There are many good tools on the internet today to help you with this. One really good website is www. Another really good source is more conventional, the Life Application Study bible.
Both of these will help you understand context. There are two basic contexts that you want to get as you approach any passage. The first is the literary context, which includes knowing who wrote the passage, to whom the passage is written, and what type of literature it is. Is it an allegory, a metaphor, a parable, wisdom literature or historical? The second is the cultural context. If we are really going to understand the bible — which was various smaller books written to people in a different time and in a different part of the world — we need to understand the customary language and genre that was used when the book was written.
After we get the basics of the context of the passage, then we are ready to get down to reading and understanding the actual passage. Probably the best method here is to simply read the passage several times — it may be done in one sitting or done over a few days. Then after reading it a few times slowly just to reflect upon it, then it is time to ask a few pertinent questions.
Putting yourself into the story can really help bring the passage alive to you. Next, you focus on how the verse or passage might apply or speak specifically to your life. You begin to understand the commands or principles found in the passage, and then you ask how this applies to you personally. If you notice, we have taken you from the broadest point of view understanding the particular book down to how a verse or passage relates directly to your own personal life.
Most people who read the bible superficially or read it in big chunks short-cut this process; and they will never get the meaning of the passage or even more importantly, the message from the passage that they need for their own personal lives. Finally, you will want to memorize some verses to store them in your spiritual arsenal. Jesus used the Word of God to fight off the devil in the wilderness. We will need to do the same Matthew Paul tells us that the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit — it is the one offensive weapon we need in fighting and winning the spiritual battles we will face in life Ephesians What we are talking about here is not necessarily memorizing word for word, but rather having a clear understanding of the passage and being able to say it to yourself so that you get the meaning of it.
But you can remember principles and meanings. We all remember things that are important to us. One final thought on reading the bible and understanding it. If you are really going to read it, understand it, and apply it to your heart and spirit and not just your head , you will need to partner with the Holy Spirit.
While you may read the words, He will reveal the truth of the bible to your own life so that you can live as God has called you to live John Is it possible to read and understand the Bible? John a I have much more to say to you , more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth , comes, he will guide you into all truth.
Five Steps to Understanding the Scriptures:. Psalm Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Deuteronomy When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests.
It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees. KJV Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Living Bible Work hard Know what his word says and means. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. Joshua Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.
Then you will be prosperous and successful. John , KJV Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word , then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Amplified So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them ], you are truly My disciples.
And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. Seek God's truth in His word prayerfully These simple steps will help you greatly in the apostle Peter's words to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" 2 Peter Shortcuts to Major Topics:.
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Or you can post the link on your social media Facebook, Twitter, etc. Thank you for sharing God's Word! Copyright statement. How to Understand the Bible 5 Simple Keys to Knowing the Scriptures Summary: A simple, five-step approach to reading the bible can bring you greater insight into God's word than you've experienced before.
We certainly don't want our lives, our conduct, and our belief systems to be based on error. So it is critically important that we have our lives founded up the truths of Scripture.
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