BIBLICAL STUDY AIDES have their place and value, but in our day we are prone to place more emphasis on them than on the spoken Word of God itself. The SUBTLE danger today is that we are well versed ABOUT God in our polemics (a systematic defense devoted to the refutation of errors), apologetics (the intellectual defense of faith), hermeneutics (the art or science of interpreting Scripture), and exegesis (a careful study of Scripture to discover the original, intended meaning). We can write ‘marvellous’ books and shed a ‘wonderful light’ on the text without perceiving the Author of the Word Himself; we have succeeded in the letter while missing the Spirit behind the words. I often wonder at the simple, humble saints who possessed only a Bible, a hymnal and a knowing of the necessity, glory and power through prayer. The kingdom of God shone through their lives, impacting the world around them. They knew the power of godliness while we are content to play with an empty form of it.

– M.A. Williams