Why Is It Important to Study the Bible?

Study the Word

Here are tips on how to get the most out of the study of this "divine handbook." These pointers will help answer the most crucial question of all, "How can a young man cleanse his way?" The psalmist responds, "By taking heed according to Your Word" (Ps. 119:9).

Why is it Important to Study the Bible?

Why is God's Word so important?  Because is contains God's mind and will for your life (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is the only source of absolute divine authority for you as a servant of Jesus Christ.

It is infallible in its totality: "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" (Ps. 19:7).

It is inerrant in its parts: "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.  Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar" (Prov. 30:5-6).

It is complete: "For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Rev. 22:18-19).

It is authoritative and final: "Forever, 0 Lord, Your word is settled in heaven" (Ps. 119:89).

It is totally sufficient for your needs: “…that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

It will accomplish what it promises: "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Is. 55:11).

It provides the assurance of your salvation: "He who is of God hears God's words. . ." (John 8:47; 20:31).

How Will I Benefit from Studying the Bible?

Millions of pages of material are printed every week.  Thousands of new books are published each month.  This would not be surprising to Solomon who said, “…be admonished ... Of making many books there is no end" (Eccl. 12:12).

Even with today's wealth of books and computer helps, the Bible remains the only source of divine revelation and power that can sustain Christians in their "daily walk with God." Note these significant promises in the Scripture.

The Bible is the source of truth: "Sanctify them by Your truth; Your word is truth" (John 17:17).

The Bible is the source of God's blessing when obeyed: "But He said, 'More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it"' (Luke 11:28).

The Bible is the source of victory: ". . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17).

The Bible is the source of growth: "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Pet. 2:2).

The Bible is the source of power: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).

The Bible is the source of guidance: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Ps. 119:105).

What Should Be My Response to the Bible?

Because the Bible is so important and because it provides unparalleled eternal benefits, then these should be your responses:

Believe it (John 6:68-69)

Honor it (Job 23:12)

Love it (Ps. 119:97)

Obey it (1 John 2:5)

Guard it (1 Tim. 6:20)

Fight for it (Jude 3)

Preach it (2 Tim. 4:2)

Study it (Ezra 7:10)

Who Can Study the Bible?

Not everyone can be a Bible student.  Check yourself on these necessary qualifications for studying the Word with blessing:

·      Are you saved by faith in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 2:14-16)?

·      Are you hungering for God's Word (1 Pet. 2:2)?

·      Are you searching God's Word with diligence (Acts 17:11)?

·      Are you seeking holiness (1 Pet. 1:14-16)?

·      Are you Spirit-filled (Col. 3:16)?

The most important question is the first.  If you have never trusted Jesus Christ to be your personal Savior and the Lord of your life, then your mind is blinded by Satan to God's truth (2 Cor. 4:4).

If Christ is your need, stop reading right now and, in your own words with prayer, turn away from sin and turn toward God: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).

How To Get The Most From Reading Your Bible ...by Thomas Watson

I think that getting the most out of studying and reading the Bible is a subject always near to God's people. This was David's prayer in Psalm 119:18 when he said, "Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from Thy law." Not content with just surface knowledge, the once shepherd boy knew that God must draw the veil from his eyes so that he could behold the vast treasures of His Word.


Thomas Watson gives some very practical steps to get the most out of our time in God's Word each day. It has been a strength to my own heart--I trust it will be with yours as well.


Biographical Note THOMAS WATSON (c.1620-1686), was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for remarkably hard study. In 1646 he was commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen's Walbrook. In 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love's plot to recall Charles II. He was released on 30th June,1652, and was formally reinstated vicar of St. Stephen's Walbrook. He obtained great fame and popularity as preacher until the Restoration, when he was ejected for nonconformity. Notwithstanding the rigor of the acts against dissenters, Watson continued to exercise his ministry privately as he found opportunity. Upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license for the great hall in Crosby House. After preaching there for several years, his health gave way, and he retired to Barnston in Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28th July , 1686.


1. Remove hindrances. (a) remove the love of every sin (b) remove the distracting concerns of this world, especially covetousness [Matt. 13:22] (c) Don't make jokes with and out of Scripture.

2. Prepare your heart. [1 Sam. 7:3] Do this by: (a) collecting your thoughts (b) purging unclean affections and desires (c) not coming to it rashly or carelessly.

3. Read it with reverence, considering that each line is God speaking directly to you (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Psalm 19:7-11).

4. Read the books of the Bible in order.

5. Get a true understanding of Scripture. [Ps. 119:73] This is best achieved by comparing relevant parts of Scripture with each other.

6. Read with seriousness. [Deut. 32:47] The Christian life is to be taken seriously since it requires striving [Luke 13:24] and not falling short [Heb. 4:1].

