(Ed. note:The following are some brief excerpts from a 269 page book of the same title by
Samuel Ridout. It is obviously impossible to begin to do justice to such a large subject in the few
pages we have available in this magazine. The reader who is concerned about starting a more
regular, thorough, systematic study of the Bible is urged to obtain a copy of this book and read
it in its entirety.)

Preliminary Remarks

To many, an exposition on such a subject as "How to Study the Bible" may seem needless, and
an intrusion into what must ever be, left to the individual alone as guided by the Spirit of God.
Others, already diligent workers in this field, will find, perhaps, little to help; but it is hoped that
large numbers of the Lord’s people who have a longing to become better acquainted with the
contents of His Word may find useful suggestions in the following pages.

A few preliminary remarks may not be amiss.

First. No method of Bible study, however useful in itself, can do away with the absolute necessity
for repentance and new birth. The natural mind is "alienated from the life of God" (Eph. 4:18),
and no amount of education, even in the word of truth itself, can change the character of that
which is "enmity against God" (Rom. 8:7). Without doubt, the rise and growth of higher criticism
may largely be due to the handling of the Scriptures by unconverted men in a coldly intellectual
manner. Likewise, much of the mixture in established churches is probably due to the
indiscriminate participation, by converted and unconverted alike, in truths which can only really
be spiritually learned.

Second. No method of Bible study, even for the children of God, can be substituted for the
inestimable blessedness and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the believer. "He will guide you into
all truth" (John 16:13) is a promise not only for the apostles but for all believers. The Spirit is an
enlightener of the minds of the saints, leading them into that which is needed for their upbuilding
on their most holy faith.

The most complete and logical methods of Bible study, pursued in the most diligent manner, with
approved helps of every variety, are all worthless apart from the special and controlling guidance
of Him who delights to take of the things of Christ and to show them unto us. How precious a
privilege it is to have the Author of the perfect and infinite Word of God present with us, to point
out its manifold beauties and perfections, to give us the key to its arrangement, and to lead us on
step by step in a knowledge of the vast plan contained in it. And not only this, but we have this
divine Person dwelling in us! Our hearts through grace are capable of appreciating what He makes
known, and of assimilating the truths of those deep things which the Spirit searches, and of
carrying them out in obedient lives.

Third. In line with what has already been said, it is well to remember that all our study of the
Bible must be in a reverent spirit in which all self-sufficiency and dependence upon carnal wisdom

are refused, and we realize that if we are to know anything aright it must be from God alone. "The
Word of God and prayer" are put together as the sanctifying power in the enjoyment of all the
natural gifts of God (1 Tim. 4:5). Thus the Scripture will always, if rightly apprehended, reveal
our ignorance and shortcomings to us, leading us to a spirit of prayer; and in like manner our very
ignorance of God’s Word will turn us to Him who is so ready to fulfill His Word:"If any of you
lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall
be given him" (James 1:5).

Daily Bible Reading

First of all in importance we place the daily, regular reading of the Scriptures from Genesis to
Revelation, repeatedly and throughout life. No words of ours can express too strongly the absolute
importance of having the mind and heart thoroughly saturated with the knowledge of the letter of
Scripture from beginning to end. Nothing in the way of Bible knowledge can take the place of this.
It is the broad foundation upon which the superstructure of subsequent detail must rest; and if this
foundation is not broad and deep, the superstructure, no matter how high and intricate, will lack
in stability.

Let us be very simple and explicit. In every Christian home there should be the reading of the
Word of God and prayer at least once a day. No matter how strenuous the life and busy, let
nothing rob the family of this simple and most precious privilege. Let some hour be selected in
the morning or evening when the family can be gathered for a few minutes and a chapter read
carefully and attentively. The time consumed in this way is well spent and will in itself help to
keep fresh in our mind, from early childhood, the great outstanding facts and truths of the precious
Word of God. It is probably better to begin with the Gospels and to go through the New
Testament, and then to take up the Old Testament.

In addition to the family reading, we speak next of the private reading by each one of at least a
chapter every day. Here, too, it is well to follow the order suggested above and begin with the
New Testament, and having finished that, to go to the Old. If but one chapter a day can be read,
the entire Scriptures will have been gone over in the course of three years.

