How Christians Can Study the Bible Faithfully

Christians should study the Bible prayerfully, humbly, diligently, and for themselves—comparing Scripture with Scripture, seeking to understand and obey God’s will rather than forcing the text to support preconceived ideas.RH Sep 10, 1914+2

🙏 Begin with prayer and a teachable heart

Ask God for the Holy Spirit’s help before reading, because Scripture should never be studied without prayer.ST Oct 3, 1906+1 A learner needs both earnest mental effort and childlike humility, depending on God rather than trusting in self-sufficiency alone.RH Sep 10, 1914

“We should exert all the powers of the mind in the study of the Scriptures, and should task the understanding to comprehend, as far as mortals can, the deep things of God; yet we must not forget that the docility and submission of a child is the true spirit of the learner. Scriptural difficulties can never be mastered by the same methods as are employed in grappling with philosophical problems. We should not engage in the study of the Bible with that self-reliance with which so many enter the domains of science, but with a prayerful dependence upon God, and a sincere desire to learn his will. We must come with a humble and teachable spirit to obtain knowledge from the great I AM.” — Ellen G. White, RH Sep 10, 1914

Pray with a sincere desire to know and follow God’s will, not merely to confirm what you already think.RH Sep 10, 1914+1 Jesus connects willingness to do God’s will with knowing the truth John 7:17.ST Mar 21, 1906

📖 Let Scripture explain Scripture

The Bible is its own expositor: compare passages that speak about the same subject and let clearer passages help illuminate harder ones.ST Jan 18, 1883+2

“THE Bible is its own interpreter, one passage explaining another. By comparing scriptures referring to the same subjects you will see beauty and harmony of which you have never dreamed. There is no other book the perusal of which strengthens and enlarges, elevates and ennobles the mind, as does this Book of books. Its study imparts new vigor to the mind which is thus brought in contact with subjects requiring earnest thought, and is drawn out in prayer to God for power to comprehend the truths revealed.” — Ellen G. White, ST Jan 18, 1883

Study the whole counsel of Scripture rather than building a doctrine or conviction on an isolated verse or a few selected passages.ST Jul 31, 1884+1 Gather the relevant texts, weigh them together, and allow the whole Bible—not a favored text taken out of its setting—to shape your conclusion.RH Mar 31, 1868+2

“The human mind is endowed with power to discriminate between right and wrong. God designs that men shall not decide from impulse, but from weight of evidence, carefully comparing scripture with scripture. Had the Jews laid by their prejudice and compared written prophecy with the facts characterizing the life of Jesus, they would have perceived a beautiful harmony between the prophecies and their fulfilment in the life and ministry of the lowly Galilean.” — Ellen G. White, DA 458.2–4 (1898)

When a passage is difficult, do not twist it to fit a preferred explanation or conclude too quickly that it contradicts another passage.ST Dec 28, 1888+1 Hold fast to what Scripture makes clear, then continue patient, prayerful study of what remains difficult.ST Dec 28, 1888+1

🔎 Read carefully, patiently, and for yourself

Read the Bible regularly and know its contents, but do not mistake speed or quantity for understanding.RH Jul 11, 1907+2 Ellen White cautions that hasty reading can miss the meaning, while careful study traces the connections among Scripture’s subjects.ST Oct 3, 1906

“We should not take the testimony of any man as to what these Scriptures teach, but should study the Word of God for ourselves. If we allow others to do our thinking for us, we shall have crippled energies and contracted abilities. The noble powers of the mind may be so dwarfed by lack of exercise in themes worthy of their concentration as to lose their ability to grasp the deep meaning of the Word of God. The mind will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture, and spiritual things with spiritual. There is but little benefit derived from a hasty reading of the Scriptures. One may read the whole Bible through, and yet fail to see its beauty or comprehend its deep and hidden meaning.” — Unknown author, ST Oct 3, 1906

Study a passage closely, notice its words and subject, and follow that subject through the rest of Scripture.RH Mar 31, 1868+2 Repeated reading and thoughtful comparison exercise and strengthen the mind, helping the student see how the parts of Scripture fit together.RH Feb 22, 1906+1

Do not surrender your responsibility to think and search to a preacher, teacher, commentary, or another person’s assurance.RH Sep 10, 1914+1 Teachers can help, but test what you hear by Scripture, as the Bereans searched the Scriptures daily to see whether Paul’s teaching was so Acts 17:11.ST Nov 26, 1885+1

❤️ Seek truth in order to live it

Bible study is not only an exercise in gaining information: God’s Word reveals His requirements and calls the reader to walk in the light received.RH Sep 10, 1914+1 Ellen White says each person should learn from Scripture what is true and then live by that truth.RH Sep 10, 1914

“He has a chart pointing out every waymark on the heavenward journey, and he ought not to guess at anything. It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light, and encourage others to follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought, and comparing scripture with scripture. With divine help, we are to form our opinions for ourselves, as we are to answer for ourselves before God.” — Ellen G. White, RH Sep 10, 1914

A sincere willingness to obey matters, because people can close their eyes to truths they do not wish to practice.RH Sep 10, 1914 As truth is received and cherished, it shapes the life rather than serving merely to defend a favored idea.RH Sep 10, 1914+1

🌿 A simple pattern for Bible study

1. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and for a willing, teachable heart.RH Sep 10, 1914+1
2. Read the passage carefully and identify its subject and plain meaning.ST Oct 3, 1906+1
3. Compare related passages and consider the teaching of Scripture as a whole.ST Jan 18, 1883+2
4. Keep studying patiently when a passage is difficult, without forcing it to say what you want.ST Dec 28, 1888+2
5. Check every teaching against Scripture, and take personal responsibility for what you accept.RH Sep 10, 1914+1
6. Put into practice the truth God has shown you.RH Sep 10, 1914+1

Study the Bible as God’s Word: pray for understanding, compare Scripture with Scripture, search it for yourself, and follow the truth you find.ST Jan 18, 1883+2