Tools for Monday: How to Read the Bible
Trusting in the truth of God’s written word is foundational for Christians. The Bible is a record of God’s revelation to us. In fact, the Bible itself speaks to its own authoritative nature. Consider the following verses:
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
“The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord stands forever” (Isaiah 40:7).
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
But what makes the Bible different from other books? Isn’t the Bible to be read in the same way one would go through other pieces of classic literature? There are several reasons why Christians would put the Bible ahead of even the greatest books ever written. One of these reasons hinges on the inspiration of God. That is, God had a strong hand in prompting and guiding the biblical writers to share truth with us. We could say that the biblical writers were completely energized by the Holy Spirit. Consequently, the Bible is not to be read as a science book or as just a nice bit of history and mythology. We are rather affirming not so much a book as we are the God who gave it to us.
Another reason the Bible is authoritative for Christians is due to the fact that the Holy Spirit is authoritative! The Bible’s content is used by the Spirit to saturate the whole of a person’s daily life. Its revelation informs our daily activities. The Spirit also uses to the Bible in His continuing ministry of building the church. The late Stanley Grenz, a renowned Baptist theologian, said it thusly: “From the message of the Bible we gain our identity as the people of God. And through the Scripture we learn what it means to be the community of faith in the world.”
How then do we read the Bible? There are three foundational principles for engaging the written word of God. These principles remain consistent for both the beginner and the seasoned Christian veteran.
First, learn the context of the passage which you read. The context includes things like historical events at the timeframe the passage was written, the date of writing, who wrote the passage, and why that specific author wrote the particular book. Context steers us away from reading a passage outside of the boundaries God placed on the text. In other words, one can get all sorts of twisted ideas from what they read in the Bible if they are unaware of the context.
Second, prayer helps us understand the passage in question. That is, it is not a helpful practice to read the Bible in a hurry. It is meant to be absorbed and prayerfully engaged. Before reading a verse or passage, it is a great idea to ask the Holy Spirit to give you guidance and insight as you read and reflect.
Third, draw out the meaning of the text for today. Notice I did not say “read into” the text what you want it to say. Sometimes we go to the Bible in order to get a prooftext for our preconceived ideas. This is not a recommended practice and can easily lead one astray. The Bible will change our minds and our actions if we read out of a text what the author intended it to say. That is, let’s not put words into the biblical authors’ mouths. Be open to a transformative life change which comes when the light of Christ’s truth illuminates and makes sense of things for you.