The Bible is the inspired Word of God, that is what Christians believe. We believe that as we read its pages, we hear the very voice of God speaking to us today. I’ve come to the conclusion recently, that as we read our Bible, we run the risk of this accusation being true of us – you are reading your Bible wrong!
You might think this is going to be a post about hermeneutics, or exegesis or theology. You might think I am going to talk about context and genre and understanding where a particular passage fits in relation to all of salvation history. I am not. These are all important things, but my point is far more fundamental than that.
We do not read our Bible in order to make ourselves stronger.
If that is how you read your Bible then you are reading your Bible wrong.
In its most basic form, in general we read to learn. This is exactly how reading works in every context of life. That could be in the form of gathering information, deepening understanding or growing in wisdom.
Gathering Information
Sometimes when we read, our primary purpose is just to accumulate facts and knowledge. No more, no less. This could be facts of history – what happened when. Technical facts, how do things fit together and work. Or any other kind of fact. We read to increase the amount of information and knowledge we have. The more information we have, the ‘stronger’ we are.
So, when it comes to the Bible, we read it to learn the story of the Bible. What are the key events of salvation history? What are the other events that happened, that perhaps wouldn’t make the Bible overview? Who’s who in the Bible? What did they do? What did they say? We might even read it to get more technical information. How does Genesis 12 link to the rest of the Bible Story? Who and what are types of Christ?
We read the Bible to increase our knowledge. This is not wrong, in fact, I often argue that this is a good thing to do, but it is not our primary goal in reading the Bible.
Deepening Understanding
Often, more in depth reading is all about our understanding. We aren’t just gathering information but we are seeking to delve deeper to understand the meaning of it all. This could be trying to understand the why of how certain events of history happened the way they did. What events and actions triggered different things and what role did people and their actions play in how things developed? This could be more technical understanding. We know the facts of what different parts make up the human body, but now we are delving deeper into the chemical processes involved. Why does eating food give you energy? Some foods give you more energy for longer – why is this etc? Why does being dehydrated impact your concentration. This all builds understanding rather than mere information.
Understanding the things we know, and how they all relate to each is significant step up for us. The person who understands something, is in a far stronger position than the person who merely knows it as fact.
We read the Bible to build our understanding. We think about context and logical flow. Our concern is not just with what Paul said in Romans, but how does the book flow. What exactly is the purpose of the letter that Paul is trying to convey? We think about questions of the Old Testament Law. How exactly does that relate to salvation by grace alone? We diligently read over the events and words of Scripture to gain a far deeper understanding of the character of God. We don’t just learn the facts, but we bring it all together to come to solid conclusions and understanding that is deeply rooted in Scripture.
This in turn, from a purely human perspective, makes us stronger. We are able to spot error and refute it. Able to understand different things in the context of other things. Capable to teach things we know and pass them on. Our theological understanding is much clearer and more certain.
This is good, but it isn’t the main reason we read the Bible.
Growing in Wisdom
The most impactful reading is when what we learn and understand is actually applied to our life. So, we don’t just know how different foods affect the body, but we actually alter our diet to reflect it. We implement different exercise techniques in a planned way to maximise their effectiveness. We change the way we manage our time and our work in order to be more productive.
All of this is growing in wisdom and all of this makes us stronger as individuals. It makes us stronger as it gives us greater confidence in the decisions we make day to day. We know we are on the right track as the way we live is based on information we have gathered and the understanding we have built. It also makes us stronger as, by and large, making these types of changes gives us a far higher chance of making good decisions that actually improve our lives. They are all based on the information gathered and the understanding we have built.
So we read our Bible to learn how to live God’s way in God’s world. As we gather information and gain understanding about who God is, what matters in life and how to live rightly in His world, and as we apply that, we are actually in a much stronger position. Our life choices are based on God’s revealed word and not our own whims.
You are reading your Bible wrong!
Let me state categorically right now the following things:
- There is great value in reading the Bible to gather information.
- There is great value in reading the Bible to build understanding
- There is great value in reading the Bible to grow in wisdom
However, I think we read our Bible wrong if we do so in order to grow in our strength, to make us stronger. Whether that is gaining knowledge or understanding or even wisdom.
None of these is bad in and of themselves. If our purpose is to gain strength in these things then the danger is that, over time, as we read the Bible the impact will be:
- That we grow in confidence in OUR knowledge – we know the facts of the Bible inside out
- That we grow in confidence in OUR understanding – we know how it all fits together and have impressive theological clarity and insight
- That we grow in confidence in OUR wisdom – that we are basing our life choices on the solid rock of the Word of God.
The net effect is that we read the Bible to make ourselves ‘stronger’ and that this builds confidence in ourselves.
Slowly, I am learning the following wonderful truth. We read the Bible to get to know God, and as we do, to know our need for grace, and to see that need powerfully met in Christ. Which in turns helps us get to know God and so it continues.
In short, if reading the Bible increases our confidence in ourselves in any way, there is a problem. It should strip away any grounds for boasting in ourselves, but cause us to marvel in thanksgiving at God’s grace to us in Christ.
It should give us strength and confidence, but never in ourselves. Always in Christ.
When the song asks the question – how firm a foundation you saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in His excellent Word? The answer is not, a solid foundation because reading the Word grows my knowledge, understanding and wisdom. You are reading your Bible wrong! The answer is an unbreakable foundation because it shows me the grace of God in Christ.
All our accumulated knowledge, all our deepest understanding and all of our great wisdom, though this makes us ‘feel’ strong, is as sand next to the solid rock of the grace of God in Christ.
So read your Bible. Read it and gather knowledge. Build understanding. Read it and grow in wisdom. Do all those things. But read it for the purpose that you might rest assured in the grace of God in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.
