Key Practice: Why should I read the Bible?
- Will Harkley
- Oct 29
- 8 min read
Updated: Nov 13
Scripture and Purpose
The apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV), “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Here we see a summary of what the Scriptures are for:
“Reproof” means to convict, rebuke, or expose wrongdoing or departure from God’s will.
“Correction” means to restore a person to an upright or right state, to train and improve.
“Righteousness” refers to the value of character and action, behavior that is morally justifiable or right; in older usage, it used to be “rightwiseness,” coming from the Middle English term "rightwise" or "righteous."
Thus, the Bible is described as given by God and is profitable for teaching, convicting, restoring, and training us in right living.
Paul goes on: “That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:17) That is: this Book has been written to make us complete and "to equip believers for every good work.” This is a weighty claim: the Bible is not simply for information, nor just for inspiration, but it is intended to equip believers to live out their faith in tangible, good works; actions that reflect the character of Christ in the world, so that we may be made complete in Christ.
The Urgency of Reading the Word
In 2 Timothy 4:1–5 (NKJV), Paul gives a solemn charge: “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
Here the instruction to spread the Good News (the Gospel) is not optional; it is a command. The command rests on the foundation of the Word of God: “preach the Word”. If we want to be ready to share the Gospel, teach, or serve, we need the foundation that only God’s Word provides.
This now connects to two questions: 1. How can you spread the Good News of Jesus Christ if you have never read His Word? 2. How can you know His will without knowing His Character? The Scriptures reveal God’s character, His ways, His will, and equip us to reflect Him through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Great Commission
The commands of Christ also highlight that we are not only to read the Word, but also study, be taught, and teach others. In Mark 16:15, we read: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”. And in Matthew 28:18-20: “Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””
The commission is global (“to the ends of the earth”). The commission is relational (disciple-making). And the commission includes teaching what Christ commanded. We read the Bible not only for ourselves, but so we can participate in God’s mission, to teach, to serve, and to bear witness. And the good news is, God is with us in it all, “even to the ends of the earth” (Matthew 28:20).
The Early Church Example
In Acts chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit comes, Peter preaches, and about 3,000 men are added to the church that day, not counting women and children. (Acts 2:41) The early church demonstrates that the Word, proclaimed and lived, leads to real change: hearts turned to God, lives transformed, and communities built.
In Acts 2:38-39: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Why do Christians read the Bible? Because we are all called to the gospel work, not necessarily all to be preachers. But all are to take part in the mission. Reading the Bible grounds us so we may respond, act, witness, teach, and serve.
The Word as a Light for the Path
“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” Psalms 110:105. When reading the Bible, a person may feel a wide range of emotions because the Word is living and active. It moves us, challenges us, comforts us, and convicts us. This is because Scripture isn’t neutral; it’s God speaking. To read it with boredom or detachment is to ignore its power. Its not meant to leave us feeling indifferent.
Like Jesus said in Matthew 4:4: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Scripture isn't just meant to help us feel and confront certain things within ourselves, but we are called to rely on it for our daily intake of information and teaching. Scholarly research even observes that reading scripture is emotionally and psychologically dynamic: for example, a qualitative study found that for African-American adults, reading scripture during stressful life events served as a mental-health promoting resource, suggesting the Scripture evokes emotional and reflective responses rather than bland neutrality. (Hamilton, 2013)
Another review of New Testament scholarship shows an increased interest in “emotion research” in biblical texts, demonstrating that the Bible itself engages affects, and readers respond to that engagement. (Neumann, 2024)
Thus the practice of reading the Bible is tied integrally to emotion, transformation, awareness, integrity, and action. Not simply going through a text list.
So how should we read?
Daily and intentionally: making reading the Bible a part of your rhythm. It doesn’t have to be a long passage every day: even a few verses read slowly, thoughtfully, and prayerfully can transform your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes, to show you what He wants you to see, and to help you apply it. Approach it expecting God to speak, not just expecting to get through the text.
Prayerfully: Before you even open your Bible, invite God in. Ask Him to guide your understanding, to reveal Himself through His Word, and to apply the lessons to your life. Prayer before reading turns a routine into a conversation and prepares your heart to receive correction, encouragement, or insight.
