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I noticed something over the years: The More I know about the Bible, the more questions I ask when I read the Bible.
I don’t mean questioning the Bible (as in I doubt the veracity of the Word of God).
What I mean is that the more I grow in the Bible the more I realize I need to pay attention to the details in the Bible to figure out what God is saying through a narrative, a law, a poetry, or an epistle. Since the more I learn from the Bible makes me marvel at God and His Word, the more I realize I need to learn from the literary details rather than just read my assumptions into the text. So I asks a lot of questions.
In fact I think I ask more questions about a passage more than when I first started full time ministry twelve years ago. And when I was new to the ministry I ask more questions about the Bible than my first year in Seminary. I still remember my first semester in seminary thinking that an assignment to write down fifty questions and observation of a passage was difficult. You should see the beginning of my sermon prep notes now; there’s so much questions in my translation of the Greek or Hebrew and also my preliminary question about the grammatical and syntactical function of words in a passage!
I saw an article on Open Bible that says “The Bible has so many questions! In fact, there are approximately 3,294 questions in Scripture.” That’s a lot of questions! Maybe we can take a cue from that of how its important to read the Word of God with a teachable and humble attitude and what that looks like practically is we asks good questions about a passage in order to really know what God’s Word is saying.
Keep studying and keep asking good questions!
The Domain for Truth 
Excellent! Yes, I can attest to the same thing.
I am glad to hear that! I have benefited from your inquisitive and investigative spirit here on WordPress
Like you, I learn from so many things, both Christian and secular. I think I learn best from reading material which differs in my basic understanding of a given topic. I then study it further, to see if I can see the author’s perspective–why s/he has that point of view. From there, I will either find the author’s bias/flawed logic or MY OWN. If the latter, then I will alter my thinking accordingly. All this enhances my ability to consider things from a broader perspective, while further honing my analytical thinking (I think!) for future ‘projects’. And all this increases my initial questions related to Biblical texts as I exegete passages. That goes to your comment there’s so much questions in my translation of the Greek or Hebrew and also my preliminary question about the grammatical and syntactical function of words in a passage! (though I don’t really know Hebrew at all). Yes and amen to that!
In my experience reading Scripture is like a bike ride in the country; it is slow and methodical, you have time to see, hear and breathe in all around you. Sometimes on your bike ride you just need to stop and soak in the scenery or watch the birds. I remember bike rides from years ago because I took my time, soaking in the experience. Yes, that is how I see reading the Bible!
Wow that describes it very well! That describes also why it takes me so long to finish a book in the Bible these days, sometimes there’s so much to soak in and be amaze and at awe with the Word of God!!! Have you wrote a post with this analogy before? If not it would be a good one!
thank you for your kind words brother. You may find this hard to believe but these wee illustrations just pop into my mind quite suddenly; so this is a new one to me! It is a joint effort, between you, me and His Holy Spirit. Now that you mention it I may use it for a post. Incidentally I was thinking of a specific bike ride near Scotlandwell one summer day when I wrote that.
Great post! I agree wholeheartedly!
Amen! Blessings to you dear brother Andy!!!
This is good. Often times it’s hard to balance when to ask questions and when there isn’t. I am not very smart so I have to spend extra time to sort things out and my mind wanders.
Brother I feel I take a very long time to work things out! When I was in seminary I felt I took the longest in sermon prep lol. You good. Praying for your prayer requests by the way!!
I picture it like climbing a large mountain in the middle of an endless flat plane. The higher I go in Bible knowledge, the more of the plane I see – places I have never visited chocked full of Biblical knowledge I don’t have. 😊
That’s a very fitting analogy. Something tells me you like the great outdoors!!!
As a rule sunrises and sunsets are better where there are more deer and wild turkeys than people. 😉
I can certainly relate to this post. The more I learn from/about God’s Word, the more I realize how much more there is to know and to apply.
Same here! Will be slower to your post today; had a busy Saturday and in a couple of minutes someone from my church is going to propose to somebody and was busy with Bible study and pastoral visitation and also decorating for the proposal!! Busy weekend with ministry and it just started!! How goes your Saturday??
Your day is much busier than mine! Lord help you in all your ministries! I just had some odds-and-ends chores throughout the day.
So very true. This is it: “its important to read the Word of God with a teachable and humble attitude and what that looks like practically is we asks good questions about a passage in order to really know what God’s Word is saying.”
Praying for your ministry tomorrow.
I am glad the Bible stimulates us with question after question. I see that as evidence the Word is alive and speaking to each of us. It also gives the answers eventually.
Wow good point about how the Bible’s living character is seen from the Word of God being alive!
Great post and so true. I am reading John’s gospel at the moment and I have so many questions encouraging me to dig deeper into the meaning and text.
Wow praise God thanks for sharing that! Blessings to you sister!
Amen, Slim! The Bible actually tell us it reveals itself “precept by precept, a little here, a little there…. ” There are many layers to scripture and always new things to be discovered.😊
AMen always something new to discover with the Word! Amen! I know you know it studying the Bible over the years!!!
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
Jesus said we should be like little children, and if there’s one thing little children are good at, it’s asking questions. 😉
How true thanks for pointing that out
I have the same experience, Pastor Jim. The more I read the Bible the more mysterious it becomes. There are so many things in it that I don’t understand. At the same time, I appreciate the amazingness of the entire thing more than ever before. The magnificence of the Gospel message is unique to any other belief system.
The questions I have are like the questions I have when I look into a clear, dark sky at night. Some of the questions can’t be answered at least for now. But the impressiveness of the entirety of it all is beyond description.
The Bible is history and the future. It defines light and darkness. It gives us true guidance. I am so thankful to live in a time when God’s Word is more accessible now than ever before.
Amen to your comment! Good analogy of the wonder of the skies and the questions we have. I also agree with you: “I am so thankful to live in a time when God’s Word is more accessible now than ever before.” I can’t believe how much we can access online today with sound Biblical teaching and preaching. Thanks for sharing that!
You’re welcome, Pastor Jim. I’m a pretty visual person so this time through the Old and New Testaments I’m using a 3 volume set called “Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps & Timelines” that belongs to my daughter. It is helping me to keep things in historical context and so far I haven’t found anything theologically incorrect but I always keep my eyes open.
May God continue to help us understand His Word enough to help others with questions that they may have. I know I use the words “I don’t know” more now than ever but I am also more sure now than ever that the Bible is the holy Word of God and that there is an unknown spiritual battle that continues. The God of the Bible is, indeed, our only hope.
I marvel at how dull the Word of God was to me before I was brought to life in Him.
Amen. Me too.
Amen! Praying for your sinusitis!!!
Thank you.
Reblogged this on Calculus of Decay .
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[…] maybe even for the first time. I recently read a post pertaining to this subject by Pastor Jim (The More I know about the Bible, the more questions I ask when I read the Bible); who isn’t beginning a new reading schedule but instead highlighted the importance of asking […]