How to Read and Understand the Bible

Outline 

Squares 

The Bible is a story, and God is the author of the Bible. 

Trust in God always pays, as illustrated in the story of Job. 

The Gospels represent the good news as embodied in the life of Jesus Christ. 

God always fulfills his promises as represented in his relationship with the Israelites. 

Triangles 

The historical perspective of the Old Testament. 

The interpretation of the miracles outlined in the Gospels. 

The Bible as a book of rules and regulations. 

Circles 

How did the death of Jesus on the Cross redeem humanity? 

Should Christians rely more on the New Testament or the Old Testament as the basis of salvation? 

Hearts 

The Bible should be viewed as a story that highlights God’s plan for human beings. 

Squares 

Immense attention has been placed on the authorship of the Bible. Many researchers agree that the people inspired by God wrote the Bible. Although God was not directly involved in the authorship of the word by word contents, the human authors were inspired by his spirit. Thus, in most circumstances, God is regarded as the direct author. These sentiments are echoed in John 1:1 which says, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.” Gutierrez (2016) says, “To read and study the Bible with another presumption of authorship and character is to create a storyline that does not fit the framework of the text.” 

The story of Job emphasizes the importance of trust in God. The story of Job is a monumental depiction of the importance of trust amidst adversity. Despite all the troubles that Job passed through, he endured and never failed to believe in him. In the end, he managed to pass the temptation and secure a place in heaven. 

The four Gospels include Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. The first four are the synoptic Gospels that describe events from a similar point of view. John on the other hand, significantly differs from the first three (Skarsaune, 2017). The Gospels focus on the manifestation of God through his Son, Jesus Christ. It highlights the redemption of humanity through the life and death of Christ. Also, it sets the center stage for the coming of the third member of the Trinity, which is the Holy Spirit. 

Triangles 

The Old Testament has a rich history that has often been neglected in the literature. The first five books of the Old Testament include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy (Skarsaune, 2017). Genesis documents the creation story while Exodus shows the movement of the Israelites from captivity. In Leviticus, God interacts with the people on how well to make sacrifices to him. In the book of Numbers, God orders the counting of the 12 tribes of Israel. In Deuteronomy, God warns against the false prophet and the importance of maintaining faithfulness in him (Gutierrez, 2016). 

Scholars have paid much attention to the interpretation of the miracles in the New Testament. The miracles represented God’s power in his son. They helped in legitimizing Jesus as the son of God. Also, Jesus performed miracles so that God’s will and desire could be seen on earth (Zetterholm, 2012). 

The Bible is often referred to as the book of rules and regulations. This assertion stems from the myriad laws and teachings that God gives to the people. 

Circles 

The death of Jesus on the Cross is often interpreted as the redemption of humanity. Zetterholm (2012) asserted that through the eyes of God and earlier prophecies, the death of Jesus was a sacrifice with his blood symbolizing the cleansing of the sins of humanity. In a nutshell, his death ushered a new beginning for humanity. 

The New Testament was not created to discredit the Old Testament but rather to help in its interpretation. In most cases, Jesus was criticized for going against the laws of Moses. However, he often rebutted by saying that his coming was to help people understand the Scriptures better but not to discredit them (Gutierrez, 2016). 

Hearts 

The Bible should be viewed as a story that highlights God’s plan for human beings from their birth to their death. 

References 

Gutierrez, B. (2016) “Every day Bible Study. Routledge 

Skarsaune, O. (2017). Biblical interpretation. In The Early Christian World (pp. 647-670). Routledge. 

Zetterholm, K. H. (2012). The Jewish interpretation of the Bible: Ancient and contemporary. Fortress Press.