How to Read the Bible for all its Worth

Start with a good modern translation in the language you best understand

• For English readers: NKJV, ESV, MEV or NASB
• These are not perfect but the best available because they use modern English, have a good style, simple sentences, and use the best available methods to translate the original text into English
• Paraphrases such as “Amplified Bible” (AMB) or BJ “Phillips New Testament” may be helpful for difficult passages - but don’t use them as your regular Bible.
• “The Message” and the “Good News Bible” are never useful as they introduce error, and insinuate false interpretations of passages.
• Note these are translations, not versions: The Holy Spirit only orchestrated (breathed) the writing of one complete Bible.

Reading the Bible

The Premise

The Bible is the written record of God revealing in History:

• who He is
• what He is like
• what He expects of us

This is a vitally important fact that must always be kept in our minds as we read the Bible.

The Golden Rule

• When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense.
• Therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicates clearly otherwise.
• A Text Apart from its Context is a Pretext; thus context is the key to understanding a passage from the Bible.

Working out the Context

• Think about the type of literature the book comprises: narrative, prophecy, song (the genre).
• Specific instructions for different genres are set out below

Historical Context

• The Bible was written over a period of time dating from BC to 95 AD.
• It was set in a different country/continent and a vastly different culture and society from own.
• Be careful not to make “western world” assumptions or view points
• Use your imagination! - Try and put yourself in the shoes of the people involved.
• Make observations about who? what? when? where? and how?

Literary Context

• Where is the position of the text you are reading in relation to other passages?
• What verses come before? What verses come after?
• What book is the text in? Whereabouts in the book?
• What genre is the text in? What testament is it in?
• Why is the text in this position? Why is it in the Bible at all?

General rules

• Don’t pay too much attention to the chapter and verse divisions or the chapter headings - they’re not inspired!
• Ask the ‘big’ question
• When reading the Bible always ask yourself:
  • Why did God include this passage in the Bible?
  • What is it telling me?
  • What message is it communicating?

Kinds of Literature in the Bible (genres)

Old Testament Literature

Historical Narratives

The historical narratives describe actual historical events from God’s perspective. Narratives give us principles and lessons, not commands, patterns or laws. They may not be in chronological order, but rather present the events by importance to God. Narratives tell us:

• What God is like - His character and nature.
• What God likes and dislikes/ or loves and hates.
• How God deals with people who obey and honour Him.
• How God deals with people who disobey and hate Him.

The Old Testament narratives are (in Bible order):

Poetry and Songs

In the Old Testament some writings using poetry, lyrical verse and songs which include the Psalms and Song of Songs. Poetry and songs can be found in other genres including prophecies, narratives or wisdom literature. The Book of Jeremiah a major prophecy & Lamentations, are written, in part, in prose and poetry.[1] There is some overlap with wisdom literature include Job (purely poetry) and Ecclesiastes. Proverbs use a special form of poetry with a clearly defined meter. They allow believers to relate to God on our level but importantly they show us how to communicate with God, honouring and worshiping (showing His worth) Him. Indeed, of old, many hymns were based on texts from these books. These are expressions of emotion to God. They allow us to express to God our feelings of:

• happiness
• joy
• love for God
• trust
• hope
• security
• appreciation/worship of God
• discouragement
• suffering
• guilt
• repentance
• fear
• anger
• despair

Legal Writings (the Law)

These writings indicate:

• God’s moral standard and code of ethics
• God’s idea of justice
• God’s definition of righteousness
• God’s pattern and order for acceptable worship
• Principles of public health and safety
• Principles of civic administration and government

These laws are not directly applicable to Christians today i.e. they are not meant to be legalistic instructions and commands to Christians.

Note also they cannot be divided legally into ceremonial law, civil law and moral law: however, if you are a student of theology, these groupings may aid your learning. But from a legal intent, the 613 ordnances of the Mosaic Law, form one Law. As Jesus indicates, if you break even one, you have broken all (James 2:10, Galatians 5:3). A Christian is under the Law of Christ.

Wisdom / Wise Sayings

These writings indicate God’s view of wisdom as opposed to man’s view of wisdom. In the Old Testament wisdom can be found primarily in Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.

Job is a dialogue between Job and his friends after God allows Satan to harm his goods and chattels, and kill his family (but not to harm Job’s body Job 1:12). The book teaches righteous is only obtainable, through faith, in YHWH. It also provides believers with an understanding of suffering.

Proverbs is a large group of unrelated wise sayings. Specifically chapters 1-9 exhort and encourage believers to seek after Godly wisdom and to avoid seeking after foolish interests. Chapter 31 describes the perfect woman.

