One of the values of Scripture is that it teaches us — for we do not know and understand.
Given that we are taught by Scripture a fair question to ask, then, is “what kind of learner are you?’
It is possible to be a Bible learner that learns without a Biblical purpose. We might learn without considering God’s purpose for us learning His truth. So we acquire knowledge of some sort, but without effecting the right benefit.
So what is the purpose of learning Scripture? To be transformed by it. The temptation is to learn details of Scripture without learning the Scripture itself — without believing it.
As one writer has noted, this doesn’t necessarily ring true: if in a science class a student gives a correct answer and then is asked, “do you believe it?” and then is given a C because he does not, the students would think it grossly unfair. “They’re not graded for believing, just for getting the right answers.” But,
If I study a subject like the Virgin Birth so that I’ll know the right answer to give on a test, God probably won’t be very impressed. But if I’m interested in it because I realize that believing in it totally changes the meaning of human history and life, that’s the difference. Being able to give the right answer is not particularly important if, at the level of your ‘mental map,’ you don’t actually believe it’s true.
Saying Scripture teaches us is to recognize we have received a great gift from God. But it is also to recognize that we have a great responsibility to work at apprehending and believing (and acting on) the truth we discern.
Words of Grace 