Bible reading and Bible study are two practices that are often mentioned together and the terms tend to be used interchangeably, but they actually serve different purposes and have distinct benefits.
Both are essential for a deep and meaningful relationship with God, and understanding their differences can help us cultivate a more nuanced and effective approach to our spiritual growth and enhance it.
The confusion between Bible reading and Bible study can also arise from the fact that they can overlap sometimes. For example, when we read the Bible, we may come across a passage that resonates with us or a concept like wisdom that fascinates us, and we may feel compelled to study it further. Similarly, when we are studying the Bible, we may start by reading a particular passage or book, and then dive deeper into its meaning and significance. This overlap can make it a little difficult to distinguish between the two practices, leading to a lack of clarity about what you may be trying to achieve.
But that stops today. We’re going to draw some lines between reading the Bible and studying it… let’s start with reading the Bible.
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Bible Reading
First, I have to say this. The Bible is a book. It isn’t just a book though, it’s also a collection of books. Ultimately, a book is a medium for an author to communicate something. When it comes to the Bible the author is God because all scriptures were written by inspiration of the Spirit of God. 2 Timothy 3:16, NIV. The Holy Spirit is the author. This means that whenever you need assistance understanding the message being communicated in scripture, just ask the author—Holy Spirit.
Alright, so what does reading the Bible entail? Here’s what reading the Bible is about, and please understand, this is just a high level glimpse. Reading the Bible is how we receive information and understanding from God and about God and the things that pertain to Him. When we read the Bible, one of the main reasons why we read is to discover the story within it. Because although there are sixty-six books in the canonized Bible, they tell one story.
As you are reading your goal is to determine the author’s message. You do this by becoming a demanding reader. One that is engaged in reading. Engaged, demanding readers ask questions as they read, not just any questions, they ask the right questions. Questions that they expect the Spirit of God to answer.
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you read your Bible. A form of these questions are in the book “How to Read a Book” by Charles van Doren and Mortimer Adler. They provided some insight into how to read a book in general and I merged what I know about how to read the Bible with some of what they highlighted. Alright, so here are the questions:
- What is the Bible about as a whole? It’s critical that you get a grip on the main theme of the Bible and how its author is developing that theme by dividing it into books, chapters, verses, themes, and topics.
- The next question to ask yourself is… What is being said in detail, and HOW is it being said? This is super important. As you are reading the Bible, find out what the main ideas, assertions, and arguments are that make up God’s message. What is God trying to tell you about His character and attributes, what is He trying to tell you about His standards and how He wants you to live? What He loves and what He hates? What is Her communicating about His plans for you and the inheritance He has for you?
Now… HOW is God communicating this message? I remember when I first saw that God viewed idolatry as prostitution and whoring. He communicated this using terminology that let us know just how disgusting of a thing this is to him and how betrayed He feels by it. He equated it to adultery as well. So we see what’s being said and how God is saying it which allows us to understand Him more.
God shares so much with us about his feelings and positions on things in the Bible. In some instances, He is yelling, in others He reveals that his heart is grieved. This all goes into the HOW of what is being said.
- The last question I recommend asking yourself to ensure you are engaged as you read the Bible is … what am I supposed to make of all of this? The Bible is going to give you A LOT of information. Go ahead and ask God about the significance of it. God does not waste words. It’s almost like He uses as few words as possible to convey a message. So as you are reading, ask the Holy Spirit why it was important for you to know what you’ve just read.
A lot of readers of the Bible do not ask questions of it which is why a lot of them don’t get much from it. Here are some other reasons why we read the Bible:
- To Know God More Deeply. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself, His character, and His will (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Through Scripture, we can grow in our relationship with God. Reading the Bible can also lead to encounters where God gives you a vision or takes you to an event that took place in the scriptures.
- To Understand Jesus and Salvation. The Bible explains God’s plan of redemption for His children through His son Jesus Christ. Reading about it helps Christians understand and appreciate the gospel of Jesus and all that He sacrificed for us to have.
- For Spiritual Growth. The Word of God nourishes the soul and helps us mature in faith (1 Peter 2:2, CSB; Hebrews 5:12, CSB). It teaches us how to live a life that is pleasing to God.
- To Experience God’s Promises and Encouragement. The Bible offers comfort, hope, and encouragement, especially in difficult times (Romans 15:4, CSB).
Go ahead and start reading today. I’m going to go in depth in another episode about how to decide what to read and what to study. In the meantime, here are some quick tips to get you started.
- Get a version of the Bible that you understand. I recommend the NLT, CSB, or NKJV.
- Find a reading schedule that works best for you. If reading 4 days a week for 30 minutes each day is what you can do now, then start there. The idea is to start somewhere and stick to it. You will increase this over time because you will begin to crave more and more intimacy, connection, and knowledge.
