How to Understand the Bible [UPDATED]
If you want to know God, a natural place to start is his Word. But is it really understandable? The Christian Scriptures are deep and mysterious, yet you can understand the Bible.
This month, I’m writing a series of articles on how you can know God. As you’ll see, the steps are simple, but it is a lifelong pursuit. Here is what I’ll cover this month:
The Bible isn’t a convoluted ancient text. Do you know how to understand the Bible?
God wants to speak to you. Do you know how to hear God’s voice?
You are a unique creation of God. Do you know God’s purpose for your life?
This week, I provide the starting points for understanding the Bible. Again, the steps listed below are simple but represent a lifelong journey.
As noted in the title, this is a post I previously shared on Substack and my website. I’ve updated it to include more information and make it more straightforward. One resource not mentioned is my 30-day devotional. Scroll to the bottom of this email for details.
The Christian bible is an ancient text written by dozens of people over thousands of years, spanning multiple cultures and customs. It is deep and mysterious, yet you can understand the Bible. It is accessible to you and me.
The Apostle Paul, writing to his young protege, Timothy, said this,
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” -2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
Where do I start?
If you want to know God, the Bible is one of the best places to start.
Most people searching for God inherently understand this, but picking up a Bible can be challenging. Where do I start? How do I understand what is being said? How do I know if this is literal or metaphorical?
Those are all great questions, but let’s start here…
Which part should I start in?
If you are brand new to the Bible, I suggest you start by reading the New Testament with one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The New Testament is God’s story, beginning with the birth of Jesus, and the Gospels are the stories of Jesus. The books after the Gospels (Acts through Revelation) are the stories and writings of Jesus’ disciples after his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.
I would either start with the Gospel of Mark or John. Mark is thought to be the first Gospel written by a young student of Peter. It is a collection of fast-moving stories that display the supernatural power of the Son of Man (a description Jesus used of himself to describe being the Christ).
John is the last version of Jesus' story written by his disciple, John. This version of the story of Jesus is full of allegories and stories not found anywhere else in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the synoptic Gospels because each share much of the same pattern and information as the other two). John shows how Jesus came not just as a human but as God himself.
If you are more experienced reading the Bible, challenge yourself with something you haven’t read in depth. You might try one of the Old Testament prophets like Isaiah or Ezekiel. Maybe you’ve never been able to get through the stories of Moses in Numbers and Deuteronomy…go there!
What version of the Bible should I read?
There are dozens of Bible translations. The oldest and most commonly thought of translation is the King James Version, written hundreds of years ago and full of ‘thees and thous.’ However, if you are new to reading the Bible, I suggest the New Living Translation (NLT). It’s a newer translation written how you and I speak today. It’s a great version, and I read it daily.
Other excellent translations include the New International Version, English Standard Version, and New American Standard Bible. The Message Bible is a paraphrased version of the Bible that might be a good option if you have read other translations but still have trouble understanding what is being communicated.
What if I don’t have a Bible?
If you don’t have a physical Bible, you can use the YouVersion Bible app to read on your phone, tablet, or computer. This app includes a massive variety of translations and is entirely free. The YouVersion app also has hundreds of devotions and Bible studies you can read by yourself or a group of friends. It is a great, basic tool for studying the Bible.
You may find a physical copy of the Bible works best for you. Many people enjoy a physical copy to take notes in the margins as they read. Over the years, they can look back on those notes to see how God has spoken to them through his Word.
Some people don’t like to read or have difficulty reading, so they consume the Bible via audio. The YouVersion app includes a tool for the audio version of the Bible. It’s completely free!
Start to Understand the Bible.
Now that you know what and how you are reading the Bible, it’s time to learn how you understand what you are reading.
1. Pray for Clarity and Understanding
Prayer is the most important and most overlooked factor in understanding the Bible. It doesn’t matter whether you consider yourself a Christian, and you don’t have to make the prayer long, drawn out, and flowery, either. Keep it simple like this example:
God, please open my eyes and heart as I read your Word today. May I see what you intend for me to see in this passage? Thank you. Amen.
When I make this simple but conscious prayer before I read, I see more, have more clarity, and understand the Bible better. Again, while it is a simple but essential tool, it is easy to overlook. It’s easy to skip to the doing rather than the being, where spiritual life begins.
2. Read and Meditate on the Bible
It’s finally time to read…so go ahead and read. But read slowly, and don’t worry about reading chapters and chapters or pages and pages in one setting. I try to stick to about one or two chapters in a single reading. The key is comprehension, not volume.