Regularity and system are most important here. One can carefully study the duties and
responsibilities of the day and devote a certain time to this reading. We are creatures of habit, and
when once it is a settled fact that our daily chapter or two is to be read, little difficulty will be
found in carrying out the plan.

On days in which a little more time is available, it is useful occasionally to try rapid survey
reading, as we may call it. This is the practice of reading a whole book through at a sitting. For
instance, the Gospel of Mark can be read as we would an article in a magazine, and in as short
a time. In this way we get a good general idea of the contents of the book which might be missed
through reading a chapter at a time. This is of much value as an introduction to the study of any
book:we first read it through at a sitting, and then take it up more in detail, a chapter or a few
verses at a time.

Let it be settled before God, of course not in a legal way, but in the liberty of true love, that we
must and shall read our Bibles regularly and systematically. Let us give this the first place_if
possible, a few minutes in the morning when the mind is fresh, and it will probably help in giving
tone to the mental system for the entire day.

Prayer in Connection with Bible Study

Let us look a little more in detail at the subject of prayer in connection with Bible study. Our
studies are to be conducted in a prayerful way, and here we cannot be too simple. Whenever we
open our Bibles, whether for reading our daily chapter or for any particular course of study, there
should be a sense of incompetence and self-distrust. We should realize our special tendency to
having our own thoughts instead of having a mind open to the thoughts of God. We should
therefore be as specific as possible in our prayers.

If we have only five minutes for our study, let us ask the Lord to fix our attention on what is
before us. If some difficult point meets us at the very outset, let us ask Him to explain it to us.
And so on, throughout the period of our Bible study, let prayer be mingled with our study. We
will be astonished and delighted to find how often we will receive direct answers to the simplest
kinds of requests.

Of course, we shall not always at once get our answer. If we did, it would make us careless and
we would lose that sense of reverence which must ever become us. Doubtless there will often be
exercises and a sense of failure, but let us not be discouraged; only "continue in prayer, and watch
in the same with thanksgiving" (Col. 4:2). This will keep our study from being formal or merely
intellectual. We will find our very prayers becoming more intelligent and direct; and if we really
have desires, we will find them granted far oftener than we had thought possible.

Notebooks on Bible Study

It is always well to read and study pen in hand. Lord Bacon said:"Reading maketh a full man;
writing, an exact man." The practice of putting down the results of our reading and study is most
important. The writer, in his own experience, has found it useful to have a small notebook which
can be conveniently carried in the pocket so that notes can be jotted down on every occasion of
gleaning in the field of divine truth. These may be disconnected thoughts, outlines of verses or of
chapters, or questions which occur to us_hundreds of matters which will escape our memories
if we let them go, but which are fastened definitely by being thus recorded.

If we use the notebook as freely as has been suggested, we would probably fill a small-sized one
every two or three months. These should be numbered and kept for further reference. (It might
be of interest to the reader to mention that it was the practice of the late J. N. Darby to fill such
notebooks, and from these, after his death, seven volumes of "Notes and Comments on Scripture"
were published.)

Final Remarks

We know God through His Word, not merely intellectually, but as born, cleansed, and nourished
by that Word. We know Christ in this way also; and thus, in a special and real way, the written
Word is the mind of the living, the divine Word. May something of that longing which filled the
heart of the apostle possess us also. As we press forward to see our Lord on high, may we also
seek Him in His Word, forgetting our past attainments which are behind, reaching forth to those
that are before, and pressing forward ever for the prize which, while it is on high, awaits our
reverent, diligent, persistent search in the precious Word of God. Not that we shall ever be
satisfied this side of heaven. Indeed, God’s Word is so perfect that we can never grasp all its
fulness here, but we shall go on to know Him and the power of His resurrection, yea, and the
fellowship of His sufferings too, in that measure in which His Word fills mind and heart and
possesses and controls our lives.

Courage, then, dear fellow Christian, in this noble work! The few minutes you are putting on
some little study morning by morning may seem a trifle; but, oh, the knowledge of Christ is not
a trifle; the knowledge of the Word of God is not a trifle. Let us then be diligent, simple,
obedient, and hopeful, and continue in this precious work!

FRAGMENT
"How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm
119:103.)