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Why Study the Bible? . . . Properly? (A)
Notes by Dr. Fred Wittman

 "Give persevering attention of yourself, to stand tried and approved after examination alongside /God, an unashamed worker correctly understanding and expounding The Word of The Truth!" (2 Timothy 2:15).

Introduction: Why study God's Word? Why bother? How important is it?


Who should study? One may ask, If I am not going to be preacher or a missionary, why should I consider it? Where else can you learn truth'? God's Word is Truth (John 17:17). But where will you spend eternity? And how? Where will you be judged? At the Bayma(Judgment Seat of Christ) or the Great White Throne? We shall resume our learning and understanding of God's Word in Heaven where we leave off down here on Earth. So it behooves us to begin to study His Word NOW!
The main reason to study the Bible is because it is commanded by God's Word (2 Timothy 2:15). Incorporated in the context is another reason: False teachers/apostates dispute about words to subvert the hearers. This can only be combatted by proper Bible study. In 2 Timothy 2 there are three kinds of words being taught: perilous (v. 14), pernicious (v. 17), and precious (v. 15-18).
There are at least three questions that should be answered about each text: To whom was this written? When? and Under what circumstances? In this case: to Timothy, a servant of The Lord with Paul; in A.D. 67-68, when Timothy was about 45; and Paul was expecting to be martyred shortly (4:6). Discipleship (Matthew 28:19, 20) requires both the dscipler and the disciple to have or to obtain a knowledge of Christ and His teaching! How do you get that knowledge? Only from proper Bible study! Therefore there must be proper study! Because improper study confuses, subverts, and destroys (ruins)! katastreph0! Proper Bible study requires 3 things: activity, accountability, and accuracy
  I. Proper Bible Study Involves ACTIVITY. Study to be confident!
       A. Be Assiduous (carefully give unremitting attention)! "Study" - spoudáz0 - use speed,
            make an effort, be prompt or earnest, constantly give diligence with haste (constative
            aorist of extended time) Greek word carries the idea of persistent effort, labor,
            endeavor, be diligent with haste. Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines
            diligent'' as characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic application and effort.'' It
            is best translated give persevering attention'' (cf. 1 Thes. 2:17; Heb. 4:11; 2 Pet. 1:10;
            3:14). Webster defines study'' as the application of the mind to the acquisition of
            knowledge.''
       B. Be Approved! "Study to present yourself approved by God after trial'' - dókimos.
            Meet specifications so as to be endorsed when standing before God for trial.
       C. Be Ambitious!
            1. Not to be ashamed of results, and
            2. Not to be ashamed of application;
            3. But to be approved by God.
       D. Be Earnest to the best of your ability! (Luke 10:27) Because of ability, some may not
            be approved by men but will be approved by God.
       E. Be Active Persistently! Labor, toil, effort to the end! Some drop out and are
            disapproved.
 II. Proper Bible Study Is Imposed by ACCOUNTABILITY. Study to be
      commended!
        A. Why?Two greek words provide the answer both positively and negatively.
             1. dókimos - tried and (ap)proved as precious metals before accepted as genuine
                 (1 Pet. 1:7; Jas. 1:12; Rom. 14:18; 16:10; 2 Cor, 10:18).
             2. adókimosThe opposite dókimos disapproved, castaway, reprobate, rejected,
                 disqualified
                 (1Cor. 9:27; Heb. 6:8; Rom. 1:28; Tit. 1:16)
        B. When? Now and at The Bayma (2 Cor. 5:9,10; Rom. 14:10-12)
        C. For What? Proper interpretation - rightly dividing' or correctly cutting' God's Word.

Conclusion:

 Sudy to be confident and to be approved by God! Know that you will be approved because you properly and persistently studied God's Word.
Study to be commended by God at the Bayma!
That is a tall ,order to fulfill, is it not? It may seem to be too much to ask of the average person. But it is not commanded by God to the average person. This is commanded to those who are regenerated by The Holy Spirit, who have yielded and presented their bodies as living sacrifice to The One True and Holy God, Who has given His Holy Spirit to indwell them, to fill them, and to control them. And it is He Who will enable those whom He regenerates to fulfill God's words and commands. He will enable the regenerated ones to be assiduous, to be ambitious, to be earnest to the best of your ability, to be actively persistent to study and apply God's Word, and to be approved after testing and approving self to be correctly understanding and explaining The Word of Truth to others. If it seems too much for God to ask of you, the question for you to answer to yourself is, Have I been redeemed and set free from sin? Have I really been regenerated? If not sure, log on to Knowing The Savior or E-mail us for help. If not correct, then not approved! If not correct, then going astray and leading astray! What will you do to study correctly, accurately, and properly?

To what extent will you go to study God's Word carefully, confidently, correctly, properly, and persistently?


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Last modified: March 25, 2007