- Make a date out of it. Set the ambiance. Get your favorite blanket. Light your favorite scented candle. Drink your favorite tea.
But that sums up our brief overview of what reading the Bible entails, so let’s take a look at what it means to study the Bible.
Bible Study
God tells us in His word that we must study. 2 Timothy 2:15, AMP, says “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
Studying is an integral part of learning and personal development in general. I personally think that studying gets a bad rap. That may be because many people associate studying with school, late-night cram sessions, piles of textbooks, and endless note-taking, but studying is so much more than just preparing for exams.
It’s a lifelong process of acquiring knowledge, developing skills, and applying what we learn to real-world situations in our life.
What Does It Mean to Study the Bible?
At its core, studying the Bible is the process of engaging with the scriptures to learn, understand, and APPLY them. Application is a major theme of studying the Bible and is a huge aspect that makes it different from reading.
I think the way that school is structured here in America, it can make for bad studying that essentially just turns into straight memorization and dumping; only to forget everything you memorized days later. Studying the Bible is not merely about memorizing facts; it involves comprehension, critical thinking, and the ability to connect concepts.
As you study you gain knowledge, develop skills, and improve your understanding of various themes and topics. The spiritual concepts and principles you learn while studying are what will aid you in solving natural problems and handling natural situations.
Studying the Bible also builds spiritual discipline, it enhances your memory of the scriptures, and prepares you for future challenges in your personal life because it’s the Word of God that makes the enemy flee..
Studying the Bible empowers you to make spiritually informed decisions which is what wisdom is, and it allows you to contribute meaningfully to the body of Christ.
- To Receive Guidance and Wisdom. The Bible provides wisdom for daily living, decision-making, and navigating life’s challenges (Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 3:5-6).
- To Resist Temptation and Sin. – Knowing and applying Scripture helps believers resist sin and temptation (Psalm 119:11, Matthew 4:1-11).
- To Be Equipped for Good Works. Scripture prepares Christians for service, helping them live out their faith through love and good deeds (2 Timothy 3:17, James 1:22).
- To Defend the Faith. Studying the Bible helps believers answer questions, correct misunderstandings, and share the gospel effectively (1 Peter 3:15, Jude 1:3). This is not to win an argument, but to save a soul.
Ultimately, studying the Bible is essential for our faith, our growth, and our ability to live a life that honors God. The Bible is God’s Standard.
So let’s look at some basic principles and keys to studying.
Studying Requires Active Engagement
Studying requires active participation. Simply reading the Bible or listening to a sermon is not enough. Most people have to incorporate study techniques.
Here are some highly effective studying techniques:
- First, Invite the Holy Spirit. None of this is gonna work without Him. Why? Because not only is He the author but He is also your teacher. Jesus tells us in John 14:26, NLT that “when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” Holy Spirit is the cheat code even though it isn’t cheating.
- Take notes. Next, develop some sort of notetaking mechanism that works for you. Make sure you have an organized way of storing your notes and finding them. I personally use Google Docs because it allows me to store and organize my notes. I’m going to give you some Bible study methods in another episode that will help you with this as well.
- Asking questions. Just like reading the Bible, you also want to ask questions as you study. Curiosity and inquiry almost always lead to deeper understanding.
- Another effective study technique is to Practice recalling the information you studied. Testing yourself like this improves memory retention. You want to commit this knowledge into your long-term memory, which is important for the next technique I’m about to share which is…
- Apply the concepts. When you have memorized a Biblical principle that you’ve been studying, you can then use that knowledge in real-life situations. This enhances your learning and your ability to teach and disciple the next person about it.
This is active studying. Active studying is what shifts this from just consuming information passively into what’s known as meaningful knowledge acquisition.
You want, as best you can, to develop mastery of the principles and information you study in God’s Word. True mastery comes from repeated exposure, practice, and refinement of knowledge.
Knowledge about God’s kingdom and His principles are important for soooo many different reasons. First of all, God reveals to us in Proverbs 18:15, AMP that, “The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.” In addition to that, knowledge leads to deliverance. It is through knowledge that the just are delivered. Proverbs 11:9, KJV. On the flip side of that we also know that a lack of knowledge leads to destruction. In Hosea 4:6, AMP God says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]. Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge), I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.” Lacking knowledge is rightttt where the enemy wants you because that’s one of the main ways that he can deceive you.
Want More?
If you enjoyed this episode, then you may also enjoy the episode of the show about how to achieve Godly success or this episode detailing what to expect when operating in your purpose.
Resources Mentioned
- How to Read a Book by Charles van Doren and Mortimer Adler
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This is amazing content. I will share this with the girls I mentor and those in my circle.
That’s so good to hear!