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By Roger A. Scully, Jr.
It is sad to note that our present generation is the most academically educated the church has ever
known, yet at the same time the most ignorant when it comes to Bible knowledge. Though our brethren had
once achieved the reputation of being “walking Bibles,” having unsurpassed biblical knowledge, that
reputation has faded into the annals of time leaving in its place people whose Bible knowledge is no better
than the commoner who only knows the proverbial chimney corner passages. Those whose doors the
Jehovah Witnesses once hated to knock have become just another house on the block. Those whom the
Baptist used to avoid at all cost, have become those whom the Baptist love to debate. Just as Jesus was our
perfect example in everyday living, He is also our perfect example of biblical knowledge and Scripture
dependence (1 Pet 2:21).
In Luke 2:52 we read that Jesus “increased in wisdom.” “Wisdom” finds its translation in the word sophia
which speaks of broad and full intelligence and proper application of knowledge. It also means the science of
learning. Though it must be recognized that Jesus was God incarnate (Jn 1:14), He was also human, which
means He was subject to all the realities of humanness. Hence we read he hungered, was thirsty, was tired,
was exhausted, was tempted, etc. As being human, in the fullest sense of the term, He, like all humans, had to
learn as He grew. Granted, at the age of twelve He was found discusses complex spiritual matters, however, it
is quite plausible that this ability came from His own concentrated study of the Holy Scriptures. Even
Alexander Campbell had memorized the Proverbs at a young age, and Moses E. Lard memorized the entire
New Testament by the time he was seventeen, with no formal education at all. So, then, if Jesus, our perfect
example, “increased in wisdom,” should we not do the same?
In another place Jesus noted the ignorance of the Sadducees when He said, “ye do err not knowing the
Scripture” (Matt 22:29). In Matthew 9:13 He told the Pharisees to consult Hosea 6:6 to “learn what this
means.” Constantly we read of Jesus using terms like: “it is written,” “God said,” “ thus saith the Lord,”
“through the prophets,” “David said,” Moses wrote,” and “Scripture says.” He showed His mastery of Holy
Writings in his debate the Pharisees over eating wheat (Matt 12:1-9), in Hi discussion with the Sadducees on
the resurrection (Matt 22:23-33), in his syllogism posed on the identity of the Messiah (Mat 22:41-46), when
He was tempted by the Devil (Matt 4:1-11), et al.
Not only did Jesus know the Bible in the sense that He could quote sections of Scripture, but Jesus also
proved that He understand the passages and used them properly portraying all the skills of proper
hermeneutics. In Matthew 22:23-32 Jesus exposed grammar in showing that God was presently the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. If He was their God presently, even though they had been dead in the flesh, then
they must be alive in a spiritual sense, for “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Thus, though the
body dies the spirit lives. In another place He used implication, which has come to be a bad word with many,
when He explained that Messiah would be David’s son, yet David would call Him Lord (Matt 22:41-45). The
implication is that the Christ (Messiah) would be/is He who is eternal. In yet another place, Jesus used the
collective method of biblical interpretation when being tempted by the Devil. Satan quoted from Psalm 91:11.
However, his application of this passage was in direct contradiction with Deuteronomy 6:16. One passage
cannot contradict another, and all passages on a topic must be considered before drawing a conclusion.
Jesus was, indeed, the Master Teacher.
As Jesus the Christ had a great understanding the sacred writings, and how to use them properly, so
must we. If we want to once again be known as Christians who have a clever unequaled power over God’s
Word, then we must learn to be disciplined in the area of scholastic study. Only through Bible knowledge can
we “shut the mouths” of those who oppose truth and only through proper knowledge can we learn to live in a
manner of which God may approve. Have you searched the Scriptures lately?