Why do you read/study God's word?

Gary K

New member
Banned
Just like everyone else I have my personal reasons for studying the Bible. I guess I'd say I have a hierarchy of reasons. Some are the more profound and basic reasons for studying and others are less basic and focused on certain areas of reasons for studying but they flow out of my underlying reason for study of the Bible: to know God as a person.

So what are your reasons for studying the Bible?
 
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Bradley D

Well-known member
I love to study God's Word. I want to learn the Truth.

“For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice” (John 18:37).
 

Idolater

"Matthew 16:18-19" Dispensationalist (Catholic) χρ
To know the history of the Church, how it all began, including of course the earthly ministry of Christ, but also the beginning of the Apostles' ministry in actually establishing the Church on earth, which occurred during their lifetime, many events having actually been recorded in Sacred Scripture. But also to understand the background of Christ, and the place in history in which He arrived, born of the Blessed Virgin, during the final days of the Lord's first covenant with His chosen people Israel. To read all the prophecies that were given about Christ and the New Covenant, by the Holy Spirit through the prophets. Further to learn about the deep truths that underlie the Church's institutions like baptism and the Eucharist, including the Last Supper when it was established by Christ Himself. And also to get the first-hand accounts from the first century that helps to clarify all that the Church's bishops teach us that the Apostles taught that first generation of bishops, the Church's first non-Apostle pastors. And finally to learn wisdom from the numerous wisdom books contained in the Scripture.

I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot of other reasons too.
 

Right Divider

Body part
To know the history of the Church, how it all began, including of course the earthly ministry of Christ, but also the beginning of the Apostles' ministry in actually establishing the Church on earth, which occurred during their lifetime, many events having actually been recorded in Sacred Scripture. But also to understand the background of Christ, and the place in history in which He arrived, born of the Blessed Virgin, during the final days of the Lord's first covenant with His chosen people Israel. To read all the prophecies that were given about Christ and the New Covenant, by the Holy Spirit through the prophets. Further to learn about the deep truths that underlie the Church's institutions like baptism and the Eucharist, including the Last Supper when it was established by Christ Himself. And also to get the first-hand accounts from the first century that helps to clarify all that the Church's bishops teach us that the Apostles taught that first generation of bishops, the Church's first non-Apostle pastors. And finally to learn wisdom from the numerous wisdom books contained in the Scripture.

I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot of other reasons too.
Wow... that's some tunnel-vision you have there.
 

Idolater

"Matthew 16:18-19" Dispensationalist (Catholic) χρ
Wow... that's some tunnel-vision you have there.
Wanting to know, about the bishops: Who are these guys? Who made them who they are? Where did they learn all that they teach? All the answers are in the Scripture, if you'll only neglect your own tunnel-vision when you read it.
 

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Body part
Wanting to know, about the bishops: Who are these guys? Who made them who they are? Where did they learn all that they teach? All the answers are in the Scripture, if you'll only neglect your own tunnel-vision when you read it.
In your statement above, you ignored most of the Bible that you "want to study".
 

Gary K

New member
Banned
Wanting to know, about the bishops: Who are these guys? Who made them who they are? Where did they learn all that they teach? All the answers are in the Scripture, if you'll only neglect your own tunnel-vision when you read it.
Interesting. Salvation comes only through and from God. Jesus said that eternal life comes through knowing His father and Himself.

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Just where did Jesus, or any other Bible author, say that knowing humans is the route to salvation? I have never read anything like it in the Bible.
 

Gary K

New member
Banned
I love to study God's Word. I want to learn the Truth.

“For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice” (John 18:37).
I wouldn't say that your goal has anything inherently wrong with it. Jesus is truth. So is it truth you really want to know, or is it Jesus that you really want to know? Jesus said knowing Him and His father is life eternal. To me this leads to the following. Salvation is personal. It comes through persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So, I would think knowing God is different in a slight but profound difference than knowing truth. We can impersonally know facts and data. It's a much different thing to know a person.
 

