Read The Scriptures

by Micky Galloway

Among the numerous responsibilities that Paul addresses to the young preacher Timothy, he said, “Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching” (I Timothy 4:13). The focus in this article is the necessity of reading. Note that Paul says to “give heed” (ASV), “give attendance” (KJV), or “give attention” (NKJV). The word used here, prosecho, means “to hold the mind towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to” (Strong’s). “To be in a continuous state of readiness to learn of any future danger, need, or error, and to respond appropriately - ‘to pay attention to, to keep on the lookout for, to be alert for, to be on one’s guard against’” (Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain). Timothy could not fulfill his duties without giving heed to reading. Paul further said, “Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee” (I Timothy 4:16). “Give heed to READING”! The word used here, anaginosko, means “‘to know exactly,’ ‘to recognize,’ and is mostly used to refer to (public) reading” (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament). W.E. Vine tells us, “… Acts 13:15; 2 Cor 3:14; 1 Tim 4:13, where the context makes clear that the reference is to the care required in reading the Scriptures to a company, a duty ever requiring the exhortation ‘take heed’” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words).

The Scriptures testify of Jesus. Jesus read from the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1ff in the synagogue in Nazareth and identified himself as the one anointed to preach “good tidings” (Luke 4:16-21). As He closed the book and sat down, He affirmed, “Today hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.” Jesus rebuked the Jews, “Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me; and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life” (John 5:39-40). Jesus affirmed, “that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44). This was the use Paul made of the Scriptures. In Thessalonica he “reasoned with them from the scriptures, opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, (said he,) I proclaim unto you, is the Christ” (Acts 17:3). The Beroeans “received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

The Scriptures are the source of knowledge. Jesus often answered controversial questions by asking, “Have ye not read …” When his disciples were accused of violating the Sabbath, he asked, “Have ye not read what David did” (Matthew 12:3,5; Read I Samuel 21:6). When the Pharisees asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” He answered “Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh” (Matthew 19:1-9; Read Genesis 2:24). Often Jesus scolded his critics because of their ignorance (cf. Matthew 21:16; 24:16). Though the Scriptures were read every Sabbath in their synagogues they had not given heed to the reading. Paul said to the Jews in Antioch of Pisidia, “For they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled (them) by condemning (him)” (Acts 13:27).

The Scriptures are the standard of judgment. The Scriptures determine truth and error. Among the Galatian churches, some were teaching something different from what Paul had taught them. He sharply rebuked them, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another (heteros) gospel: Which is not another (allos) …” Allos expresses a numerical difference and denotes “another of the same sort” heteros expresses a qualitative difference and denotes “another of a different sort.” Paul warns of those who “pervert the gospel of Christ” by teaching something different from the gospel he had taught them. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-8 KJV). To receive a perverted gospel would mean the “truth of the gospel” would no longer continue in them (Galatians 2:5). Just as the Scriptures determine truth or error, they also determine whether we are saved or lost. Paul wrote of the vengeance of the Lord coming upon “them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus …” (II Thessalonians 1:7-8). Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

Suggestions for productive reading:

1. Read with attention. Slow down and listen to what you are reading. The Jews read the scriptures every Sabbath in their synagogues, but failed to make the application.
2. Read with reflection. When the young prodigal “came to himself” (Luke 15); he saw himself as he really was. The Scriptures can open our eyes and make us see that we may receive remission of sins (cf. Acts 26:18).
3. Read with confidence. We can understand what we read! Paul wrote, “how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:3-4; cf. 5:17).
4. Read with humility and purpose. The more we study the more reason we have to be humbled by our ignorance. Let us read “to improve our minds in useful knowledge, establish your hearts in virtue, and prepare yourselves for a right performance of the duties of life, and for a joyful acceptance with God on the great day of account” (The Biblical Illustrator).

At a time when we desperately need it, many churches have dispensed with the public reading of God’s word. Many have endless announcements of social events, special music, and other forms of entertainment, but there is no time for the reading of the Bible. Many preachers accommodate by using little or no Scripture in their lessons. With such little emphasis on the word of God in public assemblies, I wonder how much the Scriptures are read in our homes. Is it any wonder that we live in a generation that knows “not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10 KJV).