In a recent editorial we referred to the reading of the word of God as a means of growth in the divine life, with a promise of taking up the subject more fully in a subsequent issue. This promise we shall now endeavor to redeem. It was implied in what we then said that the reading of the Scriptures should be of such a character as to increase our knowledge of the revealed will of God; that, in short, we should read the Bible so as to fix its contents intelligently in the mind. There are two faults in reference to this duty among Christian men. The one is that of not reading at all, and the other that of reading without proper attention, so that the store of scriptural knowledge is not increased thereby.

      It is unquestionably and lamentably true that for some reasons there is not that general reading of the Scriptures that we should expect. There are, doubtless, many Christians who seldom read their Bibles. They seem to have no special desire to do so. They have never laid it upon themselves as a duty carefully to read the Book. Thus year by year passes and the total increase of their knowledge of the contents of the Bible is attributable to the ministry and the religious press. It is true that a great deal can be learned in this way, but these agencies are not meant to take the place of a personal searching of the Scriptures.

      Then among those who do read the Bible there are many who read it with almost censurable inattention. They read without attending to the sense of the word read. They fail to make it food for the mind. And so the result is that when the book is laid aside they fail to remember what they have read. One would naturally suppose that it would be quite different with Christians; that they not only would read, but read with peculiar care and interest the volume of inspiration. There is everything to induce the formation of this opinion. The presumption, it would seem, is wholly in its favor. And yet are not the facts against the presumption and the opinion?

      We do not purpose enforcing this duty by any special arguments; but we will cite some advantages that grow out of a careful study of the word of God. As the Bible is a source of knowledge which relates to the most momentous interests, a careful reading of it can alone furnish us that knowledge. This knowledge relates not simply to our duties. For while the Bible is the rule of life for the Christian, and the lamp to his pathway, it is also the highest and only authorization text-book on many other points. Therein do we learn all that we know of God, of Christ, of the Holy Spirit, of the nature and destiny of man, of the redeeming work of Christ, and of many other and kindred subjects. True, these subjects have been the theme of newspaper articles, of sermons and of books; but a man should first know what the Bible says on these subjects before he consults human authors. Its pure truths taken in an unadulterated state into the mind will enable us to determine what is truth and what is error. No one, therefore, should begin his religious reading outside the Bible. A proper familiarity with God's word will save us from the errors of the word of man to a great extent. It is the ignorance of the Catholic people that renders them so submissive to the commands of priests and pope.

      A taste for the study of God's word always betokens a good state of mind and heart. He who lacks this taste may well be apprehensive of his spiritual condition. He may question whether he loves God when he does not love to study his will. He fails to manifest that regard for God's word and that respect for his character which should characterize one who professes to be born of God. But if we find ourselves delinquent in this Christian duty, whereby we give evidence of an impressive state of hearts, we should seek to cultivate a taste for God's word by ceasing to neglect its careful reading. And by putting ourselves down to what may at first prove a task, and by carefully reducing what we read to practice, we shall gradually acquire a better state of heart, and so reap an advantage without which our eternal interests may perhaps be regarded as in great jeopardy. Reading the Bible thus becomes an important means of grace that we cannot afford to neglect.

      Reading the word of God will furnish us with the doctrine, pure and simple, of our holy religion. And herein is a double advantage: Doctrines nourish faith; and, in proportion to our faith will be our desire for the increase of our knowledge. It is only as we thus learn to know God that we come to an intelligent faith in him and in his will. A faith thus nourished becomes strong, unwavering, and can sustain a man in any emergency. Such a man will grow spiritually. He cannot stand still; he will not retrograde. Day by day his vision will enlarge. The motives to fidelity, to purity, to all kinds of spiritual industry will become more numerous and more strong.

      And with his growing strength will come a degree of comfort and peace to which others are perfect strangers. The Psalmist says: "Great peace have they that love thy law." And the Apostle of the Gentiles speaks of the "comfort of the Scriptures." This peace is only to those who love and read the word of God; this comfort is only for those who come to this fountain to drink.

      Besides, the clearness and strength of our hope depend upon our acquaintance with the word of God. Hope in the objective is wholly a matter of revelation. The Bible is the source of our knowledge of the world to which we are hastening. And subjective hope depends, for clearness and strength upon the knowledge derived from the Bible and the evidence that we have of being heirs of the heavenly inheritance. And this evidence is mainly in our faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, as well as the evidence of things not seen.

      It is only by a careful study of the Scriptures that we can become possessed of their spirit. This spirit of Christianity, of the blessed gospel of Jesus, is lamentably wanting these days among Christian people. From this very fact we conclude that men do not reverently read God's word. For to read the Bible critically, or to build up a system, or to get texts to preach from, will do us but little spiritual good. We must come to it as to a fountain, to drink in its precious, life-sustaining waters for the nourishment of our souls. Christian men in general are orthodox enough, but they are not so Christ-like in temper, and disposition, and spirit, as they should be.

      Now if these, as well as many other, blessings flow from a proper reading of God's words, have we any occasion to be surprised at the leanness and barrenness of Christians who fail to discharge this duty, or to whom the Bible is an unused book upon the center table? What does he not lose who fails to dig in this richest of all mines. "Search the Scriptures."

[The Church Advocate 40 (July 14, 1875): 4.]

      Christian H. Forney's "Reading the Scriptures" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 40, No. 11 (July 14, 1875), p. 4. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article printed from a microfilmed edition of the newspaper held by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for arranging for the interlibrary loan, and to St. Vincent College Library for the use of its microfilm reader/printer.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 11 June 1999.
Updated 13 July 2003.