Studying the Bible is one of the most important things we do as Christians. Scripture is our guide to life and what prepares us for the next life. It is the one and only source that we are to base our faith on and build our doctrine from. There is great power to be gained from spending time in God’s word. It is also something we see God desiring us to do in His word. But is it possible to go too deep in studying the Bible? Can one go too far and actually end up worse than before based on their study practices?
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Joshua 1:8 (ESV)
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
I believe the simple answer is yes. I would even say that many people do go far deeper in study than anyone ever should. Not that they spend too much time in, know too much about, or love the Bible too much. But that they dive well beyond the surface of the text looking for other meanings. Ultimately searching for hidden messages that they believe will provide a deeper truth. Instead of simply taking God’s word at what it says. If you look hard enough for something eventually you will find it even if it doesn’t really exist. This is how so much false doctrine is born today. Often it is out of good intentions gone wrong as people start to look beyond to text at sub meanings that may not even be there or are not intended.
What we have to understand is that God used simple fishermen to record a good portion of the Bible. These men were not highly educated and they would have put things in the same plain manner they received and understood them. Likewise, the Bible was recorded as a source for all people. A fact we know to be true because God wants all people to understand and be saved regardless of education level.
Matthew 4:18–20 (ESV)
18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)
4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
You can just think of the letters Paul wrote. They were meant to be delivered to the church, as a whole, where many people would be gathered to hear them read. Knowing this Paul would have written in such a way anyone who heard could understand and accept the message. We can also trust that God intends for all people today to still understand His inspired word with ease.
Philippians 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Ephesians 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
1 Corinthians 1:1–2 (ESV)
1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Colossians 4:16 (ESV)
16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
We must keep ourselves from adopting the mindset that says God intended His word to be confusing. Or that in order to truly understand what the Bible says you need to have a high-level degree. It’s also important to know that God’s desire is for everyone to know the truth. Because that is true He would not have attempted to hide or cover up His intended message.
The Bible is not a puzzle to be solved, nor does it require a decoder ring to access the true message behind the text. All we need to do is simply read God’s word for what it says directly. Then we will gain all the understanding we need from it. We don’t need to go miles deep in study over every word and passage questioning what it means. We can trust that God said exactly what He meant.
Likewise, extra-biblical sources can be a great help in studying. But they are in no way necessary to be able to fully understand God’s word. In fact, they can even cause more harm than good in many cases. It’s true that many sources are able to offer insight into a culture we often struggle to relate to. As well as even offer assistance understanding translations in which the words have changed meaning over time. Yet, even with all the benefits they still introduce problems in study. As when many quickly begin to over-rely on such sources for their understanding instead of turning to the Bible alone first.
The sad truth is that many extra-biblical resources such as commentaries, study Bibles, and even Bible dictionaries are filled with opinion and personal belief. Many even contain information that simply doesn’t align with what is taught in scripture. Where the author attempts to shape the Bible to fit their beliefs. Instead of allowing the Bible to do its work and shape their beliefs. What we have to understand is that the Bible is the only God-inspired text we have. It is the only perfect text free of man’s influence. All other sources are subject to issues.
2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
None of this is meant to say Christians should all throw out their commentaries, study Bibles, and other extra-biblical sources. Though you should be wise about what you allow to speak into your faith. Study supplements can be very helpful tools. But that’s just it, we must make sure they stay what they should be as supplements and tools. We must not get so deep in study that we find ourselves leaving the Bible to learn from other sources.
No matter how long we spend or how far we go in study we will always need the Bible as our primary source. The Bible should be where we spend the majority of our time and other sources should only be used for reference. Especially when praying and slowing down in our reading of the Bible can often provide the same level of enlightenment. At least where true revelation from the Bible is concerned.
Really, the only thing we need to truly unlock the Bible is the Holy Spirit. The very same spirit the first church had that gave them the knowledge and understanding necessary to preach the Gospel message. A message that until the day of Pentecost the Apostles clearly had trouble understanding. Despite spending three years living with Jesus. But just as He promised He sent the spirit of knowledge they needed to fully understand both the Old Testament and God’s plan. It was after receiving this spirit that these simple uneducated fishermen were seen by the religious leaders as having great understanding.
Matthew 17:17 (ESV)
17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.”
Luke 8:34 (ESV)
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.
John 16:13 (ESV)
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Acts 4:13 (ESV)
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
With God’s spirit as our guide through His word, we are able to understand and see things we never would have before. Just as the early church did. Removing the desire to search for hidden meaning. As well as allowing us to grow in knowledge of God’s word without the need for countless extra-biblical sources. All those who have received the Holy Spirit just need the Bible in order to grow in their knowledge of God.
Study the Bible and spend all the time you can in it. Doing so will be one of the best things you ever do in this life. Just ensure that while you get into the Scripture that you do not get caught up in going too deep. Take God’s word at what it says and trust in His ability to preserve it. To receive revelation you simply just need to allow God to reveal the truth to you through exactly what the Bible says.
Use some extra-Biblical sources from time to time. We are blessed to have so many resources today that those before us didn’t. Let’s not neglect them but at the same time not overly rely on them either. Never allow them to become your focus or the source you look to for truth. Allow them to remain the help they are meant to be. All in all, don’t go so deep that you end up in a place far beyond God’s word. Which only leads to false doctrine and a path away from the God you started out to honor.
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