days when truth is presented. People are responsible for how they respond to heavenly truth sent through messengers and will be judged according to the light presented, while the opposite of nobility is to be unable to controvert doctrine yet refuse to investigate evidence, treat truth as of little consequence, and hold old customs and faith good enough. Those who sincerely desire to know what is right should receive teaching with open mind and diligently search to test it, making such investigation a duty. Searching Scripture is more than merely reading it, for Christ commands it and Scripture testifies of Him, and obeying brings great benefit and His special favor as loyalty to revealed light. Bible teachers are to follow the Berean example of receiving the word eagerly and testing it by searching, setting aside preconceived opinions, comparing Scripture with Scripture, and learning from the Bible what to teach and how to prepare students for service. Teachers are to lay aside preconceived opinions and come to the Word as lesson book and study book, meeting together often at a favorable time to study freely and compare ideas on how and what to teach, and those who study and do the Word will not seek controversy nor be tainted with bigotry but will stand in clear light with faith working by love and purifying the soul. Those who face objections should study God’s Word and pray for wisdom and help, learning through that examination.