As someone who grew up going to
church, I’ve often viewed the Bible as both fascinating and daunting,
but somewhat inaccessible. Hearing about all the stories in Sunday
School was definitely entertaining, but they were harder to make much
sense of once I got older and read them for myself.
When I began
reading the Bible on my own initiative, I found it difficult at first to
get much out of it. I knew there was a lot to unpack, but it was hard
for me to believe I’d be able to make much sense of what I was studying
unless I decided to attend seminary.
Over time, I was able to
learn how to read the Bible and become familiar with it, but it took
numerous changes in how I approached it before I was at a point where I
could read it daily and make some sense of what it was trying to tell
me.
I work primarily with teenagers, and I find them repeating the
same mistakes I did when reading my Bible when I was younger, and after
talking with some peers when doing this Bible study for myself, I
realized these mistakes are also common among most adults as well. I’m
pretty convinced that, without some guidance, most people fall victim to
the same traps when reading the Bible, and unfortunately lose their
enthusiasm for God.
for believers, simply reading the Bible for information is not enough if we want it to have an impact on our lives.
There
are a lot of things you can do to learn how to understand the Bible
better, but first, here are a few common mistakes to avoid:
1. Looking for Insight Rather Than Personal Application
The
Bible is a fascinating book, there’s no question about it. Even if
you’re coming at it from a completely atheistic perspective, there’s
enough historical and cultural significance, as well as action-packed
sequences, to keep you occupied for days.
However, for believers, simply reading the Bible for information is not enough if we want it to have an impact on our lives.
“Do
not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it
says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is
like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at
himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (James
1:22-24).
Just about every verse you read contains some kind of
direction from God on how we can change our lives for the better and
open up to His transformation in our lives. The Bible is applicable to
situations we go through on a day to day basis (Hebrews 4:12), from
dealing with stress to loving those around us.
It’s a huge
temptation to only read the Bible with the purpose of gaining more
knowledge. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, you’re
missing the whole point of the Scriptures if you never once sit down and
read it with the intent to let it guide you to change something in your
life.
2. Failing to Research Context
The Bible is one
continual story, from cover to cover, about God creating us and doing
whatever He could to build a relationship with us. While many verses
work fine when read in a vacuum (most notably Proverbs and Psalms), most
Scripture is meant to be understood in context. You can learn a lot
more about the verse you’re reading by examining the details surrounding
it, including:
Author - who wrote the book, and why were they writing it? What else do we know about this person?
Date
- when the book was written can tell you a lot about the verses in the
book you’re reading. For example, knowing that the book of Ruth took
place in 1300 BC tells us that they lived during the time of judges,
when Israel was at one of its most darkest points in history. This makes
the story of Ruth and Boaz that much more inspiring and powerful.
Recipient
- who the book was intended for can give you more insight on how the
Scriptures were meant to be processed. This is especially true of the
letters in the New Testament, most of which were written to different
churches who were in various spiritual states.
3. Sticking to the Same Translation
If
the only version of the Bible you’ve ever read is the one sitting on
your shelf that you’ve had since you were a kid, there’s a chance you’re
reading a translation that may not be right for you.
A lot of
people make the mistake of sticking to the same Bible translation,
either refusing to change because of tradition or because they’re
unaware of the other reading options available. Since each translation
is slightly different, reading a different version can give you more
insight into the Scriptures, and can make an otherwise confusing
Scripture more accessible.
The
Bible is one continual story, from cover to cover, about God creating
us and doing whatever He could to build a relationship with us.
Order
another version (such as the New Living Translation or The Message) and
see if it helps you understand a new perspective on the Scriptures, or
clear up any confusion you may have previously had.
4. Reading in a Distracting Environment
This
one seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised by how many people I
talk to who read their Bibles with the TV on, while playing iPhone
games, or while friends or family are nearby asking for help. While
those scenarios may work for homework or paying the bills, they make it
close to impossible to really read the Scriptures and hear what God is
trying to tell you.
As I mentioned in the first point, reading
your Bible can (and should!) be a very personal affair. Eliminating
distractions could mean the difference between reading a cool verse and
finding the passage that changes how you view your life.
5. Thinking the Only Way to Read the Bible is By Looking at Words on a Page
In
today’s modern age, there are countless ways to digest information.
This is no less true for the Bible. Many people get stuck in a box and
feel intimidated by the sheer volume of Scriptures, and end up never
giving the Bible a shot. And while the fear is understandable, it’s
completely avoidable.
If you’re feeling bored of reading, or
perhaps have a disability or learning challenge, try listening to the
Bible (via a full audio Bible, or a read along feature like the one
found in the
Tecarta Bible app) or watching the Bible (
The Story is a great example of a visual presentation of the Bible).
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