The Book of Proverbs couldn’t be clearer that we need to dedicate ourselves to continual learning:
- “Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish poureth out foolishness.” (Proverbs 10:14)
- “The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.” (Proverbs 18:15)
- “Let thine heart apply itself to knowledge, and thine ears to the words of understanding.” (Proverbs 22:17)
“But aren’t we just supposed to read the Bible?”
No.
The Bible doesn’t say we should only read the Bible. It’s frustrating that some Christians believe this.
Now, before anyone accuses me of heresy… read this next part carefully.
The reason for this belief is almost always the result of a category error. In simple terms, a category error is like comparing apples to oranges. It’s what happens when we mistakenly treat two things as if they are of the same kind when they are not.
What is the Bible?
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (II Timothy 3:16-17, KJV)
Our church’s Statement of Faith declares: “The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the complete and perfect record of God’s revelation of Himself to man. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth for its contents.”
That can only be said of the Bible.
It can’t be said of any other book.
But that doesn’t mean Christians aren’t allowed to read other books!
“But what about Sola Scriptura?”
Yes…I agree… Scripture alone. But, again, we have a category error going on here.
The context of the rallying cry “Sola Scriptura” during the Protestant Reformation (and since) is that Scripture (see II Timothy 3:16-17) is alone sufficient “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
We don’t need church councils, papal bulls, ecclesiastical courts, convention resolutions, public opinion surveys, or the like “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” We need revelation from God for those things!
So, yes… if we’re talking about turning to other texts or sources for revelation from God or for divine truth, then…yes… Sola Scriptura!
But that is not really what Proverbs is getting at when it’s talking about the wise seeking knowledge.
The Bible is the only book that is divinely inspired but it never says that we can’t or shouldn’t supplement our learning (especially on practical or professional matters) via books outside of the Bible.
I mean, are we really going to tell a medical doctor who is a Christian that she should put away all her medical books and only read the Bible!?
Seriously!?
Yet what is true for the doctor is also true for the scientist, the teacher, the accountant, the corporate CEO, the entrepreneur, and the sales professional. And also for the husband, wife, parent, and student.
In order to carry out the verses I quoted above from the Book of Proverbs, you should read from many books, including some that are not in your Bible.
In fact, the apostle Paul several times quotes from texts that are not in the Bible. In Titus 1:12, Paul quotes Epimenides, a Cretan philosopher. In 1 Corinthians 15:33, he quotes the Greek playwright Menander. My favorite example is in Acts 17:28. During his famous speech on Mars Hill (aka the Areopagus), Paul quotes a line from a poem by Aratus, a Greek poet: “For in him we live and move and have our being.” It’s a brilliant example of taking a secular, non-Christian line and using it to illustrate a Christian principle.
Paul was well-studied. He represents a tradition of God’s people who were thoughtful, intellectual, and wise. He was not alone. I could talk about Matthew, Luke, Apollos, and…frankly…Jesus.
If God is leading you personally to focus primarily or even exclusively on the Bible for your reading, do so. Be obedient to God. Not me or anyone else. But…
It is unbiblical (frankly it’s anti-biblical) to try to impose that standard on all believers. Reading only the Bible and nothing but the Bible is NOT the universal call for all believers in Christ.
The one exception I would make to this is…
If a person isn’t reading the Bible but is reading other books… that is a problem. If you say you “don’t have time” to read the Bible but can find time to read other books (or watch TV), you have a problem.
Reading the Bible should be your top priority (next to prayer). If you’re not reading the Bible, put down the other books and take up the Scriptures.
Assuming you are reading the Bible…then feel free to supplement your life with other reading as well. Just make sure the Bible retains its well-deserved privileged and authoritative position in your mind and heart.
I agree with the great English preacher Charles Spurgeon:
“Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.”
Amen and Amen.
