03.25. Helpful Books for Bible Study

Helpful Books for Bible Study So far, we have rigidly adhered to our theme: "How to Study the Bible," and have endeavored to put ourselves in the place of the young believer who is just starting out upon this great life occupation. We must again remind our readers that this is no course of study out of which they are going to graduate. It is, however, a school in which the routine, so far from being irksome, becomes an increasing delight; and we rejoice at the fact that here at least it is no disgrace to be always scholars; indeed, in one sense, we should be always ready to take our place with the beginners, and to enjoy the lessons just as much as they do.

We have, therefore, almost avoided the mention of any books except the Bible itself, in the hope that our readers will be encouraged to take up that precious Book with the confidence that from its pages directly they may learn more than they could from any number of commentaries, educational encyclopedias, and all the paraphernalia of theological study.

Now when this is settled in the mind, and the reader or student has become an original investigator, to a certain extent dependent upon no other help than the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the prayerful, intelligent reading and study of the Bible, he is in a position to appreciate all the more keenly and to profit more fully from the many excellent helps to be found in books. For such, therefore, we have no misgivings in turning now to books other than the Bible, always remembering that at the last we must receive the truth for ourselves from God, no matter what instrumentalities He may use in making that truth plain to us.

Creeds, for instance, are excellent and often admirable statements of Christian doctrine. The mistake in using them, however, is in making them authoritative statements of truth instead of historically giving us the faith of those who compiled them. Looked at in this way, they are helpful and valuable; but a creed, as has been pointed out by a profound Bible student, must be made up firsthand; each of us in that way must make a creed for himself. So it is also with all human literature. It is a servant, a handmaid, not a master. It can point out things to us and give us clues, but of no book, however wise and rich it may be in instruction, can it be said: "Thus saith the Lord."

We must be pardoned for dwelling a little upon this at the threshold of our subject, but there is a need. Many true Christians read their Bibles largely in a perfunctory way, and turn with a measure of relief to some expository book and gather practically their instruction from it. Now let us face the matter. The word of God is more important than the best word of man about that Word, and the Bible itself states things infinitely more wisely and clearly than the wisest books of men; only, the Bible being a revelation of the whole mind of God which He has seen fit to make known to us, has a vastness, fulness, comprehensiveness which the combined intellects of all time can never exhaust; so that we may gladly profit by the suggestions and helps of others. We may say, in general, that those books are most helpful which are most stimulating. That book which satisfies us with itself, and does not stir a longing to turn to the word of God has something wrong about it. The best books ever written are in that way but signboards to point to where all knowledge dwells.