Lesson 2

Who were the Bereans, and why should we want to study the way they did? Unlike the Christians in cities like Corinth, Galatia, Thessalonia, or Philippi, the Bereans get only a fleeting mention in the Bible. Some may think this is because they did nothing noteworthy but the opposite is actually true. Their one mention in the Bible briefly describes them as open minded and willing to study into the new insights brought by Paul and Silas.  

Acts 17:10-12 Living Bible

10 That night the Christians hurried Paul and Silas to Berea, and, as usual, they went to the synagogue to preach. 11 But the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and gladly listened to the message. They searched the Scriptures day by day to check up on Paul and Silas’ statements to see if they were really so. 12 As a result, many of them believed, including several prominent Greek women and many men also.

This one positive mention is far better than the books of correction, written by church leaders, to the other cities who were getting it wrong. The lack of any other mention about the Bereans is to their credit. Their esteem for the scriptures when proving Paul’s ideas must have stayed with them, keeping them strong in the ways of their new faith. Using the Bereans habit of analyzing scripture and following where truth may lead, will prove invaluable to you and will bring you into a deeper understanding of your faith.

Do you have any questions about your faith that you haven’t answered? Do you have scriptural support for all of your Christian beliefs? Jot down a few beliefs that you are sure of, or ones that you have no scriptural support for.