Ecclesiastes is an autobiography of King Solomon retrospective examination of his life and concludes that much of his time and effort was wasted pursuing foolish things and that righteousness can only be obtained through God.

The Song of Solomon, teaches about the beauty and ecstasy arising from a pure sexual relation within a marriage. It speaks of the untold beauty of a female’s naked body.

Prophecy

Prophecy is the written words or oracles of God. It is not necessarily foretelling the future - in fact the vast majority of prophecy in the Bible speaks of the present. In the Old Testament prophecy can be found:

Major Prophets (their length not importance)

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Danial

Minor Prophets

New Testament Literature

Historical Narratives

The first five books of the New Testament are historical narratives, which must be read from a Jewish point of view, since all authors were Jews. The five books proclaim the gospel, and examine the life and teaching of Jesus Christ from different points of view.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and the first chapter of Act of the Apostles are important because the record the actual teachings of Jesus and are thus direct statements from God. These include:

• the nature and character of God
• the kingdom of God
• how Jesus fulfilled the OT prophecies
• principles of holy living
• what God expects of us

The teachings provide examples and pattern from which the writers of the rest of the New Testament formed Christian principles and doctrine.

Parables

Parables are stories with a message which relate to everyday life of those that heard them first hand. It is important to note a parable contains one central idea: they support doctrine, not define it, and they are never analogies. They are designed to provoke people to think about the message being taught.

Parables are found the Gospels and were used extensively by Jesus in the later part of his ministry here on earth.

Letters (also called epistles)

The New Testament letters are generally occasional documents written with a clear purpose to a well-identified audience which may be a single person (e.g. Timothy) or to a church congregation (e.g. the Church at Colossi), or a group of people (e.g. Jews suffering in exile 1 Peter).

Some differentiate epistles from letters (although some Bibles use only one of either these two terms). Epistles generally are writings to a group of people, say a church congregation addressing diverse themes, but usually to rebuke and correct. Letters may be far more personal, such as those to Timothy and Titus.

Letters to a specific group

Apocalypse/Revelation

Apocalyptical writings forms a book called Revelation (note the singular –the Holy Spirit provided the author, Apostle John with only one revelation) – rightly called the Revelation of Jesus Christ (verse 1), but usually titled “Revelation” in most Bibles.

John through a series of visions saw revealed the past, current and future events. There is a section that provides warnings, commendations and rebukes to seven churches which some, if not most, can be applied to your own congregation. Overall, the book makes some 500 allusions to the Old Testament and clarifies the timeline of previously prophesied events.

A full understanding also requires knowing Daniel, Ezekiel and the Minor Prophets. Jesus also spoke on the subject of the End Times.

Reading different genres of the Bible

All Bible Passages

While reading a passage

• Read each passage whether story (narrative), or psalm or oracle (prophecy) in a single sitting. Some are quite short, but some, like the story of Joseph is many chapters (Genesis 37, 39-50) so may require splitting up. E.g. childhood, time with Potiphar, time as prime minister.
• Make notes either in writing or mentally as you read it.
• Underline, or circle parts that appear to be important to you. Highlight words you don’t understand.
• Try and understand:
  • Who wrote the passage
  • The people or person it was written to, in particular was it to gentiles or to Jews or both?
  • The event or subject the passage is about.
• Try and establish the historical setting.

Ask the following questions of yourself.

Historical Narratives

• What is happening?
• To who? When? Where?
• Why are the events occurring?
• What the passage is teaching about God?
• What do I learn about the other characters involved?
• Are there examples that are good which I should emulate?
• Are there a bad example to avoid?

Poetry and Songs of the OT

• What is being said about God?
• What is being said about people in general
• Is the writer pleading for something?
• Are they pouring their heart out? If so about what?
• Are they praising God?
• Are they angry with God? Or is God angry with the writer?
• What mood does the writer seem to be in? - Joyful? Happy? Angry? Fearful? Anxious? Distraught? Discouraged?
• Does the writer’s mood change?

We can use the Psalms to convey our feelings and expressions of emotion to God. Use them to pour your heart out!

Legal Writings (The Law; Torah)

• Read a collection of related rules/regulations in one sitting
• What rules/regulations are being put in place? Why?
• What situations/circumstances do they cover?
• Are they for moral reasons?
• Are they concerned with administration/government or hygiene?
• Can you see any pattern being established?
• Is a feast, offering or ceremony being described? If so, what seems to be its purpose?
• Never stop asking why?

