Some Advice on How To Read the Bible
Reading the Bible is one of the most important spiritual disciplines for a Christian. But it can be an extremely intimidating endeavor. Often we open our Bibles and we are met with a world of extremely foreign words and ideas. In this short piece, I will show you a couple of helpful tools that you can use to improve you time in the Bible.
First, we need to rethink how we conceive of reading the Bible. Look at this image below. How many squares do you see? Say the number out loud before you keep reading.
What did you say? 16? 17? More? The correct answer is 30. Click here to see the explanation. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kpvK-39ju5NqoX2JDTgQYnrMFDr4tgV2/view?usp=sharing) This is what reading the Bible is like. When we read, we see something at first, but that is hardly the entire picture. We need to spend more time, and look more carefully, in order to see all that is there. Reading the Bible is about learning to see differently. Seeing differently is hard, it takes time, and it is worth it.
The Basic Structure to Reading the Bible
All Bible reading consists of three steps, observation, interpretation, and application. Observation is the step in which we see what the text actually says. Interpretation is when we think about what the text means. And application is when we think about how the text applies to our lives. Intentionally going through these three steps will, on its own, help you become more proficient in reading your Bible.
These three steps are an easy Bible reading method you can use. Begin by choosing your passage and have a Bible, paper, and something to write with. For observation, try to write down 20-30 observations about the text. These are facts that are demonstrated in the text (not interpretations, not application, not something you remember from something else). Once you have those observations, then try to synthesize all the data into a 2-3 sentence statement about the meaning of the passage. Then use that statement to prayerfully think about how that might apply to your life.
Application is often a difficult step in reading the Bible. It can be helpful to remember that application might be more than just something that you do. A good application can also be trying to think differently, to learn something, or to reflect on something. Here are some questions to ask yourself when you’re having trouble coming up with an application:
Who should I be?
How should I think?
What should I do?
Is there a sin to avoid?
Is there a promise to claim?
Is there a prayer to repeat?
Is there a command to obey?
Is there a condition to meet?
Is there a challenge to face?
Where should I go?
Who will I teach?
The Newspaper Method
Another method for reading the Bible involves asking the text the basic interrogative questions. Click here for a handout for this method (https://drive.google.com/file/d/162J6tZPl6tcjO6vJDLWgbrorq_cfnD_p/view?usp=sharing). This method can work for a variety of different genres and texts, but it is best suited for narratives or texts with multiple characters.
The Newspaper method has six steps, and I’d recommend reading through the passage you’ve chosen at least once for each step. The first time you read the passage list all of the characters in a passage (Who?). The read again and list what each of those characters are doing (what?). Read it again paying attention to the location of the events (where) and then the timing of the passage (when?). The goal for “when?” is not to put a specific date on the text, but it is to realize what events or narrative come before and after your passage. Read again thinking about why this passage is in Scripture. There are many potentially correct answers here. Then read it a final time thinking about how this applies to your life.
The SPECK Method
The SPECK Method is a good way to study more didactic portions of Scripture and is especially well suited for epistles and other ethical focused passages. Click here for a handout of this method (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KFH9jTzEYPXjWNVgpJQJiL7YDjrzGE_J/view?usp=sharing). This method has five steps, so you should read the passage at least five times. You’ll begin by looking in the passage for Sins to avoid. Then you’ll read for Promises to claim, followed then by Examples to follow and Commands to obey. Lastly, you’ll reflect on the Knowledge of God you gain through this passage and how that applies to your life.
These two methods are some simple tools that you can use and apply to almost any passage of Scripture. Remember that these are tools, not the end-all-be-all method of reading the Bible. Use them as you find them helpful. And if a method doesn’t help with a certain passage, then don’t use it for that passage.
Most importantly, I’d encourage you to always read the Bible with paper and something to write with nearby. Write down what you see in the text and how it applies to your life, even if it is only a few sentences. Make sure that you read prayerfully, bringing God into your reading before, during, and after.
I hope these are helpful for you. You can always send me an email or comment below if you have any questions!
By Devlin McGuire