The books of the Bible constitute eternal truths that no human can discover on his or her own. All other books pale before it in spiritual significance. When one reads and applies all of God’s revealed knowledge, immeasurable benefits to life occur, both now and forever. Applying Scripture to every aspect of our lives is rewarding: “Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8 1 Timothy 4:8For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
American King James Version×).

Text copies of the Scriptures such as we have today were not as widely available to members of the Church in the first century. Members relied mainly on live teachings from pastors, elders and visiting apostles who spread the Word of God, a combination of Scripture and of Christ’s teachings. Today people of many nations and languages can easily access both Testaments of God’s written Word. 

The entire Bible is God’s divine gift to mortal human beings. Inside are His spiritual and eternal laws accompanied by His judging authority of human behavior and morality. God’s words reveal the way that every human should live (Psalms 119:105 Psalms 119:105Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
American King James Version×) as taught by the One who designed and created us (Genesis 1:26-27 Genesis 1:26-27 [26] And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
American King James Version×).

Old and New Testaments 

The first section in the Bible is called “the Law” and comprises the books of Genesis through Deuteronomy. God commanded every king of Israel to write out his own copy of the Law “and he shall read it all the days of his life” (Deuteronomy 17:18-19 Deuteronomy 17:18-19 [18] And it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: [19] And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
American King James Version×). It seems that King David did so and meditated upon it (Psalms 119:97 Psalms 119:97O how I love your law! it is my meditation all the day.
American King James Version×). God also commanded that all Israelites, young and old, were to hear His Law read aloud during the Feast of Tabernacles every seven years (Deuteronomy 31:10-12 Deuteronomy 31:10-12 [10] And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, [11] When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD your God in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. [12] Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and your stranger that is within your gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:
American King James Version×). That directive was followed as late as the second temple period and read by Ezra (Nehemiah 8:18 Nehemiah 8:18Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the manner.
American King James Version×). God’s intent was to have a refresher of His way of life restated publicly throughout their generations. 

When Paul wrote to Timothy, “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15 2 Timothy 3:15And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
American King James Version×), he was speaking of what today is called the “Old Testament.” Church members in his day often relied on committing Scriptures they heard read aloud at church to memory. Purchasing a personal copy of the Old Testament transcribed onto parchment scrolls would have cost about a full year’s salary. Since up to 97 percent of the population in Jesus’ day was illiterate, hearing God’s Word read aloud was a crucial element of one’s spiritual development and endurance. 

The oral teachings of Jesus were later preached by the apostles to the members in that day along with letters and epistles that remain for our benefit today. The New Testament Church relied heavily upon the Old Testament as their written Word of God at the time. Paul used it throughout His ministry. His last mention found him imprisoned in Rome where “many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening” (Acts 28:23 Acts 28:23And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
American King James Version×). 

The New Testament is an invaluable blessing to our deeper understanding of our New Covenant with God, yet reading the Old Testament remains a vital resource for one’s salvation. It is this first section of our Bibles that Paul’s words refer to as “the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17 2 Timothy 3:15-17 [15] And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.
American King James Version×).

The entirety of the Bible reveals to its readers the sole “way of life” that is able to bring one happiness, fulfillment, good relationships and which leads to eternal life. As King David wrote: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly . . . but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night . . . Whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalms 1:1-3 Psalms 1:1-3 [1] Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. [2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night. [3] And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
American King James Version×). God’s Law, as written throughout your Bible, prescribes the only successful way to live. 

The written Word of God is unlike any other text. Other books provide a reader with information that once read is then complete. The words of the Bible have compounded information that seemingly can never be fully gleaned. This spiritually authored material speaks in various ways at various times to an individual who is constantly navigating through different periods of their journey in the New Covenant. Bible passages have multitudinous connections with other passages, stories, blessings, promises, prophesied future events, and applications to a plethora of changing circumstances throughout one’s lifetime. That is why reading the entire Bible seems like a re-read of an old friend that somehow always has new material added, precisely for your current situation. 

Labor in the Word

Choosing to spend time with the Bible each day is key to your success, period. Yet, who has extra time today to devote to studying these words of God? Commentator Adam Clarke reflected, “There is a depth in the word of God which cannot be fathomed except either by Divine inspiration, or by deep study and research, for which the majority of the people have no time” (The Holy Bible, Commentary and Critical Notes, 1843, Vol. 2, note on Nehemiah 8:17 Nehemiah 8:17And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.
American King James Version×). 

As the first century Church declined in spirituality, the apostle James encouraged members to be successful through reading the Bible: “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25 James 1:25But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
American King James Version×). 

You have God’s gift to humanity readily available to you. Read some of it every day for the rest of your life. Develop a daily reading plan and digest all of it. The key to being successful at reading your entire Bible is to quickly establish a habit of doing so. 

Schedule morning prayer and Bible reading at a specific time and location and then be consistent with them. Soon your life and your relationships above and below will be blessed in ways that you have never imagined.