We should read the Bible more slowly.

Dear COAH,

These days, I'm trying to get into the habit of reading the Bible slowly. I often catch myself trying to read too fast, thinking that I have read the Bible many times and understand the material. As I read the Bible a little slower, I see things I hadn't seen before. It's like seeing something new when you walk down the street rather than driving and seeing through the window. One of the inspirations I received while reading the Bible more slowly is that the New Testament writers knew the Old Testament in so much detail and quoted it well. Their understanding of the Bible is truly remarkable since they did not personally own the Bible as we do. For the most part, they did not have access to the Bible other than during the public reading of the scripture in synagogues. Nevertheless, as these writers quoted from the Bible, they showed terrific concentration and memory.

Let me give you an example from what I read this week in the book of Acts. The apostle Paul entered the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch on the Sabbath and preached the gospel (Acts 13:13-41). He quoted from Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 55:3, and Psalm 16:10 successively and showed to the Jews and pious Gentiles in the synagogue that raising the Messiah from the dead was very much in God's plan. The apostle also proclaimed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. Paul knew his Bible inside out even though he did not own a copy or two as we do. We are in a much better place to understand and know the Bible if we want to. We have access to all sorts of Bible help and commentaries, not to mention online resources.

Just because we own a Bible doesn't mean we know it well. More information or knowledge about the Bible does not automatically translate to godly living. In fact, in an age of information overload, we are better off knowing less so that we can practice more. We need to go from the acquisition of the proper knowledge (orthodoxy) to the right experience (orthopathy) and finally to the right living or conduct (orthopraxis). We do not want to accumulate more knowledge without right experiences and actions. We need to read slowly and even be content with knowing less so that we can secure the steps leading to the right experience and action. Yes, we should read the Bible more slowly.

Blessings,
Pastor Minho Song