Q: May all men make use of the holy scriptures?

A: All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted to read, hear, and understand the holy scriptures.

If the Word of God is necessary to know Him and the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are God’s Word, then the question must be asked: May all men make use of the holy scriptures? The catechism’s answer is that all men are permitted to read, hear, and understand the holy scriptures. God is not a respecter of persons. His word is not withheld from some and given to others based upon gender, age, ethnicity, or nationality. The Bible is made available to all and all are permitted to read it. However, the catechism’s answer takes it one step further. Man is not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted to read, hear, and understand scripture. This moves scripture from the level of optional to essential. We have a responsibility and obligation to make use of the holy scriptures. If scripture leads to a right understanding of God and God(as Creator) is the first and chiefest being, then as creatures we are obligated to know our Creator through His Word.

Scriptural Basis:

Joshua 1:8 (ESV) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

When Joshua assumed the position of leadership over Israel, God commanded him to meditate on the Book of the Law day and night. Joshua’s success as a leader was dependent upon his reading, hearing, and understanding God’s Word. He could have simply read the Book; however, hearing which leads to understanding was required to rightly apply God’s Word to his life. Although we may not be in the same position as Joshua, we are commanded to meditate on the Book day and night so that we might live in obedience to our Creator through the grace given in the gospel.

Acts 8:30 (ESV) So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

When Philip approached the Ethiopian eunuch who was reading Isaiah 53, he asked him if he understood what he read. If the eunuch never understood the passage, he would not have come to Christ in faith. The eunuch could have read that passage every day for the rest of his life; but if he did not read with a goal to understand, then he would have engaged in a fruitless enterprise. Like the eunuch, we must read God’s Word with a motivation to understand. This may lead us to seek help from faithful teachers like Philip when we feel we have reached our limits of understanding.

Psalm 1:2 (ESV) but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

While we are obligated to read the Word, we should never let it become a mere duty that we perform. For the blessed man, the law of the LORD is a delight. He fulfills the command to read, hear, and understand because it brings him joy. Those who have faith in Christ and obediently read His Word reap the fruitful harvest like a tree planted by streams of water.

Worldview Challenge:

Our culture is plagued by religious pluralism. Many people have no basis for objective truth; therefore, all religions are merely differing paths which all lead to God. However, the Bible teaches that the God who created the heavens and the earth has also revealed Himself to His creation. Objective truth is found in the revelation of our Creator who commands that we read, hear, and understand His revelation. The Bible is not optional literature. The Bible is absolute truth which discredits any other religion or document which contradicts its teaching. As Christians, it is time for us to reclaim the exclusivity of Christ and the truth found in God’s Word.

Remember: Catechisms should be used as a helpful tool alongside a healthy intake of Holy Scripture. They should never replace God’s Word, because their usefulness depends upon their accurate representation of God’s Word. When using these tools, always ground the answers in the scripture references provided.