Advantage of Scripture (pt.1): It Makes Us Wise

Have you ever used Hitchcock’s Topical Analysis (HTA) of the Bible? It is one of the many Bible study tools available at the Blue Letter Bible. It is unique and comprehensive—a great tool for any student of God’s Word.

Here’s how it works:

In the HTA, the Old Testament and New Testament are arranged into outlines according to subject. There are 27 “themes” that comprise the HTA’s 27 “books”. The foundational work by which this study is based comes from the work of Matthew Talbot. Nathaniel West improved on Talbot’s work by adding indexes, and Roswell D. Hitchcock revised, edited, and finalized the work to produce this topical analysis. whole is designed to facilitate the study and to promote the better understanding of the word of God.

The 27 books are further split into 242 chapters 4,176 total entries. Most notably, every single verse in the Bible has been assigned to at least one entry, giving readers a full Biblical perspective on virtually any given topic related to the Christian’s life and doctrine.

Advantages of Scripture

Over the next few weeks, we will highlight this incredible study resource by walking through one chapter called “Advantages of Scripture” (Book 1. Chapter 5. Section 51).

The first advantage listed is that Scripture makes us wise. Below are several relevant verses, taken from the HTA, which preach to us this wonderful truth.

Making Wise

“Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:11).

“Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. … Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. … The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:98-100, 104, 130).

“To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth” (Proverbs 1:2-4).

“‘Have you understood all these things?’ They said to him, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old'” (Matthew 13:51-52).

“But Jesus answered them, ‘You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God'” (Matthew 22:29).

“And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven'” (Mark 4:10-1).

“Jesus said to them, ‘Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?'” (Mark 12:24).

“Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4).