How to Read the Bible

In the last post, we saw that an integral part of living out the Christian worldview is reading the Bible so that we can then apply it. In this post, we are going to take a quick look at how that is done.

1. Read a Passage.

   This first step is so simple, yet it is often neglected. The Bible is full of wisdom and does improve who we are as a person; however, one can not draw from that well, if they never lower the bucket to draw. Therefore, make sure that you take some time out of your day, every day, to read the Bible. The time can vary, but I would recommend spending at least 15-30 minutes every day reading the Bible, ideally, if you can, reading in both the morning and evening.

2. Interpret the Passage

   Second, you must interpret what it means. Most of the Bible is either history (such as Genesis, Joshua, and Daniel) or teachings (Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews). These two subjects can be taken literally, unless it is clear in the text that it is not literal (i.e. parables, sarcasm, analogy). To know this, it is vital that one looks that the context of the passage. What is the historical context? The cultural context? The grammatical context? Knowing these should make is pretty easy to derive the meaning of a passage. Here are three general rules for interpreting a passage. First, assume it is literal unless the text is clear that it is not. If it is not, ask yourself, what is the author trying to get across by speaking in this way? Second, ask yourself, is this passage showing me a principle or virtue to live by or is it warning me against a certain behavior or vice? Finally, remember that Scripture does not contradict itself, if there is an apparent contradiction, then there is an error in your interpretation and you need to take another careful look at it.

3. Apply the Passage

   Finally, you must apply the passage. What good is learning what you should do if you never apply it? Just like how "faith without works is dead" James 2:20b (NKJV), so also is knowledge dead without application. Therefore, be diligent to not only read the Bible, but also apply it to your life.