Why Believers Study the Bible

H.M. Coker

30 Aug, 2023

Why Believers Study the Bible

Have you ever felt unmotivated to study the Bible?  I absolutely love reading and studying my Bible, but I have definitely had those days when it feels hard.  As Believers, our lives should be structured around abiding in the Word of God.  The hobbies we cultivate, the work we do, and even the amount of rest we take are simply satellites to the nucleus which is our relationship with Jesus Christ. Saying “yes” to Bible study means saying “no” to something else.  It might be reading a novel, watching a TV show, or sleeping an additional hour in the morning.  The fact is we all have 24 hours in the day and not a single hour will pass by unspent.  As long as we are alive, we are living, and we are spending our time on something.  So, when we spend time in the Word, we are necessarily saying “no” to doing something else (or a thousand something else’s). So why are we doing it?  Why are we studying the Bible and saying “no” to so many other things—good things— that we could be doing with that time? If you don’t know the answer, then it becomes that much harder to do.

First of all, we study the Bible because we are disciples of Jesus.  In John 8:31-32 Jesus says, “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  So, studying His Word is an evidence of salvation and it is through His Word that we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.  Don’t misunderstand me, studying the Bible does not save us.  In 2 Timothy, Paul gives a description of the ungodly and concludes it by saying they are always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7).  The accumulation of knowledge does not equal salvation.  But salvation does result in a person who abides in God’s Word. 

Second, we study the Bible because it is our source of truth.  Jesus prayed to God the Father, “Sanctify them in truth; Your Word is truth” (John 17:17).  To the world it seems foolish, but to us who are being saved the Gospel of Christ is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).  We know that all His Words are true, every single one (Psalm 119, Proverbs 30:5).  God’s Word is perfect, true, and righteous all together (Psalm 19:7,9). Truth is not a choice, an opinion, or a perspective.  Truth is the Bible.

Third, we study the Bible so that we may live according to It.   Like good soldiers we want to please the one Who enlisted us and it’s through the Bible we learn that which is pleasing to the Lord (2 Timothy 2:4; Ephesians 5:9-10).  We study because whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures (Romans 15:4).  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). God has prepared good works for each of us that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10), and it is the Word of God which equips us to do those works (2 Timothy 3:17).  John chapter one teaches us that Jesus is the Word.  John 15:5 says, “I (Jesus) am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in Me and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” So, Jesus is the Word, we abide in the Word, and it equips us for the good work.  This is why we study.

Next, we study the Bible because we need the Bible, and the Bible is the only book we need.  Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). If we have the Spirit within us, then we need no other book to explain to us the truth of the Bible.  It is the Lord who gives understanding (2 Timothy 2:7).  In His letter to believers, John wrote, “But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in Him” (1 John 2:27).

The next time you need motivation to study the Bible remember all the reasons why you are studying It.  And if studying the Bible still seems hard to do, then keep Psalm 19:7-11 written out on the cover of your study journal (or better yet memorize it). 

In this Psalm we see that we should study the Bible because:

  • The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
  • The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
  • The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart
  • The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
  • The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
  • The rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
  • More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
  • Because moreover, by them is Your servant warned.
  • Because in keeping them there is great reward.

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*All Bible quotations are taken from the ESV unless otherwise stated.