How to Read the Bible 101Sample

The Walls: The Bible is God’s Word for us, but it wasn’t originally written to us.

As we prepare for day four, let’s take a second to review what we’ve covered so far!

Review:

Reading the Bible is kind of like sitting with Jesus in the living room of a house. Because reading the Bible isn’t about learning more facts or earning spiritual points. Reading the Bible is about getting to know Jesus by being in His presence.

And this particular house is a house with a strong foundation (Jesus is King), a sturdy roof (context is everything), and four walls that hold it all together. Each of those different parts of the house all serve the purpose of helping us read the Bible in a way that leads to Jesus and helps us become more like Jesus.

Now, let’s take a look at the first wall…

The Bible is God’s Word for us, but it wasn’t originally written to us.

Part of what makes the Bible so special is the fact that it was inspired by God and written by people. Which means it was written by more than one person. The Bible isn’t just a single book. It’s actually a collection of books written by dozens of authors over the course of hundreds of years. And every single one of those authors was guided by the Spirit of God to write their contribution in a way that, when they all come together, would tell a single unified story that leads to Jesus and invites us to become like Jesus.

It’s absolutely mind blowing to consider how unified the Bible is and how frequently the Bible foreshadows events that wouldn’t happen for hundreds of years in the future or has easter eggs referencing things that happened hundreds of years in the past. And none of these authors had Wikipedia or Google to help them keep their facts straight! Because they had something better. The Holy Spirit empowering them and inspiring their words.

Which brings us to the main idea of today’s reading. Because the Holy Spirit inspired those authors to write words that would speak with truth and power across the centuries, but, it’s important to keep in mind that these words were originally written with a different audience in mind.

The earliest books of the Bible were written over 3000 years ago (around 1500 BC), and the books that make up the New Testament were written around 2000 years ago (between 40-90 AD).

None of us were alive back then. And the world wasn’t the same as it is now.

This is why it’s so important to remember that the Bible is God’s Word for us, but it wasn’t originally written to us. So, if we want to read it wisely, we need to ask a few basic questions:

Who’s the author? Who’s the original audience? What was the author trying to say to them then? What might that mean for us now?

When we take the time to ask and answer some of these basic questions, it helps us better understand the historical context and it gives us a better starting place to help us make sure we aren’t misunderstanding what we’re reading.

One of the most important ways this idea plays out is in helping us understand how to interpret books found in the Old Testament and how they are different from books found in the New Testament.

When we read the Old Testament books, it’s important to keep in mind that many of the commands and laws contained within were specific to the Jewish people and the nation of Israel who were a part of the Covenant God made with Moses. A great example is the book of Leviticus.

The Lord called to Moses from the Tabernacle and said to him, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel…” Leviticus 1:1-2 NLT

These instructions were given to the people of Israel. And even though the spiritual truths contained within these laws and the principles they teach are still valuable to us today, these specific instructions don’t apply to us the same way it did to the original audience because we are not a part of the Old Covenant that God made with the nation of Israel.

The New Testament, on the other hand, was written to the early followers of Jesus and applies more directly to Christians then and now. But, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy to understand at first glance or always clear how it applies to us today. Because even though it’s all God’s Word for us, it wasn’t originally written to us. Take this letter from John for example:

This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth— because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever. 2 John 1:1-2 NLT

John wrote this letter to a specific group of people who were dealing with specific challenges that may not be the same things we are dealing with today. While the words he wrote apply more directly to us than what we read in the Old Testament, it still requires some wisdom to figure out how those truths should be applied in our unique circumstances.

This is why reading the Bible in isolation can be tricky. So, if you haven’t already, find some people that you can study the Bible with. This will help you hear what other people are learning, share what God is showing you, and ensure that you are all better able to interpret the Bible wisely and thoughtfully.

Challenge: As you read each of the passages today, see if you can identify who the author is, who the original audience was, and how what was being said back then might apply to you today!