How To Read The Bible

The Bible is not just a book of information—it is a book of transformation. It is alive, living, and active—not just a book we read, but a book that reads us. The Bible holds the power to shape our thoughts, influence our actions, and deepen our faith. But if we are honest, we’ve all read a Scripture before, scratched our heads, and wondered, what in the world does this mean?

Reading the Bible can sometimes feel overwhelming or confusing. Why? Because the Bible is a collection of 66 books, written by 40 different authors that were inspired by the Holy Spirit over a period of 1,500 years, written in three different languages across three different continents. To fully grasp its meaning, we must approach it with a clear method of study. Here are three things to keep in mind when you’re reading the Bible:

1. Recognize the Genre

One of the first steps in studying the Bible is understanding that it is composed of different genres—each requiring a unique approach to interpretation.

• Historical Narratives (Genesis, Exodus, Acts) – These books recount real events and interactions between God and His people. They help us see God's hand in history and His faithfulness through time.
• Poetry and Wisdom Literature (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) – These writings use imagery, metaphors, and emotion to express truth. They teach wisdom but are not always direct commands.
• Prophetic Books (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Revelation) – Prophets communicated messages from God, sometimes about future events and other times calling people to repentance. These books require careful interpretation of symbolic language.
• The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) – These books tell the story of Jesus—His life, teachings, death, and resurrection. They are meant to be read as eyewitness accounts of the greatest moment in history.

The Epistles (Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians) – These are letters written to churches and individuals with instruction, encouragement, and correction for Christian living.

By recognizing the genre of a passage, we can read it with the right expectations and avoid misinterpretation.

2. Understand the Context

The Bible was written in a different time and culture, and context is crucial for interpretation. Here are key questions to ask:

• Who was the original audience? Was the passage written to Israel, to the early church, or to all believers?
• What was happening at the time? Historical and cultural background can help us understand why certain commands or stories were included.
• What comes before and after? Reading verses in context prevents misinterpretation. Many misunderstandings of Scripture come from taking a single verse out of its larger passage.
• How does this passage fit into the big picture of the Bible? The Bible tells one continuous story—of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration through Jesus. Every part of Scripture should be viewed in light of that overarching theme.

3. Apply It to Your Life

Reading the Bible isn’t just about gaining knowledge—it’s about applying God’s Word to our daily lives. After reading a passage, ask:

• What does this reveal about God’s character? 
• How does this passage challenge or encourage my faith?
• How should this change my thoughts, attitudes, or actions? 
• Is there a promise to hold onto or a command to obey? 

Jesus modeled how to use Scripture practically. When tempted in the wilderness, He didn’t just know Scripture—He declared it against the enemy (Matthew 4:1-11). Like Jesus, we must take God’s Word beyond reading and speak it over our lives, apply it to our lives, and stand firm in its truth. 

When our thoughts are aligned with God's Word, we know we are headed in the right direction. We learn how to treat people, how to make decisions, how to pray, how to fast, and how to use our gifts for His glory. Since our lives move in the direction of our strongest thoughts—when we fill our minds with God’s truth, we can be confident our lives are heading in the right direction. 

Example: 

Passage: 

“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’” Mark 1:14-15

When we study a verse like Mark 1:14-15, we can break it down like this:

• Genre: Recognizing that Mark is telling a historical narrative of Jesus’ life, we read this passage as a pivotal moment in the story of God's redemptive work through Christ.
• Context: Understanding the broader context of Jesus’ ministry and the historical longing for the Messiah helps us grasp the radical nature of His announcement: the Kingdom of God is now accessible through Jesus.
• Application: We apply the call to repent and believe—acknowledging that this call isn’t just a past event, but a present invitation to follow Jesus and align our lives with the reality of God’s Kingdom here and now.

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