So I thought it would be worth looking at a doctrine of studying. A doctrine is working out what the Bible says about a whole topic. I don't have the space here to cover every passage but I have tried to give you the key ones.
Let's start by asking what is study?
My dictionary tells me that study is the devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge on an academic subject. So studying is about the acquisition and gaining of knowledge.
There are 8 key places in the Bible that help us understand what study is about:
- Genesis 3
- Deuteronomy 29:29
- Proverbs 1 (and the rest of Proverbs)
- Ecclesiastes 2:12-16
- Ecclesiastes 12:11-12
- Luke 2:40-52
- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
- Philippians 3:8-9
- Colossians 3:17
It would be great if you could read these passages as well as what I am saying (it means you can make sure what I am saying is correct). I have summarised what these passages are saying into the 5 headings below:
1. Acquiring knowledge is not always good and our knowledge is now tainted
As we look at studying we need to start with the Garden of Eden. A doctrine of study has a lot of similarities with a doctrine of work. And in the Garden of Eden we see that work was a good thing in the Garden before the fall. God worked in creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and man worked in the Garden (Genesis 2:15). So work and gaining knowledge are a good part of creation. But we also need to remember that it was the pursuit of knowledge that caused the fall. What caused the fall? Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Despite God's command to not eat from the tree, Adam and Eve chose to gain knowledge rather than to trust God. We need to make sure that we do not make any knowledge an idol, we need to have the humility to trust God, when he tells us that some knowledge is off limits. Also from the time of the fall we can see that our knowledge has been corrupted, we no longer think as we should because our sinful nature has corrupted our minds and thoughts (Ephesians 2:3, Colossians 1:21).
2. Knowledge through study is useful, valuable and important
Proverbs is a great book to read on the value of knowledge. Proverbs 1 especially describes the value of knowledge, study, learning and wisdom. Proverbs 8 sees the gaining of knowledge as more precious than gold and rubies. Knowledge is worth getting and to not gain knowledge is to be a fool. For the activities we do in this life, knowledge is useful and valuable.
3. Knowledge through study is better than foolishness but it is still meaningless
Whilst Proverbs shows us how important study and knowledge is, the book of Ecclesiastes gives us a different perspective on studying. Ecclesiastes puts studying in broader, bigger picture. From Ecclesiastes we see that whilst studying is better than not studying, study and knowledge is made useless by death. No matter how much we study or gain knowledge, it can't stop death. The same fate overtakes both the smart and the dumb, both the fool and the genius, all of us eventually die. Study even wearies the body. Though it is better to go through life smarter, study has a very limited value.
4. Studying God's wisdom is meaningful, His wisdom is found in Jesus
Death may rob knowledge of meaning but the resurrection of Jesus has shown us that there is some knowledge that has the greatest meaning. It is the knowledge of God's plan for salvation. It is the knowledge of what Jesus has done on the cross to save sins. It is the knowledge that in Jesus' resurrection we see that Jesus is King of the universe and judge of the living and the dead.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 shows us that this knowledge is often not accepted by the learned. Why do they reject what God says? It is because to them God's wisdom is foolishness. God coming to earth as a man and dying on a cross to them sees like a foolish idea. They lack humility. This is the great danger of knowledge and study, it can cause you to be puffed up with pride and miss knowing God (1 Corinthians 8:1-3). To miss this knowledge is a tragedy. Knowledge of God's plan of salvation is the only thing that is eternal and truly meaningful.
5. Work hard at studying to bring Jesus glory
Knowing Jesus is true eternal knowledge but we also need to be careful not to become lazy. We don't spend our lives waiting for Jesus to return by doing nothing. Paul tells the Christians in 1 & 2 Thessalonians not to be idle as they await the return of Jesus. They are to quietly work hard with their hands and win the respect of outsiders. Working hard with their hands means they do honest work. Hard labour is not less important than studying. But what is important is that they are to be part of their communities. They go to TAFE, they go to uni, they work hard at school. No matter what we do, we do it for the glory of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17). This means that we work and study hard not for own success but to bring glory to Jesus. In studying hard we gain the respect of outsiders and are equipped to serve the Gospel in many different ways.
Conclusion
Study is good, useful and beneficial. Whilst our knowledge is tainted because of sin, we should humbly pursue knowledge by studying. Yet we must also see that study is meaningless because it does not save us from death. Therefore we must value studying (better word knowing/getting to know) Jesus because he saves us from death. Even though God's Word is where we focus our efforts, study is still important because it is a means of bringing glory to Jesus.
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