The Best Slow Read There Is

No text on the planet merits and demands slow reading more than the Holy Bible.

The Apostle Paul praised the first-century Christians of Berea because they “searched the scriptures daily” (Acts 17:10). The word search here means to scrutinize, investigate, interrogate, ask, question, discern, examine and judge. These Bereans were not only listening to what God’s ministers preached, but were also investigating the scriptures with great focus—to compare what they were hearing with what had been written in the Old Testament. This was not just a quick skimming of the scriptures. The Bereans were called “more noble” than other early Christians because they were scrutinizing and interrogating the scriptures of the Bible.

The Bible’s liberating truths do not fear inquiry and investigation. In fact, believers are commanded to “prove all things,” rather than accept doctrines blindly (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Light reading does not enable a reader to prove any teaching.

When Paul was teaching Timothy how to become an effective spiritual leader, he said, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Gill’s Bible Exposition says Paul was encouraging a method of study founded on “great industry, diligence and application, and much reading, meditation and prayer.”

The Word of God is the most difficult writing men can read, but by far the most rewarding and important. The time and effort we invest into understanding it will dramatically improve our spiritual success, and all other areas of our lives. Simply reading the Bible is not enough. In order to discover the depth of its riches, a reader must chew and digest, search and divide, and very slowly read the Bible.