7. Persevere in remembering what you read. [Ps. 119:52] Don't let it be stolen from you [Matt. 13:4,19]. If it doesn't stay in your memory it is unlikely to be much benefit to you.

8. Meditate on what you read. [Ps. 119:15] The Hebrew word for meditate' means to be intense in the mind'. Meditation without reading is wrong and bound to err; reading without meditation is barren and fruitless. It means to stir the affections, to be warmed by the fire of meditation [Ps. 39:3].

9. Read with a humble heart. Acknowledge that you are unworthy that God should reveal himself to you [James 4:6]

10. Believe it all to be God's Holy Word. [2 Tim 3:16] We know that no sinner could have written it because of the way it describes sin. No saint could blaspheme God by pretending his own Word was God's. No angel could have written it for the same reason. [Heb 4:2]

11. Prize the Bible highly. [Ps. 119:72] It is your lifeline; you were born by it [James 1:18] you need to grow by it [1 Pet 2:2] [cf. Job 23:12].

12. Love the Bible ardently [Ps. 119:159].

13. Come to read it with an honest heart. [Luke 8:15] (a) Willing to know the entire and complete will of God (b) reading in order to be changed and made better by it [John 17:17].

14. Apply to yourself everything that you read, take every word as spoken to yourself. Its condemnation of sins as the condemnation of your own sin; the duty that it requires as the duty God would require from you [2 Kings 22:11].

15. Pay close attention to the commands of the Word as much as the promises. Think of how you need direction just as much as you need comfort (Psalm 119:9-11).

16. Don't get carried away with the minor details, rather make sure to pay closest attention to the great things [Hosea 8:12].

17. Compare yourself with the Word. How do you compare? Is your heart something of a transcript of it, or not? (James 1:21-25)

18. Pay special attention to those passages that speak to your individual, particular and present situation. e.g. (a) Affliction -- [Heb. 12:7, Isaiah 27:9, John 16:20, 2 Cor 4:17. (b) Sense of Christ's presence and smile withdrawn -- [Isaiah 54:8, Isaiah 57:16, Ps. 97:11] (c) Sin -- [Gal 5:24, James 1:15, 1 Peter 2:11, Prov 7:10&22-23, Prov 22:14] (d) Unbelief -- [Isaiah 26:3, 2 Sam 22:31, John 3:15, 1 John 5:10, John 3:36]

19. Pay special attention to the examples and lives of people in the Bible as living sermons. (a) Punishments [Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, Num 25:3-4&9, 1 Kings 14:9-10, Acts 5:5,10, 1 Cor 10:11, Jude 7] (b) mercies and deliverances [Daniel, Jeremiah, the 3 youths in the fiery furnace]

20. Don't stop reading the Bible until you find your heart warmed. [Ps 119:93] Let it not only inform you but also inflame you [Jer 23:29, Luke 24:32].

21. Put into practice what you read [Ps 119:66, Ps 119:105, Deut 17:19].

22. Christ is for us Prophet, Priest and King. Make use of His office as a Prophet [Rev 5:5, John 8:12, Ps 119:102-103]. Get Christ not only to open the Scriptures up to you, but to open up your mind and understanding [Luke 24:45]

23. Make sure to put yourself under a true ministry of the Word, faithfully and thoroughly expounding the Word [Prov 8:34] be earnest and eager in waiting on it.

24. Pray that you will profit from reading [Isaiah 48:17, Ps 119:18, Nehemiah 9:20].

Which Question Is Not Like the Others and What is the Answer?

One of following questions is not like the others.

Read the root question carefully:

To which one of these questions can you not even begin to give a clear, plain, simple, definitive, directly-Biblical answer?

1. What is God like?
2. How did all things begin?
3. How do we know God?
4. What is man's spiritual state?
5. Is Jesus truly man?
6. Is Jesus truly God?
7. What must I do to be saved?
8. Does Jesus keep those He saves?
9. Is it righteous to have sex with anyone other than one's spouse?
10. Can I kill someone if he makes me mad?
11. How do I tell which feelings are God's way of nudging me to do something, or God "talking" to me, and which are just my flesh, my imagination, or something else?
12. Is the Bible God's Word?
13. Does the Bible tell us everything we need to know, in order to know and serve God?
14. What is a pastor's main job?
15. Should I take things that belong to other people without their permission?
16. If I'm saved by grace, may I just go on sinning?
17. Did Jesus really die?
18. What did Jesus' death accomplish?
19. Did Jesus really rise bodily from the dead?
20. Will Jesus really return bodily one day?
21. Will Christians be raised bodily?
22. Should I study the Bible?

Is the answer significant?

(Hint: starts with a "y.")