Friday, April 19, 2024

We’ve talked about what the Bible is and why we should read it, so your next thought might be “Great! But, how?”

Whether you have been studying Scripture for a while or are new to the faith, let's explore some foundational techniques to enrich your Bible-reading experience.

First and foremost, whenever we enter into personal Bible reading, remember the Bible is a book about God, not us. It is not a Magic 8 Ball. God is not a genie and our relationship with him is not transactional. We must also be careful not to judge an ancient audience by our modern sensibilities. They were people living in a different time, and some of what was commonplace then isn’t today.

Another overarching consideration is context. It can be tempting to “proof text” or make the Bible say what we want it to by pulling a passage out of its context. Reading what comes before and after a passage will help you fully understand its meaning.

There are also some questions that can be helpful to decipher context and meaning. You’ll sometimes see this referred to as the “envelope”. Think about when you get an envelope in the mail. You likely look at the outside to determine who it is from and who it is for. This allows you

to put yourself into the correct mindset to receive the information in the letter. If you recognize the sender, your previous interactions and history as you read the letter likely come to mind, as well as, their history or situation which will potentially add context around the content within.

Then, if you open the letter and discover it is a recounting of a story, you will read it differently than if the letter is giving you advice. These same things are helpful considerations when reading a book of the Bible. Indeed, many of what we call “books” were actually letters, especially in the New Testament.

• Who is the author?
• Who is the audience?
• When was it written?
• What is the purpose?
• What is the literary style?

This information can usually be found in a good Study Bible or by using a commentary.

Next week, begin taking a closer look at how understanding each of these can enrich our Scripture reading experience. Until then, see if you can find the answers to these in regards to what you are currently reading in the Bible.

This article was written by Julie Mabus, a regular writer on the LivingItOut team.