Reading isn’t the same as studying. Study means asking questions: Who wrote this? Who was it for? What does this reveal about God? What does it reveal about people? How does it connect to the bigger story of Scripture? Take your time. Pause. Reflect. Journal if it helps you process. The Bible is deep, and there’s always more to uncover: one verse can speak to your life in a hundred different ways over time. Then we go on and in fellowship share all the things that God has revealed to us or the different ways Scripture has spoken to us and teach others what the Spirit has taught us. Which leads to the next way we can read.
While private reading is essential, God also uses other believers to deepen our understanding. Discussing Scripture with friends, mentors, or in a small group allows you to see insights you might have missed. It challenges your assumptions and encourages accountability. Scripture becomes alive in conversation, a shared journey toward understanding and obedience.
Remember, reading the Bible isn’t just about personal growth. Every page equips us to love, serve, and witness in the world. When we understand God’s heart, we’re better prepared to care for others, share the Gospel, and reflect His character. James reminds us: “Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). Reading the Bible isn’t just for knowledge or inspiration; it’s the foundation for action, transformation, and witness. Every time we open it, we should ask ourselves: How is this shaping me? How is this equipping me to love, serve, and reflect Christ? How is it preparing me to step into the world as His hands and feet?
And finally, you don’t have to read a whole chapter every day or understand every verse, though sometimes you may want to read way more than a chapter. What matters is showing up, even when you’re tired, distracted, or unsure. Faithfulness matters more than perfection. God meets us in the small, daily steps of obedience. The Bible is God’s living Word. It equips, corrects, restores, and inspires. It teaches us who He is, what He desires, and how He calls us to live. Reading it faithfully is a daily invitation to encounter God, to be shaped by Him, and to join Him in the work He is doing in the world.
From Reading to Doing
The faithful Christian reading of the Bible leads beyond the pages into life. Reading the Bible helps us spot our need for correction, equips us to live righteously, builds understanding of the Gospel, fuels our mission, and shapes our character.
The reading of the Word becomes the launching pad for action: love God, love your neighbor, speak the truth in love, live a life worthy of the Gospel. And because God is with us, “even to the ends of the earth” (Matthew 28:20), we do not read alone, we read empowered by the Spirit and are sent into the world.
Summary: Why Read?
To know God’s character: His justice, mercy, holiness, faithfulness and love.
To understand His will: what He desires, what He forbids, what direction He gives us.
To receive teaching (doctrine), reproof, correction and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
To be equipped for every good work.
To be ready to share the Gospel, to teach, to serve, to make disciples.
To have light on our path (Psalm 119:105).
To encounter the living Word, which moves us, prompting action rather than apathy.
Summary: How should we read?
Daily and intentionally: not just for information, but for transformation. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to His Word and apply it.
Prayerfully: Inviting God to use your time reading for the growth of your knowledge and the revealing of His nature.
With teaching/study: the commission includes teaching others, so reading, studying, and teaching go together.
With community: while you can read privately, discussing with others strengthens insight and application.
With mission in mind: remember that reading is not just for edification, but for equipping for good works and gospel witness.
With openness and humility: we have to be willing to hear from the Holy Spirit in order to learn, and we have to be able to take what the Holy Spirit tells us, even if its not what we want or would like to hear in that moment.
With consistency, not perfection: Just like any good relationship, it takes showing up and being there time and time again.
Reflection Questions
When you open the Bible, what is your usual attitude: eager, distracted, obligated, indifferent? What might you need to change?
Identify one passage where you have felt joy, curiosity, humility, anger, awe, love, anxiety, peace, confusion, sadness, or pride. What did that feeling lead to? How did it shape your response? Remember that the Bible is God’s story. Not yours.
Are there moments when you approach Scripture with indifference? What might underlie that indifference (busyness, familiarity, fear, disinterest)?
How does reading the Bible equip you for every good work in your context? Can you name a concrete scenario where Scripture reading led to service, proclamation, correction, or teaching?
How might you integrate reading, study, and teaching of the Word in your life or community so that it moves beyond personal devotion into mission and disciple-making?
What steps will you take in the coming week to read the Bible with greater intention: choosing a passage, praying for insight, journaling your responses, sharing what you learn with someone else?
References
Hamilton, J. B., Moore, A., & Johnson, K. A. (2013). Reading the Bible for Guidance, Comfort, and Strength During Stressful Life Events. Nursing Research, 62(3), 178–184. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0b013e31828fc816
Neumann, N. (2024). Thinking About Feelings: The Study of Emotions in the New Testament. Religions, 15(6), 752. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15060752
The Holy Bible, New King James Version. (1982). Thomas Nelson.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Biblica, Inc.
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