About the Bible

Unit 2b:  How to Read the Bible

It is essential that we have a strong Biblical foundation to our beliefs. In other words, make sure that what we believe and practice is Biblically sound. Otherwise we are susceptible to error and the possibility of 'going off the rails'.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work". (2_Timothy_3:16-17)

"Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarrelling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2_Timothy_2:14-15)

How to read the Bible:

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the Bible to you and bring it to life;

2. Read with a willing spirit, gladly submitting to its teaching;

3. Read it respectfully, expectantly, regularly, systematically;

4. Read it with understanding about the types of expression the Bible uses, (history, parable, metaphor, poetry, simile, illustration etc.);

5. Read it Intelligently, the normal rules of language apply;

6. Avoid being subjective, we have to fit to what the Bible says - not it to us;

7. Ask the right questions in the right order about Bible passages-

What is the context?
What does it mean?
How does it apply?

 

If you want to dig deeper into God's Word,
try this approach…

Choose a passage of Scripture, for example: Matt 9:9-13
Then -

1. Read the passage
"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

2. Record the facts
Ver 9: Jesus tells Matthew to follow him. Matthew obeys.
Ver 10: Jesus and his disciples have diner and Matthew asks his friends - tax collectors and sinners.
Ver 11: The Pharisees questions Jesus disciples as to why he ate with such people.
Ver 12: Jesus hears about it and responds -
.The sick, not the healthy need a doctor
.God desires mercy over religious observance
.Christ didn't come to call the righteous - but sinners. Jesus tells Matthew to follow him. Matthew obeys.
 

3. Reflect on the implications of the facts
"I wonder if I am as immediate and responsive to Jesus call to discipleship as Matthew was?"
"Do I still have lost friends whom I am introducing to Jesus as Matthew did?"

4. Respond by applying one of the implications
"I am convinced that I have not been active enough in introducing my lost friends to Jesus. Within 2 months I will have a dinner party fro several of them and plan to share how Jesus has changed my life."

Here are some other passages you may like to try out...
John 18:1-11, Psalm 23, Eccl 5:18-20, Gen 3:1-7,
Col 3:12-16, John 18:15-18. 25-27, Rev 1:12-19.