Strategies for Teaching Others to Apply Scripture Daily
Teaching others to apply Scripture daily involves both instruction and modeling, emphasizing the Bible's role in shaping Christian conduct and wisdom [7]. The apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to "preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching" [2, 3]. This highlights the minister's role in consistently presenting biblical truth.
One key strategy is to encourage diligent engagement with the Scriptures. Paul specifically instructed Timothy to "devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching" [6]. This practice of public reading was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the early Christian church, where New Testament writings were read alongside the Old Testament [8]. John Calvin, commenting on this passage, noted that even Timothy, known for his diligence, was encouraged to read the Scriptures diligently, underscoring that pastors must be eager to learn if they are to teach others effectively [11].
Beyond formal teaching, daily application is fostered through consistent personal and communal practices. The early apostles, for instance, "ceased not to teach and preach Jesus" daily, both in the temple and in private homes [9]. This daily commitment suggests that the application of Scripture is not an occasional event but an ongoing process. Believers are also encouraged to "exhort one another daily" to prevent unbelief and apostasy, which can involve discussing divine things, praying together, and instructing one another in Gospel doctrines [10]. This mutual encouragement helps individuals internalize and live out biblical principles.
The goal of such teaching is to cultivate wisdom and righteous living. Psalm 90:12 prays, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" [1]. This implies that understanding the brevity of life, informed by divine teaching, leads to a wise application of one's heart. The Scriptures are described as "given by inspiration of God" and are profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness [5]. Therefore, teaching others to apply Scripture daily involves equipping them to receive God's word with meekness and to allow it to shape their conduct [4, 7].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 90:12 (Geneva1599) — Teach vs so to nomber our dayes, that we may apply our heartes vnto wisdome.”
- 2 Timothy “preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. -- 2 Timothy 4:2”
- II Timothy “II Timothy 4:2 (BSB) — Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Meekness — Christ set an example of -- Ps 45:4; Isa 53:7; Mt 11:29; 21:5; 2Co 10:1; 1Pe 2:21-23. His teaching -- Mt 5:38-45. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22,23. Saints should Seek. -- Zep 2:3. Put on. -- Col 3:12-13. Receive the word of God with. -- Jas 1:21. Exhibit, in conduct, &c. -- Jas 3:13. Answer for their hope with. -- 1Pe 3:15. Show to all men. -- Tit 3:2. Restore the erring with. -- Ga 6:1. Precious in the sight of God -- 1Pe 3:4. Ministers should Follow after. -- 1Ti 6:11. Instruct opposers with. -- 2Ti 2:24,25. Urge, on their people. -- Tit 3:1,2. A char”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:13 (BSB) — Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:13: Till I come--when Timothy's commission would be superseded for the time by the presence of the apostle himself (Ti1 1:3; Ti1 3:14). reading--especially in the public congregation. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church (Luk 4:16-20; Act 13:15; Act 15:21; Co2 3:14). The New Testament Gospel and Epistles being recognized as inspired by those who had the gift of discerning spirits, were from the first, according as they were written, read along with the Old Testament in the Church (Th1 5:21”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 5:42: Daily in the temple - That is at the hours of morning and evening prayer; for they felt it their duty to worship God in public, and to help others to make a profitable use of the practice. Every man that professes Christianity should, in this respect also, copy their conduct: nor can any man be considered to have any religion, let his sentiments be what they may, who does not attend on the public worship of his Maker. They ceased not to teach and preach Jesus - Far from desisting, they became more zealous, yea, incessant, in their work. They took advantage of the publ”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 3:13: But exhort one another daily,.... In order to prevent unbelief and apostasy. The phrase is sometimes rendered, "comfort one another", or, "yourselves together", as in Th1 5:11 which the saints may do, by discoursing together about divine things; by praying together; by instructing one another in the doctrines of the Gospel; by putting one another in mind of the covenant of grace, and its promises; and by observing the near approach of everlasting happiness with Christ. And though the business of exhortation greatly belongs to ministers of the word, yet it ought not t”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 18.3: that no honor is paid to them, while they have nothing about them that is worthy of applause, but, on the contrary, expose themselves to contempt, both by their ignorance, and by a detestable example of life, or by levity or other abominations. The only way of procuring reverence is, by excellent virtues, to guard ourselves against contempt. 13 Attend to reading He knew Timothy’s diligence, and yet he recommends to him diligent reading of the Scriptures. How shall pastors teach others if they be not eager to learn? And if so gre”