Why Know the Word?

When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

Acts 18:5 (NIV)

We often hear pastors urging their congregations to dedicate themselves fully to the Word. Yet, many don't always understand what dedicating oneself to the Word truly means. Some see it as studying the Bible to better understand it, while others perceive it as memorizing passages they deem important for defending themselves against false teachers or discerning the intentions of others. Both aspects are important for an authentic Christian life, but the problem is that many are unaware of the ultimate purpose of studying the Word.

While knowing the Word helps us grow in our relationship with God and lead a godly life, its ultimate purpose is for us to use this knowledge to teach and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is where we often fall short. We want to know the Word on our own, to prove our biblical maturity or to show others that we know more than they do, whereas Jesus gave us the objective to pursue when we know His Word: to make disciples by teaching them His commandments.

Therefore, dedicating oneself to the Word is not limited to studying it constantly; it also involves teaching it to others. In other words, it means dedicating oneself entirely to preaching the Word of God. This is precisely what we find in this verse. Paul took advantage of the presence of Silas and Timothy to preach to the Jews in order to help them understand that Jesus was the Messiah who was to come. It is important to study the Word, but don't keep it to yourself; share it with those around you.

May the grace and peace of God be with you all.