What is the difference between reading the Bible and studying it?
Reading the Bible feeds the soul; studying it digs into the riches beneath the surface. Reading takes in the word broadly and habitually; studying concentrates on a passage, asks questions of it, and compares Scripture with Scripture. The Bereans model the difference: they received the word eagerly and were 'examining the Scriptures daily,' and Ezra set his heart to seek the law of God, to do it, and to teach it.
This question arose from studying How should I read the Bible? and What does it mean to meditate on Scripture?.
Begin by reading
Go into the Word
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
Reading feeds the soul; studying searches the passage
Reading takes in the word in breadth, so that the whole counsel of God shapes us; studying takes a portion and opens it, asking what it says, what it means, and how it applies. The Bereans show the merger: they 'received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.' Openness is reading; the daily examination, the checking of claims against the text, is studying.
Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men.Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Study is diligent and takes effort
Paul calls Timothy to 'give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.' Proverbs pictures the work: 'call out for discernment... if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of Yahweh.' Reading can be a quick meal; study is mining for treasure, and the effort is its own reward.
Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Study is a discipline of the heart, set before the digging
The pattern from Ezra is decisive: 'For Ezra had set his heart to seek Yahweh's law, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.' The heart is set first, then the law is sought, then it is done and taught. Study without a heart to obey becomes mere information, and a heart without study becomes shallow. Real study begins with a resolved heart asking God to teach, and the Spirit is the one who leads us into truth.
For Ezra had set his heart to seek Yahweh’s law, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God’s Spirit. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
The goal is transformation, not information
The psalmist's purpose for treasuring the word is obedience: 'I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you,' and he prays in the law 'on his law he meditates day and night' so that he may observe all that is written. James warns against being 'doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.' Reading and studying both serve one end: that the word would dwell richly and change how we live.
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
but his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night.But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Both belong together in a healthy habit
Reading gives studying its breadth, and studying gives reading its depth; the same Scripture is 'profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness' whether we read it widely or mine it closely. A steady daily reading keeps the whole story in view, while a focused study lets one truth take root deeply. 'How I love your law!' the psalmist sings, 'It is my meditation all day,' and the same love can fill both our wide reading and our deep study.
Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
How I love your law! It is my meditation all day.O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
Studying the Word naturally opens more of it. Follow what you just read: it leads somewhere.
We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
For Ezra had set his heart to seek Yahweh’s law, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
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