I often become distracted as I read, and I find myself re-reading the passage. That’s okay. You have an enemy of your soul who wants to destroy you and your faith; one of his best tools is distraction. Therefore, go ahead and re-read. If you find yourself unable to gain traction, pray. Be bold and ask God for the ability to read and comprehend quickly.
After you’ve read the passage once, skim through it a second time but more meditatively. As you read this time, quiet your heart and mind, and ask yourself, “What in the passage ‘jumped off’ the page?”
The author of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament tells us,
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” -Hebrews 4:12 NLT
Consider this statement: God’s Word is alive. When a word or phrase jumps off the page at you, it is because it’s living. God knows what you need. He knows what your soul needs to hear. So don’t miss this moment! One of the biggest challenges to understanding the Bible is leaving a moment of introspection too quickly.
3. Ask Questions and Take Notes
When you come to one of those words or phrases that seem to have a bolder font, spend some time thinking about it. These words and phrases are key for you to understand the Bible. Ask this question:
What does this mean?
Ask what does that mean for you? Consider what it means for the world, your work or school, and your family. Question what it means for your faith.
Asking these questions will make scripture both alive and personal to you. Again, don’t let this moment slip by, so take a physical note of what you "see” and “hear." This note can be in a paper notebook or digitally. The YouVersion app even has a note function you can use.
Consequently, these notes will be invaluable when you reflect on your search for knowing God and yourself. Most likely, you’ll find there is as much you don’t understand as what makes sense. Make a note of this, too. Your notes will help you immensely with the next step.
4. Seek Wise Counsel
One of the wisest people to walk the earth was the ancient king of Israel, Solomon. He wrote this piece of wisdom on seeking counsel in the book of Proverbs:
“Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.” -Proverbs 11:14 MSG
In the 21st century, there are two ways to seek counsel.
1. Find a friend.
Hopefully, you have someone in your life who is a step ahead of you in faith. It might be a friend who attends church. It could be your small group leader. You may have access to meet with a pastor, priest, or minister. Leverage these relationships to help you understand the Bible.
Whether it’s a weekly meeting or an occasional coffee get-together, make sure to take your most pressing questions from your notes and ask this question,
This is what I see; what do you see?
2. Search online.
Thankfully, we live in the 21st century and don’t have to rely on an expert we may or may not know. We can go old school and find books - bible dictionaries, concordances, commentaries, and more. Or we can use the computer and our friend Google.
There are so many times I continue my quest for understanding by simply typing in this search:
“BIBLE PASSAGE” commentary
A word of caution - online searches (like searching anything online) may bring more confusion than clarity. Typically, the best way to research online is to find a resource you like and return to it regularly. I’ve found the following resources to be very helpful:
5. Give Yourself Time to Understand
You’ve prayed, meditated on scripture, noted how you interpreted a passage, and researched it online and with experts. It’s entirely possible you still don’t get it. The passage may be just as confusing as when you first read it.
I’ve followed Jesus for over 30 years and have been in professional ministry for nearly 25 years. Although I study scripture more than the average person, I still don’t understand much. It’s humbling to write that I know less about God and the Bible than I do.
However, my knowledge has increased year after year. When one piece opens up to me, it is like a domino, knocking down the next piece and the next. It’s okay if you’re stumped. Continue to meditate, think, and pray. Understanding will come over time.
At the same time, God is mysterious. He wants to be known, but He remains God. Some things will always be unknowable, and that is okay. So give yourself time, and commit to continuing to seek to understand both scripture and the God who inspired it.
As promised, I have a gift for you! Use the subscribe button to receive my free 30-day devotional. It includes 30 passages from the Old and New Testaments and my thoughts. When you subscribe, you will receive an email with links to download a PDF and/or eBook version.
If you’re already subscribed, leave a comment or respond to this email to receive the download links. You’ll have the option to download a PDF and/or eBook version.
Believe it. You will be changed.
I can promise you this: If you commit to seeking and studying the Bible, you will understand it, and it will change you. If you combine studying the Bible with following Jesus, you will be transformed. The person you are today will be changed for the better in five, ten, twenty, and fifty years.
So, I challenge you to seek God through the Bible and see if He may be more than you’ve given Him credit for. I genuinely believe that if you search with an open mind and heart, you will be surprised by what you find.
You will be transformed.
