1. Begin reading your Bible this very day. The way to do a thing — is to do it; and the way to read the Bible — is actually to read it! It is not merely meaning, or wishing, or resolving, or intending, or thinking about it — which will advance you one step. You must positively read. There is no royal road in this matter, any more than in the matter of prayer. If you cannot read yourself, you must persuade somebody else to read it to you. But one way or another, through eyes or ears — the words of Scripture must actually pass before your mind.
2. Read the Bible with an earnest desire to understand it. Do not think for a moment, that the great object is to turn over a certain quantity of printed paper, and that it matters nothing whether you understand it or not. Some ignorant people seem to imagine, that all is done if they advance so many chapters every day, though they may not have a notion what they are all about, and only know that they have pushed on their bookmark ahead so many pages. This is turning Bible reading into a mere ritual form. Settle it down in your mind as a general principle, that a Bible not understood — is a Bible that does no good! Say to yourself often as you read, “What is this all about?” Dig for the meaning like a man digging for gold.
3. Read the Bible with child-like faith and humility. Open your heart — as you open God’s book, and say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!” Resolve to believe implicitly whatever you find there, however much it may run counter to your own desires and prejudices. Resolve to receive heartily every statement of truth — whether you like it or not. Beware of that miserable habit into which some readers of the Bible fall — they receive some doctrines because they like them; and they reject others because they are condemning to themselves, or to some relation, or friend. At this rate, the Bible is useless! Are we to be judges of what ought to be in God’s Word? Do we know better than God? Settle it down in your mind — that you will receive all and believe all, and that what you cannot understand — you will take on trust. Remember, when you pray — that you are speaking to God, and God hears you. But, remember, when you read Scripture — that God is speaking to you, and you are not to “dictate,” but to listen!
4. Read the Bible in a spirit of obedience and self-application. Sit down to the study of it with a daily determination that you will live by its rules, rest on its statements, and act on its commands. Consider, as you travel through every chapter, “How does this affect my thinking and daily conduct? What does this teach me?” It is poor work to read the Bible from mere curiosity, and for speculative purposes — in order to fill your head and store your mind with mere opinions; while you do not allow the book to influence your heart and life. That Bible is read best — which is practiced most!
5. Read the Bible daily. Make it a part of every day’s business to read and meditate on some portion of God’s Word. Private means of grace are just as needful every day for our souls — as food and clothing are for our bodies. Yesterday’s food will not feed the laborer today; and today’s food will not feed the laborer tomorrow. Do as the Israelites did in the wilderness. Gather your manna fresh every morning. Choose your own seasons and hours. Do not scramble over and hurry your reading. Give your Bible the best, and not the worst part of your time! But whatever plan you pursue, let it be a rule of your life to visit the throne of grace and God’s Word every day.
6. Read all of the Bible — and read it in an orderly way. I fear there are many parts of the Word which some people never read at all. This is to say at the least, a very presumptuous habit. “All Scripture is profitable.” [2 Timothy 3:16]. To this habit may be traced that lack of well-proportioned views of truth, which is so common in this day. Some people’s Bible-reading is a system of perpetual ‘dipping and picking’. They do not seem to have an idea of regularly going through the whole book.
7. Read the Bible fairly and honestly. Determine to take everything in its plain, obvious meaning — and regard all forced interpretations with great suspicion. As a general rule, whatever a verse of the Bible seems to mean — it does mean! Cecil’s rule is a very valuable one, “The right way of interpreting Scripture is to take it as we find it, without any attempt to force it into any particular theological system.”
8. Read the Bible with Christ continually in view. The grand primary object of all Scripture, is to testify of Jesus! Old Testament ceremonies are shadows of Christ. Old Testament judges are types of Christ. Old Testament prophecies are full of Christ’s sufferings, and of Christ’s glory yet to come. The first coming and the second; the Lord’s humiliation and His glorious kingdom; His cross and the crown shine forth everywhere in the Bible. Keep fast hold on this clue, if you would read the Bible aright!
I might easily add to these hints, if space permitted. Few and short as they are — you will find them most profitable when implemented.
~ J.C. Ryle
Practical Religion, “Bible Reading”, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1998], 131-134.
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Great review of obvious, but often not applied, methods of study of the Bible. Very concise. Thanks for posting them!
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[...] nu weer een conclusie die iets te snel is getrokken. Hier acht heilzame tips van een oude prediker, John Ryle (1816 – 1900) voor het lezen van de Bijbel. Ik zou zeggen dat ze behoorlijk tijdloos zijn en [...]
Thanks for this post. I shared it with our Bible reading group in Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/listentothewholestory/
I love this very much! Certainly helpful! Thanks for sharing. I will be sharing it with others too and consulting often myself. Blessings!
You are doing all Christians a great favour by hosting this site.
I did not get to know Ryle’s writings until I was in my fifties. He is one of the few of truly sound Christian writers and he does not deviate from the Scriptures. I wish he were alive now to contend for the faith once delivered as he did in Victorian days.
It astonishes me that he was an Anglican comparing what his words still have to say from the empty unscriptural (and often anti-scriptural words) from the present-day Anglican clergy.
I say this as one who, when a youth, had to throw of my Roman Catholic indoctrination. Protestants of my young days (in the 1950s and 1960s) had no idea of the incredible heritage they had. It is a travesty to watch all that now being overturned.
It wouldn’t be happening if the Protestant churches today had men of the calibre of Ryle and Spurgeon
Thank you for hosting this site. May God bless you.
Martin,
You are welcome. My pleasure to provide Ryle’s insightful, timeless quotes.
Though Ryle be dead, he still speaks.
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Great points. Sadly point 8 was last instead of first. Presumably people of every religion would agree with the first 7. As they relate to their “scriptures” Torah, Koran etc
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To read with faith beliveing what you read and not trying to make it fit your purpose but you fiting God word.
It is He who has made me not me myself, He alone is God Who is His councel?
All things are made for Him and by Him and without Him is nothing made that is made.
Then how can the thing that is made say to its maker why did you?
The Lord He is God.
I appreciate that John Piper is emphasizing the ministry of J.C. Ryle. But Ryle taught a kind of spiritual life that in many ways runs counter to Piper’s “Christian Hedonism.” I wonder what Piper and his followers make of this statement by Ryle – “The nearness of peace and comfort in Christ should be proclaimed to men. But surely they should be taught that the possession of strong inward joys and high frames of mind is not essential to justification, and that there may be true faith and true peace without such very triumphant feelings. Joy alone is no certain evidence of grace.” (From Holiness).
Here is another quote from Ryle that does not square with John Piper’s hedonism – “I am sure that unhealthy excitement is above all things to be dreaded, because it often ends in fatal, soul-ruining reaction and utter deadness. (Holiness).
Thanks for these suggestions. I do sometimes have a hard time on how to read my Bible. I’m not even half-way of it..Thank you..God bless (^^,)
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Reblogged this on memories told….
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