How to Truly Read the Bible
Eight questions that will transform the way you understand Scripture.
Imagine you’re in a Bible study on Romans 9 a chapter that famously declares the absolute sovereignty of God. After reading it aloud, you open the floor for reactions. One participant launches into an enthusiastic monologue about how the passage celebrates human free will and how it affirms that God leaves the decision of salvation up to us.
The only problem? That’s the opposite of what Romans 9 says.
If you've led or attended a Bible study, you’ve likely experienced moments like these where someone is clearly reading into the Bible rather than reading from it. This kind of interpretive error isn’t usually the result of ill intent, but of misplaced methods. People come to Scripture with preconceived notions and personal hopes, and instead of letting the Bible speak, they filter it through their own lenses.
The problem isn’t limited to Bible studies. It’s common in private devotions, sermons, and even worship music. Many are reading the Bible, but few are actually understanding it. And the consequences are sobering misread verses lead to misapplied truth, weak theology, and shallow discipleship.
Meaning Must Have a Mean-er
Every book of the Bible every verse was written by someone who meant something specific. And because meaning is always tied to a person a mean-er our job as readers is to first ask, “What did this author mean when he wrote this?” Only then can we rightly ask, “What does it mean for me today?”
As Joe Rigney wisely points out, “Whenever we talk about meaning, we are talking about persons.” In other words, the Bible does not bend to our preferences. It stands firm in what it says. Good reading, therefore, begins with humble listening.
Eight Questions to Understand the Bible Better
Mortimer Adler’s classic book How to Read a Book wasn’t written with the Bible in mind, but its core questions provide a goldmine for anyone eager to grow in biblical understanding. These eight questions, when applied with care, can open up the true meaning of Scripture and deepen your faith in profound ways.
Let’s walk through each one using Psalm 23 as our example:
1. What kind of chapter am I reading?
Scripture contains many genres: poetry, narrative, law, prophecy, letters. Psalm 23 is poetry a worship song written by David. Knowing the genre helps set your expectations. A psalm isn’t a lecture it’s an artistic, emotionally resonant portrayal of truth.
2. How might I summarize the chapter?
If someone asked what Psalm 23 is about, what would you say? A possible summary. “If the Lord is your shepherd, He will guide, protect, and satisfy you, now and forever.”
Summarizing forces clarity. It requires you to consider what the author actually said not just what you felt as you read.
3. What big pieces do I see?
Psalm 23 has two main parts: verses 1–4 picture God as a shepherd, and verses 5–6 picture Him as a generous host. These metaphors convey care, provision, and presence. Identifying these parts helps us understand how the psalm builds its message.
4. What problem(s) does this solve?
David wrote Psalm 23 not because life was easy, but because it was hard. He was preaching to his soul in dark, fearful places. The psalm reassures us that even in the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us, protecting and providing.
Scripture always addresses real needs. Your job is to discover what specific need the author was answering.
5. Can I explain the key words?
Words like shepherd, valley of the shadow of death, and dwell are heavy with meaning. But we often assume we know what they mean without thinking. David wasn’t being sentimental he knew firsthand what shepherding meant: danger, sacrifice, and constant attention.
Understanding biblical words as the original author used them often reveals deeper insight than surface-level readings allow.
6. Which sentences seem most important?
Often, the first and last lines tell you the main idea. In Psalm 23, these are:
“The Lord is my shepherd.”
“I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Everything else in the psalm supports and expands on these two core truths.
7. How do the sentences build on one another?
Connecting words like for, but, and therefore matter. In Psalm 23:4, David says, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” The logic matters. He can walk through the darkest valley without fear because God is with him.
Understanding how ideas connect is essential to understanding what the author is actually saying.
8. What questions do I still have?
Reading Scripture well means allowing room for mystery. Psalm 23 gives us hope in trials, but it doesn’t answer every question. Why does God allow valleys at all? Why do His sheep sometimes suffer? These are real questions but they may be answered in other chapters.
Don’t rush past your questions. Record them. Pray through them. And keep reading until Scripture gives you clarity in God’s time.
Good Reading Begins with Humble Listening
If we skip these kinds of questions and jump straight to “what does this mean for me?” we risk twisting Scripture into our own image. But if we slow down, read carefully, and seek the author’s intent, we begin to hear God Himself.
And when you hear God speaking not merely inspiring quotes or moral lessons you discover that the Bible is not just a book about God. It’s a book by God.
Approach it with reverence. Read it with thoughtfulness. Let it shape your mind, feed your heart, and guide your steps.
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