---

📖 What Does the Bible Say About Studying Scripture?

A Look at the Old Testament Foundations and the New Testament Fulfillment

From the very beginning, God called His people to be a people of the Book—hearing it, teaching it, remembering it, and living it. The Old Testament lays the foundation for diligent study, and the New Testament affirms and deepens that calling for believers in Christ.

---

🕎 I. The Old Testament: The Call to Learn and Teach Torah

1. The Command to Learn and Teach God’s Word

Deuteronomy 6:7
“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Key Themes

• Study is continual
• Study is generational
• Study is woven into daily life
• Study is an act of covenant faithfulness

2. Honoring Those Who Teach and Know Torah

Leviticus 19:32
“Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.”

Key Themes

• Respect for elders and teachers
• Reverence for those who preserve God’s Word
• Honor as an expression of fearing God

---

✝️ II. The New Testament: Scripture as Instruction, Formation, and Fulfillment

The New Testament does not replace the Old Testament’s call to study—it confirms it, expands it, and shows its fulfillment in Christ.

1. Scripture as Instruction and Hope

Romans 15:4 (ESV)
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Paul explicitly affirms that the Old Testament remains:

• Instruction
• Encouragement
• A source of hope

The KJV clarifies this even further:
“…were written for our learning…”

2. Scripture as God‑Breathed and Transforming

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…”

Here, “all Scripture” refers primarily to the Old Testament, since the New Testament was still being written.

3. Scripture as Living and Active

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
“For the word of God is living and active… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The Word is not static—it works within us.

4. Scripture as Something to Look Into and Do

James 1:25 (ESV)
“…the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty… he will be blessed in his doing.”

Study leads to obedience, and obedience leads to blessing.

5. Scripture as Nourishment

1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk…”

Study is not optional—it is spiritual nourishment.

6. Jesus Affirms the Ongoing Value of the Law

Matthew 5:17–19 (ESV)
Jesus did not abolish the Law or the Prophets; He fulfilled them.
He honors those who do and teach God’s commandments.

---

🧭 III. Honoring Teachers in the New Testament

The New Testament echoes the Old Testament’s call to honor those who teach God’s Word.

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)
“Obey your leaders and submit to them… Let them do this with joy…”

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 (ESV)
“…respect those who labor among you… esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

---

🌿 IV. The Purpose of Studying Scripture: Hope That Must Be Shared

Paul teaches that the Scriptures give us hope.
Peter teaches that we must be ready to explain that hope.

1 Peter 3:15 (KJV)

“…be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…”

The word hope in both Romans 15:4 and 1 Peter 3:15 is the same Greek word:

Hope — ἐλπίς (elpis)

Strong’s G1680
Meaning: expectation, confidence, anticipation with pleasure.

The pattern is clear:

1. We learn the Scriptures.
2. The Scriptures produce hope.
3. We are commanded to explain that hope with meekness and reverence.

---

🌟 Summary

Theme	Old Testament	New Testament
Study	Commanded daily, generational, continual	Commanded for instruction, growth, and righteousness
Teachers	Honored as wise and God‑fearing	Honored as shepherds who watch over souls
Purpose	Covenant faithfulness	Hope, transformation, equipping for good works
Fulfillment	Torah as foundation	Christ as fulfillment, not abolition

---