Studying the Bible vs Learning the Bible
When you usually think of Bible study, we picture individuals gathered around a person teaching as they listen to that person pour over scripture after scripture, sometimes asking questions about places, people and events that have a familiar sound, but somehow you can’t recall much about them. Unfortunately, many of us are left more confused than before we started.
What went wrong? That can depend on several things including non-interest in what is being taught due to the lack of clarity of the importance of the subject being taught, to an approach that tends to sound like Sunday service on a weekday night. A more common but sad reason is the difficulty in trying to explain spiritual matters without the proper guidance, by both the teacher and the students. Sad, because the Bible is the written word of God just as Jesus was the living embodiment of that word.
Many people wrongly conclude that the Bible is a mysterious collection of stories, some real and others imaginary about ancient times and events. Nothing could be further from the truth! The Bible tells us in a number of places that God cannot lie (Num. 23:19; Titus 1:2 and Hebr. 6:18). What was true then is still true today. The culture of humans can change over time, but their character does not. God, (Jesus) is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 18:8).
What we are saying is that God is knowable. He sent his son to lead us back to him after mankind rejected his initial offer of eternal life during the time we have come to know as the Garden of Eden. After all that studying, some feel they are no further ahead in their understanding than when they first started.
A Different Approach
What is studying?
According to one researcher “Studying is to research and gather information with the purpose of learning something. When studying, you try to understand, simplify and know by heart information to utilize later in life.” ( Mohamed, Nadine 2022). She further states that the end result of studying is to some specific purpose. Studying the alphabet is a precursor to learning to read.
What is learning?
Learning comes about through study. Simply put, one studies to learn, but learning does not always require studying. You do not have to study engineering in order to repair cars, but it would be difficult to design engines for cars without some studying the design of automobile engines.
What is it that you seek?
If you wish to obtain a degree in Theology or speak with authority from the pulpit, then you must study. And the Bible is a good place to start. If you wish to come to an understanding of what the Bible teaches and how you fit into God’s Plan of Redemption, then you should learn from the Holy Spirit as he leads you through the Bible.
Come back to see what more has been added as we build this website and add more content for the Bible Learning section.