3 Steps to Read Your Bible More Effectively
Biblical literacy is the skill of reading and accurately understanding God’s Word. It is something that far too many Christians are seeking for and yet are often left with inadequate answers or tools to develop such confidence that they themselves are able to effectively handle the Word of God. The longing of a believer’s heart should be intimacy with God, knowing God in the deepest way possible – it is this longing that draws mankind to God in the first place. In my experience, the average consistent churchgoer is intrigued and excited by the Word when it is taught, and yet are intimidated and discouraged when they open it for themselves. I believe 1 simple technique, comprised of asking 3 questions, can enable you to have confidence in approaching God’s Word.
This approach seeks to train the you to ask better questions of any biblical text on your own. It is a simple formula of approaching the text first for comprehension, next for interpretation and finally for application. Each stage of this process asks an important question:
Comprehension
Comprehension asks, “What does it say?”
It is important to start with comprehension. That may sound obvious, but too often we read the Bible as if it isn’t a literary work. Just like any other literary work, we must comprehend what the author is trying to communicate before we try to interpret any “deeper meaning” or apply that meaning to our lives.
Have you ever opened up your Bible looking for God to give you clear simple instruction by means of one verse? Believing you would get an answer for whatever dilemma or circumstance you were facing? Don’t worry, I have. This is looking for interpretation and application before seeking comprehension. Maybe you’ve heard this illustration before, of a man who opened up his Bible for instruction. He opened up his Bible looking for a random verse, believing God would point him to the perfect verse for his situation. He opened up to Matthew 27:5 which says,
“And he (Judas) …went and hanged himself.”
Believing this was not the verse God wanted him read, he turned more pages and landed at Luke 10:37 which says,
“Go, and do thou likewise.”
This is the obvious error of skipping the comprehension. There is an interpretation of each of these verses that is applicable to our lives, but we must do the hard work of comprehending and understanding the context of what we are reading. We can know what the author is communicating by knowing who the author is, understanding the context in which the author wrote the book or letter, or knowing when the book or letter was written. Sometimes the answers to these questions are clear from the Biblical text and sometimes they are not, but don’t be afraid to use other books from trusted pastors and theologians, or even Google can be a great resource.
Other habits to better comprehend what the author is communicating is to:
Read the passage repetitively.
Look up key words in a bible dictionary (can be found free online at Logos Bible Software).
Note the genre and any literary techniques used by the author. (e.g. Poetry, Historical Account, etc. Hyperbole, Sarcasm, Humor, etc.)
Interpretation
Interpretation asks, “What does it mean?”
Once we have patiently established comprehension of what the author has communicated, we should now look to interpret what is means. Not “What does it mean for me?” rather “What did it mean to the people at the time in which it was written? In other words, we must interpret the textual, cultural, and historical context. If we are to interpret Scripture accurately, we must gather as much information as we can to know what it meant to its author and its recipients. This is such an important step, because so much of application depends on accurate interpretation. For instance, Paul tells the women of the Corinthian church that they should keep silent in church (1 Corinthians 14:34). It is a misinterpretation and misapplication to believe this means women should be literally silent, or should not speak within the church, or even further – are forbidden to have a role within the church. This is not, at all, what Paul is saying.
In fact, Paul is empowering Biblical womanhood in some sense in this passage, as women were not permitted to learn in their culture, and here Paul clearly encourages women to learn in the church and at home with their husbands. After doing word studies of the original language of this passage and even similar language in 1 Timothy 2. In Corinthians, Paul is asking women to be responsible in their involvement within the worship service, to walk in their giftedness, but still walk in submission to their husbands and the male leadership within the church. Especially when both men and women may be prophesying. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 11, actually encourages women to be active in praying and prophesying within the church. As for 1 Timothy, the original language, implies that Paul is actually encouraging women to not be divisive and argumentative within the church. I assume this mainly came into play with women and their relationships with other women.
You can see how it is important to dig for accurate interpretation of the text, in order to get accurate understanding and application of the text.
For effective interpretation, develop a habit of:
Exploring why the author would have used a particular word or phrase, or why he would have made a particular point the way he made it.
Considering the textual, cultural, and historical context.
Making connections to other parts of the book or other parts of the Bible – Scripture interprets Scripture.
Application
Application asks, “How should it change me?”
Application should be our ultimate goal when approaching the Word of God. If we have done the patient and tedious, yet rewarding work of comprehension and interpretation, then we can be confident in what God has shown us about Himself and about ourselves. I’m sure at this point you can see how each of the prior steps bring clarity to this final step of applying the Word of God to our lives today. A common misapplied verse is Jeremiah 29:11 which reads,
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
After careful comprehension and interpretation of this passage of Scripture, in its context, we can indeed find accurate application to the life of a Christian today. You see, when it was written it was encouragement to the Israelites that though life was challenging and it seemed like God may have forgotten about them and His covenant promise to them, He assured them that He did not and that He does intend to bring them into the promised land and that they would be a people with a home and be prosperous in that land… literally. For us today, God is not promising us a new land, a new home, or more money and resources… but He does indeed have plans for you, and His hope for you is an eternal hope and an eternal future in Him (Christ) – in Heaven. The best way to apply what God has spoken to previous generation, especially before Christ, is to see these promises and assurances as fulfilled in Christ and Christ alone.
When seeking to apply the Bible to your life today, it helps to:
Consider how what the passage teaches about God should change the way you think, speak, or act.
Make meaningful connections to your own life:
Is there a sin to confess?
Is there cause to for thanksgiving or praise to God?
Is there a promise or truth to trust in?
Is there an attitude to change or a motive to examine?
Is there a command to obey or an example to imitate?
Is there an error to confront or avoid?