Should we read other books, or just the Bible?

You must not forget that you still have the flesh in you, and the flesh likes the onions and the leeks of Egypt as much as ever. You, however, by sovereign grace, are a new creature in Christ. You have a new nature, and that feeds on Christ, and nothing but Christ. Am I set to feed the old man, or to feed the new? That is the point, do not you see? The only thing that will feed the new man is Scripture, or that which may help me to understand Scripture. Let me just say, be careful what you read, but read. Paul said to Timothy, "Give attendance to reading" (1 Tim. 4:13). Wise counsel! He valued reading, hence to the same man he wrote, "When thou comest, bring with thee the books, but especially the parchments" (2 Tim. 4:13). Those who read nothing but the Bible are usually the most ignorant people I know. It seems pious to say, "I only read the Bible." In reality it is pride of heart, for we must remember that God has given many precious servants, who, by stroke of the pen, have unfolded His truth. Bear that in mind. It is very important to read, but I say again, be careful what you read. Books, you know, are great companions. But at the same time, it is important to bear in mind how the contents of a book will leave their mark on you. A book which the Spirit of God did not write will feed the flesh, but it will not feed the life of God in you. Scripture detects me, judges me, and feeds me. Read Psalm 119, and note how 174 of its verses extol the value of the Word. Be careful to get the manna, and get plenty of it.

As to the question of making use of human writings to help us in the study of Scripture, great caution is needed. No doubt the Lord may and does make use of the writings of His servants, just as He uses their oral ministry for our instruction and edification. Indeed, in the present broken and divided state of the Church, it is wonderful to mark the Lord's rich grace and tender care in feeding His beloved people with the writings of His servants.

It is a mistake of course to suppose that the renewed mind must never occupy itself with any other book than the Bible. Ignorance is not a virtue nor does scripture call it “bliss.” The renewed mind will not be content with idleness, and even reading for instruction will take on a new interest as we look at all subjects against the background of our knowledge of God's word and will. As for reading for recreation, one would only say, “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” (Rom. 14:5) But whatever we read, or indeed listen to or look at, let us not forget that the great enemy is on the watch to find an opportunity to break down our loyalty to Christ. Satan will try to educate us along a path that leads to doubt and unbelief; and will turn a means of recreation into one of desecration if he can. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (John 5:21)

We do not, of course, mean that no other book but the Bible should be read — or we should not pen these "Notes" — but nothing demands greater watchfulness than the matter of reading. All things are to be done, in the Name of Jesus, and to the glory of God; and this is amongst the "all things." We should read no book that we cannot read to the glory of God, and on which we cannot ask God's blessing.

First and foremost, the Word of God. Read your Bible, and read it well. Make it far and away the foremost book in your library. Other books you will find helpful, especially such as continually refer you back to the Bible, but never allow them to supplant in your reading the Word of God itself.

“Be a man of one book!” wrote Wesley. But he was himself a voluminous reader. What he meant was that the Bible should have the central place, and all other books should be read as subservient to it. If the Scriptures are not neglected, but thoughtfully read and meditated upon, one’s spiritual judgment will soon become sufficiently clarified to enable him to discern what other books can be read with edification. The godly soul will instinctively shrink from trashy novels, light, frivolous literature, and anything unclean and unholy. But Paul shows himself familiar with the history, science, and poetry of his day. He refers on occasion to historical events; he illustrates by the use of scientific facts; he quotes, when in keeping with his theme, what “certain of your own poets” have said, and in this we need not fear to follow him, if there be in us but the heart for Christ there was in him. It is to be feared that many Christians have been hindered by a hard, legal spirit on this very line. All reading has been tabooed that was not exactly spiritual. This is a grave mistake, and leads to extreme narrowness of mind and even positively hinders mental development, thus restricting one’s ability to enjoy what God Himself has given us in His Word. “Reading makes a full man,” is an old saying that is worthy of remembrance; only be careful to “take forth the precious from the vile.” And now, a word as to companionships. Paul enjoyed association with others. He loved fellowship. He appreciated friends, but his friends were among the people of God. To an Aquila or a Priscilla he could pour out his heart, and could enjoy to the full their tender affection. But, you may be sure, he never was found lounging about with an Elymas or even Gallio! And right here is where many a saint is not faithful. There is no clean break with the world. Old companionships are still sought and enjoyed. No wonder there is little or no growth. No wonder there are so many stunted Christians. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17) is the Word of the Lord to all who are dilly-dallying with the world after confessing Christ. “The friendship of the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). Find your friends among the friends of Christ! Let your companions be those who love His name, and then be careful not to let good fellowship degenerate into careless levity.

We must be pardoned for dwelling a little upon this at the threshold of our subject, but there is a need. Many true Christians read their Bibles largely in a perfunctory way, and turn with a measure of relief to some expository book and gather practically their instruction from it. Now let us face the matter. The word of God is more important than the best word of man about that Word, and the Bible itself states things infinitely more wisely and clearly than the wisest books of men; only, the Bible being a revelation of the whole mind of God which He has seen fit to make known to us, has a vastness, fulness, comprehensiveness which the combined intellects of all time can never exhaust; so that we may gladly profit by the suggestions and helps of others. We may say, in general, that those books are most helpful which are most stimulating. That book which satisfies us with itself, and does not stir a longing to turn to the word of God has something wrong about it. The best books ever written are in that way but signboards to point to where all knowledge dwells.

We have, therefore, almost avoided the mention of any books except the Bible itself, in the hope that our readers will be encouraged to take up that precious Book with the confidence that from its pages directly they may learn more than they could from any number of commentaries, educational encyclopedias, and all the paraphernalia of theological study.

Now when this is settled in the mind, and the reader or student has become an original investigator, to a certain extent dependent upon no other help than the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the prayerful, intelligent reading and study of the Bible, he is in a position to appreciate all the more keenly and to profit more fully from the many excellent helps to be found in books. For such, therefore, we have no misgivings in turning now to books other than the Bible, always remembering that at the last we must receive the truth for ourselves from God, no matter what instrumentalities He may use in making that truth plain to us.

Have you got access to good Bible commentaries, to articles with sound teaching, or to spoken ministry or lectures? That's very well. Let's use these resources more. But in order to appropriate for ourselves what others have taught we need to 'search the scriptures' and 'see whether these things are so'.

A revised or other translation, a complete and trustworthy concordance to the Bible, and a reliable Bible dictionary are useful and now easily acquired helps in the study of the Sacred Word. These, with expositions of truths by gifted and Divinely-taught ministers of the Word, are to be received with thanksgiving and used with wisdom, always in leading you to the Word to dig there for yourselves, never to take its place, or to be read as a Lesson Book to be repeated to others, without having been proved or personally experienced in your own souls. Commentaries, as a rule, are theological and dry; many of them muddy, some quite erroneous, and generally even when sound, cold-blooded, with little in them to enrich the soul, exercise the conscience, or lead the heart out to God.

Note: However, good Bible commentaries are the very opposite of the above. They preserve to us the ministry given to teachers - by Christ - for the edification of the body (see Eph. 4). The biblecentre.