When reading the bible, it is important that you go about interpreting scriptures correctly. This is the main way you will be able to grow as a Christian. There are several principles of biblical interpretation that will help you when it comes to rightly dividing the word. You do not need to attend a biblical college or have theological training in order to apply these principles.
Consider what the writer of the book intended to say. This is just like when you are reading a novel and you follow the storyline based on what the writer is saying and not on what you think they intended to say. When reading the Bible, keep in mind that it was written many years ago, so to understand what the writer originally meant, you have to have a good understanding of the culture and the times they lived in.
Avoid interpreting isolated texts of the bible. This will most likely lead to misinterpretation. Always read passages in context. This means finding out what the scriptures before and after the text you are studying say. You also need to consider the context of the whole chapter and book of the bible. You also need to know who wrote the scripture and compare it to their other writings in the bible.
There are several scripture passages which are referred to in other places in the Bible. To understand such scriptures better, go to the places where the passage have been mentioned and study them. This will increase your understanding of that particular passage. Also, if you think that a particular passage seems to be contradicting another passage, it could be that you are interpreting one or both scriptures incorrectly, so you may want to study both scriptures further.
Consider the genre of the scripture you are reading. Different genres are interpreted differently, as they have different features and are written using different styles. For instance, how you interpret poetry books is different from how you will interpret narratives or parables. This may require a more trained mind to do this, as some differences may be quite subtle for an ordinary reader to notice.
In some cases, the surface meaning of the text is its true meaning. There is no other meaning. This applies in cases where the text is quite straightforward. Don't attach additional meaning to passages where no additional meaning is required.
Try and understand the language used and its meaning. This may require that you study the original meaning of different words in Hebrew or Greek. This is because English words may translate differently and slightly change the meaning that the original author meant. You can use study guides to help you.
Prayerfully seek the help of the Holy Spirit when reading your Bible. The Holy Spirit will open your understanding and help you see biblical truths. This does not mean that you neglect study of the word in the guise of waiting spiritual guidance of the Spirit, but that you diligently continue in it as the Holy Spirit will use that to guide you.
Consider what the writer of the book intended to say. This is just like when you are reading a novel and you follow the storyline based on what the writer is saying and not on what you think they intended to say. When reading the Bible, keep in mind that it was written many years ago, so to understand what the writer originally meant, you have to have a good understanding of the culture and the times they lived in.
Avoid interpreting isolated texts of the bible. This will most likely lead to misinterpretation. Always read passages in context. This means finding out what the scriptures before and after the text you are studying say. You also need to consider the context of the whole chapter and book of the bible. You also need to know who wrote the scripture and compare it to their other writings in the bible.
There are several scripture passages which are referred to in other places in the Bible. To understand such scriptures better, go to the places where the passage have been mentioned and study them. This will increase your understanding of that particular passage. Also, if you think that a particular passage seems to be contradicting another passage, it could be that you are interpreting one or both scriptures incorrectly, so you may want to study both scriptures further.
Consider the genre of the scripture you are reading. Different genres are interpreted differently, as they have different features and are written using different styles. For instance, how you interpret poetry books is different from how you will interpret narratives or parables. This may require a more trained mind to do this, as some differences may be quite subtle for an ordinary reader to notice.
In some cases, the surface meaning of the text is its true meaning. There is no other meaning. This applies in cases where the text is quite straightforward. Don't attach additional meaning to passages where no additional meaning is required.
Try and understand the language used and its meaning. This may require that you study the original meaning of different words in Hebrew or Greek. This is because English words may translate differently and slightly change the meaning that the original author meant. You can use study guides to help you.
Prayerfully seek the help of the Holy Spirit when reading your Bible. The Holy Spirit will open your understanding and help you see biblical truths. This does not mean that you neglect study of the word in the guise of waiting spiritual guidance of the Spirit, but that you diligently continue in it as the Holy Spirit will use that to guide you.
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