Editorial – August 2026

‘Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine’, 1 Tim. 4. 13.

Without a doubt our world is changing radically - economically, politically, morally, technologically, and socially. Are the latest technological advancements endangering one of the oldest, and perhaps (dependent on the material at hand) noblest pastimes? Reading!

Reading is one of the enduring elements of life. We place a premium on it when our children are young, recognizing that it forms the building blocks of language, speech, communication and education. One may worry that in our present age the skill of reading is becoming increasingly obsolete - novels have been replaced with films, as visual stimuli erode our imagination; social media platforms and streaming services are replacing newspapers and textbooks as core information sources. Furthermore, the artificial intelligence (Al) revolution in business, academia, and our personal lives is causing us to step away from the printed page (or digital versions of the same) to the consumption of short summaries. Instead of getting to grips with the entire argument of an author, Al condenses it into bitesize chunks that are easily digested and regurgitated (regardless of their accuracy). How Christians should react to Al is an important theme; perhaps you would like to spend some time considering this edition’s question time section. Al has unquestionable benefits, streamlining massive documents that we may only have a passing interest in, and intrinsic risks, the well-known hallucinations it can be prone to.

When Paul writes in 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 13, he marks out three integral components of Timothy’s ministry: First, ‘reading’ - Timothy is to ensure that the church articulates the truth of God. In the first century, prior to the printing press and with lower levels of literacy, this would have been a necessity. The first expression specifically relates to the public reading of the word of God, but its applicability to personal Bible study is evident. The Bible is the only infallible framework for the church. Timothy would not be able to accomplish the next two themes if attention was not given to reading. Second, ‘exhortation’ - He is to apply the truth of God, addressing people’s present situation/context with sage insights. Third, ‘doctrine’ -Timothy must advance the truth of God, systematically outlining biblical themes. Paul exhorts him: explain it, teach it, declare it, and live it, cp. v. 12.

Spiritual progress comes when we ‘give attendance to reading’, collectively or individually. There is no adequate replacement for Bible reading, and resultant study. We need to read it to be able to preach it; neglecting the canon generates powerlessness in evangelism. We need to read it to be able to pray it. After all, the material we present to the Father in remembrance/worship of the Son can only legitimately be derived from time spent in the scriptures. We need to read it to be able to teach it. It is our spiritual textbook, the only sufficient guide if we want to live for the glory of God. We need to read it to feed upon it, as it is food for our souls.

It is our prayer that this edition of Precious Seed renews a focus on Bible reading and supports you while we await the arrival of the Saviour.

Graeme Andrews
Ministry Articles Editor