Why Study the Bible?

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The Bible is a loving letter from our heavenly Father. (1 Thessalonians 2:13) If we take the things we learn, and apply them in our lives, we will live a life far more beneficial than those who do not. As you grow in knowledge, you will draw ever closer to God, the Giver of “Every good gift and every perfect gift.” (James 1:17) You will discover the beauty of prayer. You will find that God is strengthening you to cope in times of trouble. If you live and walk in harmony with His Word, the opportunity of life everlasting awaits you.

Romans 6:2 The Bible gives us answers to questions and life that can be found nowhere else and offers illumination to its readers. Those that take in this life-saving knowledge are freed from the misunderstandings of life that dominate billions of others. For instance, many fear death, and the Bible can lift that fear.

Genesis 2:7 (American Standard Version)

7 And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Ezekiel 18:4 (English Standard Version)

4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

John 11:25 (English Standard Version)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Acts 24:15 (English Standard Version)

15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

What do we see in these four texts? First, we see that humans are “souls”, not that they possess one at Genesis 2:7. Second, Ezekiel 18:4 informs us that we as “souls” can die. Third, Jesus informs us of the hope of a resurrection just as he gave his friend Lazarus, only better at John 11:25. Fourth, Acts 24:15 tell us that there will be a resurrection of the just (those who walked with God and exercised faith in the Son), and the unjust (those who never had a chance to hear the Bible truth).
Another facet of benefiting from the Bible is that it shows us the way to get the best out of life now, even in imperfection.


1 Timothy 3:2 (English Standard Version)

2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

2 Corinthians 7:1 (English Standard Version)

1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

1 Corinthians 6:18 (English Standard Version)

18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

What do we discover in these three texts? Is there any doubt that if we possess the quality of self-control that we will not have better health and better relationships. Through ‘cleansing ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit,’ we evade damaging our health. Finally, the marriage is on safe grounds by our fleeing from sexual immorality.

Another aspect of the Bible is that it will help us to find true happiness in this imperfect world that we live in, with the hope of even greater happiness to come. Bible knowledge helps us to find the innermost harmony and satisfaction and gives us faith and hopefulness. It assists us to develop such pleasing characteristics as empathy, love, joy, peace, kindness, and faith. (Galatians 5:22, 23; Ephesians 4:24, 32) Such characteristics will help us to be a better spouse, father or mother, son or daughter.

Another facet of the Bible is its prophecies, which will help us to understand where we are in the steams of time, and what is yet to unfold.

Revelation 21:3–4 (English Standard Version)

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”


Andrews, E. D. (2011). Your Guide for Defending the Bible: Self-Education of the Bible Made Easy (pp. 18–20). Cambridge, OH: Edward Andrews.

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