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Feasting, not skimming

Scripture Study

Scripture on how to read scripture: what it is for, what it does to the reader, and the specific ways of reading that the texts themselves recommend. Nephi's verb is 'feast,' which assumes a table, an appetite and time.

20 min2 sections

1

What it is for

2 Timothy 3:16–17nt

16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

  • King James renders it “given by inspiration of God”

    A compound that appears only here in the New Testament. Not 'inspiring' but 'breathed out by God' — which locates the authority in the origin rather than in the effect on the reader.

    Full lexicon entry →

Four uses are named, and three of them involve being told you are wrong. That is worth registering by anyone whose study consists mainly of finding verses that confirm what they already think.

2

Four ways of reading the texts recommend

StructureChiasmus, using Alma 36
Chiasmus · Alma 36A Hebrew figure in which the second half mirrors the first, so the turning point sits at the centre rather than at the end.aKeep the commandments and prosperv. 1bRemember the captivity of the fathersv. 2cTrust in God and be supported in trialsv. 3dBorn of God — not of the temporal but the spiritualv. 4–5eAlma seeks to destroy the churchv. 6–9fThree days and nights, racked with tormentv. 10–16g“I remembered one Jesus Christ, a Son of God”v. 17g“O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me”v. 18fCould remember my pains no more; harrowed up no morev. 19eAlma labours to bring souls to repentancev. 24dBorn of God — many have tasted as I have tastedv. 23–26cSupported in trials and troublesv. 27bRemember the captivity of the fathersv. 28–29aKeep the commandments and prosperv. 30The centre of the chapter is the moment Alma calls on Christ — and the relief arrives at exactly that verse.

A Hebrew figure in which the second half mirrors the first, so the turning point sits at the centre. In Alma 36 the centre is the moment he calls on Christ — and the relief arrives at exactly that verse.

Alma 36

VerbWhat it asksWhere
SearchSustained, deliberate looking — the word implies effortJohn 5:39; 3 Nephi 23:1
LikenReading yourself into the text on purpose, 'for our profit and learning'1 Nephi 19:23
PonderTurning it over slowly enough for something to happenD&C 138:1–11; Moroni 10:3
FeastSustained enjoyment, with appetite, over time2 Nephi 32:3
1 Nephi 19:23bofm

23And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

Principle

The scriptures are meant to read the reader, which is why three of the four uses Paul names involve correction.

2 Timothy 3:16 · Hebrews 4:12 · Jacob 2:8–9

What this topic holds

  1. Scripture is God-breathed, and its stated uses are doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction.

    2 Timothy 3:16–17

  2. Likening is a deliberate practice that sits on top of the historical sense rather than replacing it.

    1 Nephi 19:23 · 3 Nephi 23:1

Check your reading

3 questions

  1. 01What does theopneustos literally mean?

  2. 02What is Nephi's verb in 2 Nephi 32:3?

  3. 03What is the limit on likening?

Where to go next

Chains

Lessons

Topics

Sources

  1. Gospel Topics, "Scripture Study"
  2. 2 Timothy 3; 1 Nephi 19; 2 Nephi 32 — The primary texts.