Question: We have recently begun a new Bible Study at our church, and we are using your “Genesis” Bible study. Someone attending our study questioned our need for a study guide. His question was, “Why do you need to know what these two men think? Why not just read the Bible and accept it by faith?” The rest of us in the study gave our thoughts on why we desire to come together to read, study, ask and discuss questions, and we even brought up that Jesus studied Scripture and met with others to discuss and talk about Scripture and what it means. What else should I say?

Answer: The comment from the person in your group is probably not all that unusual. People sometimes think they don’t need anything to stand between them and the Bible, such as commentaries and books like ours.

This attitude comes from two places. One is a belief that we don’t need anything or anyone to tell us how to read Scripture. We just need to approach it directly, and then depend on the insights given to us by the Holy Spirit. Now, it’s true that the Holy Spirit is a supernatural guide to Scripture. Jesus said the Holy Spirit is like a “Counselor” (John 14:15,16). Paul writes that the Holy Spirit reveals God’s truth to us (1 Corinthians 2:10-12).

However, that doesn’t preclude us from seeking the wisdom of other godly and knowledgeable people. This can take place in a Bible study, such as yours, or it can take place through the study of ancillary materials, such as books. Someone else’s wisdom and insights, not to mention their experience, can be extremely valuable. None of us can adequately grow spiritually in isolation. We are all part of the body of Christ, where people have different gifts. Some people have the gift of teaching and wisdom, but not everyone does. We need to realize that the Holy Spirit speaks through other people for our benefit, and vice-versa.

Like you wisely pointed out, even Jesus engaged in dialog with other people. Certainly the apostle Paul did. He did everything in community, even when he was in jail. Now, this doesn’t mean that everyone has the right answers or insights! One of the reasons we need to know Scripture is that there are false teachers in the body of Christ (they can be in our churches, on television, or in a ministry). We need to test their teaching by being good students of the Word. Acts 17:11 says that the Bereans consulted the Scriptures to make sure that Paul’s message was accurate, and he commended them for it.

The other source of an attitude like this is pride. Some people think they have all the answers, and they don’t need anyone else to tell them what to think. Of course, we should never feel that we need to think a certain way or have a particular interpretation because someone else said so, but neither should we dismiss the wisdom and insights of others out of pride. As the Scripture says, iron sharpens iron. We need the knowledge and experience of others to help shape our own lives. Faith is not blind and isolated. It’s living and active and a gift from God, who guides us through His Spirit and others in the body of Christ.