Wisdom Literature

For each passage or proverb:

• Consider what you think the central message of the text is.
• What advice is given?
• What warnings are given?
• What comparisons are made?
• Compare the proverb you are reading with other similar or related proverbs (note: similar or related proverbs could be anywhere in the book of Proverbs)
• If there are similar/related proverbs, how do the proverbs differ? Do they relate to slightly different situations? Do they address different aspects of a problem or situation?
• If two proverbs say the opposite thing (and there are a number that do this) why would this be?
• Do you think the statement made or the advice given is good? Why or why not?
• Remember: Proverbs are not universally applicable to every person and every situation - they are guidelines and “rules of thumb” not hard and fast rules.

Remember

• Proverbs are proverbs – they are not promises!

Prophecy

Prophecy is some of the hardest literature to read. Knowing the historical context is essential to really to appreciate what is being said. It may be worth consulting a commentary if you are struggling. For this reason there are specific rules in reading prophecy. These in fuller detail can be found here: Interpretation Rules for Understanding Prophecy

1. Prophecy needs to be studied as a whole not in isolated parts
2. Context includes cultural and historical aspects
3. Grammar is important when interpreting prophecies
4. Learn about the book that contains the prophecy is about
5. Use the correct context of the prophecy you are studying
6. Symbols or symbolism are explained in Scripture – find where these introduced or explained earlier in Scripture
7. Use other prophecies that parallel the one you are studying to aid understanding
8. Use the literal interpretation unless it is obviously a symbol or interpreted as such
9. Literally interpret animals, plants, colours and numbers literally unless the author reveals that they are approximations by using words such as like, as, or about.
10. If a prophecy has not been completely fulfilled in the past, assume it will be fulfilled in the future

While reading a prophecy ask:

• What circumstances in history provoked this prophetic word from God?
• What is the scope of the prophecy: immediate application, immediate future or distant future application?
  • Sometimes the prophecy may be immediate and distant future within a few sentences. Working these are can be challenging.
• What does it say about God?
• Is the prophecy positive or negative?
• Is it about a person, a people or Israel or gentiles or all people?
• Is it a warning? About what?
• Is it a condemnation? For what?
• Is it an encouragement or a message of hope? About what?
• Is it a promise? To do what?

The Book of Revelation

Revelation is perhaps the most difficult book in the Bible to read and understand.

• Read the books of Daniel and Ezekiel first.
• Revelation uses lots of OT imagery. Identify as much as possible, the use of OT imagery (by comparing Revelation with Daniel and Ezekiel)
• What is the OT imagery used to communicate in Revelation?
• What kind of message is being communicated? Hope? Encouragement? Warning?
• What does the text say about God and about Jesus Christ? What does it say about Satan? What does it say about the Church (New Jerusalem)?

Remember

• Context is everything, including what other prophets have said
• Don’t make prophecies say something they do not. One needs to stop, where the prophecy ends.

Teachings of Jesus – the Gospels and Acts

• Who wrote the Gospel? Ascertain what their point of view was, for instance Matthew wrote to Jews in particular, John to the world to show Jesus was the Son of God.
• What message is he communicating?
• What subject is he talking about?
• What is He actually saying about it?
• Is it a command?
• Is it a warning?
• Is it an exhortation/encouragement?
• Is it a promise?
• Does it give us a better understanding of who God is?
• Does it give us a better understanding of what we are like?

Remember

The authors were Jews; their heritage and culture help define what and how they wrote about the life and times of Jesus.

Parables of Jesus

• Read a single parable AND the surrounding dialogue in one sitting.
• Try to determine what the central thought or point of view of the parable is. What message is it communicating?
  • Parables only have one meaning, one point of view.
  • Remember the context! This is a big clue to identifying the central thought.
• What events prompted Jesus to tell this parable?
• How did the hearers react to it? Did they understand it?
• Focus on the central thought - don’t focus on all the minute details - they are not meant to be important.
• Read ahead - many parables are interpreted by Jesus further on in the passages.

Letters of the New Testament

• Read them like any other letter. Start at the beginning - Stop at the end.
• If possible, read a letter right through in one sitting.
• Identify the major issues/arguments of the letter.
• Focus on one of the major issues/arguments.
• Think paragraphs!
  • What is the point of each paragraph?
  • What does each paragraph contribute to the current issue/argument?
  • Why did the writer include a particular paragraph? What difference would it make if it were not included?
• Don’t pay too much attention to the chapter and verse divisions or the chapter headings - they’re not inspired!
• The following words/phrases often indicate change of argument/ subject:
  • Now about
  • Concerning
  • Finally
• The following words/phrases often indicate links between individual points of the overall argument: