What is the Bible?

To read the Bible effectively, you first need to understand what it is. A common misconception is viewing the Bible as a single book. In reality, it is a library—a collection of 66 distinct books written over centuries. This collection is incredibly diverse, featuring various literary styles including history, poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, letters to churches, and accounts of Jesus’ life. Because of this diversity, you can’t approach every section with the same mindset; the method for reading poetry differs vastly from reading a historical report or a personal letter. 

Dual Authorship and Reliability

Before you dive in, you first need to understand “dual authorship.” Human authors wrote the Bible in specific times, places, and cultures, and Christians believe God oversaw the process to tell a unified story of redemption. God inspired and protected the text, ensuring that despite the fallibility of human writers, the message remained trustworthy. This reliability is backed by historical evidence. For example:

  • The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the 1950s provided transcripts from antiquity that are over 99% accurate to the texts we have today.
  • Discrepancies are primarily found in minor punctuation rather than meaning.
  • Archaeology often validates the text; sites such as the Pool of Bethesda, once thought to be fictional, have been uncovered by excavations, confirming the historical setting of the Gospels.

Navigating Translations

The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. Because few modern readers speak these ancient languages, we rely on translations. When choosing a Bible, it helps to understand the “translation spectrum”:

  • Word-for-Word: Translations like the New American Standard Bible (NASB) or English Standard Version (ESV) match English words directly to the original languages. These are excellent for deep study, but can be “clunky” to read because English sentence structures differ from Hebrew or Greek.
  • Paraphrase: Versions like The Message sit at the far end of the spectrum, prioritizing readability and the “vibe” of the story. These are great entry points, but less suitable for studying specific word meanings.
  • Thought-for-Thought: Translations like the New International Version (NIV) fall in the middle ground. They balance accuracy to the original text with natural, readable English phrasing.

The best advice for a beginner is to choose a translation that you will actually open and read, as the barrier of complex language should not prevent access to the text.

Where Do I Start Reading?

Most people start books at the beginning, but the Bible is not like most books. Before you get started, it’s essential to understand that Scripture tells one big story about God and humanity, but it does not progress chronologically, cover to cover. If you’re new to reading Scripture, check out Luke to learn about the life of Jesus. Then continue in Acts, which focuses on the church. Or, you may want to begin by reading one chapter of Proverbs to find daily wisdom. If you commit to reading God’s Word for five minutes each day for a month, you’ll be surprised how your mind, heart, and actions will change.

The Bible reading plan will help you understand and engage with core concepts in the Bible and the life of Jesus.

How to Approach the Bible

Once you understand the physical text, you need to determine your internal “posture” or mindset. A major pitfall is treating the Bible like an encyclopedia—a reference book where you scan the table of contents to find a quick solution to a specific modern problem, like how to fix a car or manage a schedule. While the Bible contains wisdom, it is not primarily a book about us; it is a book about God.

The “Hard Truth” of Context 

We must accept a “hard truth”: the Bible was written for us, but not to us. The original authors wrote to real people in ancient contexts who used chariots, not cars. However, while technology changes, the human condition does not. The ancients experienced the same internal struggles—sin, prejudice, love, and anxiety—that we do today. Therefore, instead of asking, “What does this say about my specific modern situation?” you should approach the text asking, “What does this reveal about God’s character?”

Perspective Over Solution

Approaching the Bible often shifts a reader’s perspective rather than fixing their immediate circumstances. In a stressful situation, one might turn to Psalm 55:22: “Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will sustain you.” The verse does not repair a broken relationship or directly remove stress, but it can reorient the mind, reminding you that God is sustaining you through difficulty. Reading the Bible transforms us, not necessarily the circumstances.

The Long-Term Pursuit 

You should not expect a “crack in the universe” where angels sing every time you open God’s Word. While profound moments happen, reading the Bible is a “macro” pursuit; it is the daily rhythm of seeking God that transforms a person over time. The goal is to read it with a willingness to listen rather than a demand for specific answers.