Idolater

"Matthew 16:18-19" Dispensationalist (Catholic) χρ
Interesting. Salvation comes only through and from God. Jesus said that eternal life comes through knowing His father and Himself.
Catholicism doesn't conflict with any of that.
Just where did Jesus, or any other Bible author, say that knowing humans is the route to salvation?
Where did I say that.
I have never read anything like it in the Bible.
I never read anything like it in my post you replied to either.
 

Lon

Well-known member
Catholicism doesn't conflict with any of that.

Where did I say that.

I never read anything like it in my post you replied to either.
Observation: It shows the difference between Protestants/Evangelicals and Catholics: For the most part your comments could be summed up: "to learn about the church and traditions" whereas the Protestant/Evangelical answer is "to get to know and love God" as of paramount importance.

If my observation is correct, the comments are on the difference. -Lon
 

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Body part
For this thread that was a pretty long post. Tell me what I ignored in particular, that prompted this comment.
You started with "To know the history of the Church, how it all began, including of course the earthly ministry of Christ,..." which already skips thousands of years of Bible history.
 

Idolater

"Matthew 16:18-19" Dispensationalist (Catholic) χρ
Observation: It shows the difference between Protestants/Evangelicals and Catholics: For the most part your comments could be summed up: "to learn about the church and traditions" whereas the Protestant/Evangelical answer is "to get to know and love God" as of paramount importance.

If my observation is correct, the comments are on the difference. -Lon
Thanks for pointing it out. I guess it's really easy to forget that our basic difference is that you all think we're superstitious for believing in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It'd be like one faction of Hindus who don't believe in the Hindu polytheism, trying to get along with a more traditional Hindu who does. The group who rejects the older polytheism takes the ethical guidance from Hinduism, but lives their lives basically 'under advisement' of what they've come to see as an anachronistic version of Hinduism as compared with their more enlightened form, while the more traditional Hindus are actually practicing Hindus, just like all throughout history.

This modern Christian, who doesn't believe in the Blessed Sacrament, who doesn't believe in Christian chastity, and who doesn't believe in attending church worship services every week, is an enigma to me, but you've helped sharpen my thoughts on the matter with your comment here, so again thank you for it.

Note that I take the Bible more literally than you and all Protestants do. It's what ultimately was used by the Spirit of truth to lead me into the truth of Jesus's Church. I don't have to argue here for Catholicism, since both Catholicism and Orthodoxy, the two oldest, ancientest Christian ecclesial communities, both fully and fervently believe in the Real Presence. "Wherever two or three are gathered in my name", "This is my body", John chapter six, plus Ignatius scolding the heretics who denied that the Lord came in the flesh, is all powerful evidence entirely consistent with the Catholic and Orthodox belief and teaching in the Real Presence, which is very powerful evidence that's also consistent with the idea that the Apostles themselves believed in and taught the Real Presence.

And we all know their 'marching orders'. Matthew 28:20, 'comes right after that famous verse consistent with the idea that the Apostles also taught the Trinity, Matthew 28:19, says that the Lord instructed them all to teach to obey everything that He commanded them.
 

Eric h

Well-known member
I believe the first sentence in the Bible to be an absolute truth; 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.

The thought that our Lord was prepared to die for us seems profound, can he love us as he loves himself?
 

Right Divider

Body part
And we all know their 'marching orders'. Matthew 28:20, 'comes right after that famous verse consistent with the idea that the Apostles also taught the Trinity, Matthew 28:19, says that the Lord instructed them all to teach to obey everything that He commanded them.
THEM.. yes... those Israelite's.

Paul says that WE (i.e., the body of Christ) are NOT under the law.

Do you see the difference?
 

Bradley D

Well-known member
I believe the first sentence in the Bible to be an absolute truth; 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.

The thought that our Lord was prepared to die for us seems profound, can he love us as he loves himself?
Self love is human. God's love is not about self, but love beyond understanding.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
 
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