Open the Bible before Settling the Claim
Written for Bible Journey Plan. Our editorial standards.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:11 KJV
A teaching can sound convincing because a familiar speaker says it confidently. Couples may repeat it for years without returning to the passage on which it supposedly rests.
The Bereans give a better pattern. They listened willingly and searched the Scriptures. Neither a suspicious refusal to learn nor an unquestioning acceptance of every claim is the model presented.
Read a passage in its setting together. Notice who is speaking, who is being addressed, and what the surrounding verses explain. Distinguish a direct statement of Scripture from a teacher's illustration or personal application.
Allow the Bible to correct both of you. Do not use study as a contest to prove which spouse has understood more. A sound local church and trustworthy teachers can help, but their usefulness depends upon fidelity to the Word. Christ is worthy of a faith informed by what He has revealed. A shared habit of opening Scripture before settling a claim can protect your home from confusion and make conversations about doctrine more humble, careful, and fruitful.
Keep the passage in context
The Bereans receive the preached word readily and examine the Scriptures daily to test what they hear. Willingness to listen works alongside careful examination.
Read further: Acts 17 in the King James Bible.