How to Read the Bible

Practical Methods for Daily Reading

 

Moving from theory to practice, how does one actually read the text day-to-day? A major mistake to avoid is the “buffet approach,” picking only the “happy verses” or topics we think we need. Just as a child would only eat unhealthy food if given the choice, you might choose verses on “joy” when God actually wants to teach us about obedience or service. To avoid self-diagnosing our spiritual needs, you must read the Bible in context, looking at the full story rather than isolated sentences.

The S.O.A.P. Method 

The S.O.A.P. method, developed by Wayne Cordeiro, can help provide structure to daily reading. There are many methods to choose from, and you can choose the one that works best for you: Lectio Divina Method, Inductive Bible Study, and the PR3 Method. The S.O.A.P method can be especially helpful for new readers:

  • S – Scripture: Read a healthy chunk of text, such as a full chapter or a complete story, rather than just one verse. This ensures you capture the context.
  • O – Observation: Ask questions about what you read. Who is talking? What is the genre? Look for repeated words or themes. For example, noting the repeated use of the word “if” in Psalm 139 can reveal a theme of God’s presence in every hypothetical scenario.
  • A – Application: Ask, “What would God have me do with what I now know?” Remember, Scripture has one meaning but thousands of applications. The application might be an action, a conversation, or simply sitting in gratitude.
  • P – Prayer: Finish by talking to God, asking Him to help you live out what you have read.

Community and Persistence 

Reading shouldn’t be a solitary activity. “Divine Listening” (Lectio Divina) involves reading a passage multiple times—perhaps out loud within a community—to notice things missed the first time. Furthermore, even if a passage doesn’t feel immediately relevant to your life, keep reading. The wisdom you gain today might be intended to sustain you—or a friend—through a situation that will arise tomorrow.

Analogy 

Think of reading the Bible like learning to solve a Rubik’s Cube. At first glance, it appears to be a chaotic jumble of colors and shapes. You cannot just stare at it and hope it resolves itself. However, once you learn the basic mechanics and tools—such as the S.O.A.P. method and an understanding of context—what seemed daunting becomes a navigable and rewarding process.

Scripture Reading Toolkit

Here are a few methods for reading the Bible to help you connect with God through His Word:
Memorization

It’s not complicated. If something stands out to you big time, commit it to memory. Make some cards with verses on them that go with you everywhere, write them on your mirror in dry erase marker, or make a screenshot of the verses into your lockscreen! Challenge a friend or your small group to memorize with you!

Exegesis

Exegesis is a thoughtful analysis done to draw out meaningful interpretation of a passage of Scripture. Exegesis is the most helpful when reading the Gospels and letters in the New Testament.

  1. Observation: Who is part of this passage, and what is happening in it?
  2. Interpretation: Who was the original audience, what was this passage meant to do, and how would they have understood it?
  3. Application: How can I learn from what the original audience was navigating?

Meditation 

Thinking a thought all the way through. Journal about a passage, repeat it to yourself, wonder about it, or try to put yourself in the narrative if you can. Simply put, think about it, feel into it, try to let its truth live inside of you.

Prayer 

One way to pray through Scripture is by using the acronym ACTS:

Adoration – find something to worship about God from the passage

Confession – confessing a thought or action to God, and asking for forgiveness

Thanksgiving – thanking God for a way you see His work in your life

Supplication – make a passage-based request

Next Steps

If you are looking for a community to navigate life or a specific topic with, or simply a way to stay engaged with scripture, we invite you to explore one of the options below. 

Rooted: Rooted is a 10-week discipleship experience where you’ll learn foundational Christian beliefs, read stories from the global church, and practice spiritual rhythms for daily life that will carry well beyond the set experience.

Groups: Winter groups kick off on February 15, and there’s still time to join a group! Whether it’s a Rooted group to grow in your walk with God or another interest group, there’s still time to jump in and get connected!   

Daily Habit: Studies show that the top way to grow in faith is to read Scripture consistently. This year, each weekend series will come with a Bible reading plan aligned with Sunday sermons, available in the Willow App under Daily Habit or via PDF here).