Have you ever read a passage in the Bible and wondered, “What in the world does this mean?”
If so, you’re not alone.
One of the things I’ve observed over the years as a Bible teacher is that many sincere believers struggle to understand parts of Scripture. The issue is usually not a lack of intelligence, education, or even faith. More often than not, the challenge is that we’re reading an ancient text through modern eyes and assumptions.
The Bible was written in a world very different from our own. Its authors lived in cultures that thought, spoke, and viewed the world differently from how we do today. Yet many of us instinctively approach Scripture as though it were written directly to twenty-first-century readers. As a result, we sometimes miss important details and occasionally misunderstand the author’s intended message.
The good news is that there is a way to read Scripture that can greatly enhance our understanding. And often, a few simple adjustments in perspective can open up a much deeper understanding of God’s Word.
The Bible Was Written for Us, But Not Originally to Us
One of the most important principles of Bible study is understanding the difference between who Scripture was written for and who it was written to.
Scripture is absolutely for all believers today! As followers of Yeshua in modern times, we can learn, grow, and be transformed by its message. But the books of the Bible were originally written for real people living in real places and facing circumstances very different from our own.
Moses wrote to ancient Israel. The prophets spoke to specific generations of God’s people. And Paul wrote letters to address specific congregations with unique challenges. When we forget the real, living, breathing context in which the Bible was written, it becomes easy to impose our own assumptions and circumstances onto the text. And that can lead to interpretations that deviate far from what is intended.
Before asking, “What does this passage mean to me?” it is often helpful to ask, “What would this have meant to the people who first heard it?”
That basic question can change everything!
Context Matters More Than We Think
Most of us would never walk into the middle of a movie, watch a few minutes, and assume we understand the entire story. Yet we sometimes do that with the Bible.
Perhaps we see a verse quoted on social media. Or we read an isolated passage in a devotional. And, this happens a lot: a Bible teacher will quote a single sentence from a chapter. Now, none of those things is inherently wrong. But when verses become separated from their larger context, misunderstandings can easily follow.
Here are some critical things to keep in mind when thinking about the context of the Bible:
- Every verse belongs to a paragraph.
- Every paragraph belongs to a chapter.
- Every chapter belongs to a book.
And every book contributes to the larger story of Scripture!
One of the most helpful habits we can develop is learning to slow down and ask what is happening around a particular passage. Who is speaking? Who is listening? What issue is being addressed? How does this fit within the larger flow of the book? The answers often provide clarity that is easy to miss when we focus on isolated verses.
Learning to Read Through Ancient Eyes
Another challenge modern readers face is that we often assume biblical authors thought the same way we do. Here’s a spoiler alert: They didn’t!
The Bible was written within the world of ancient Israel and the broader ancient Near East. Its writers used imagery, symbols, and cultural references that would have been familiar to their original audiences. But many of these references are foreign to us.
For example, when modern readers hear the word “kingdom,” they may think primarily of a place. Yet when Yeshua spoke about the Kingdom of God, His audience understood the phrase against the backdrop of Israel’s Scriptures, the Biblical covenants, and the prophetic hope that God would establish His reign over the earth.
Here’s the bottom line: The words of the Bible can carry much deeper meaning when we understand the world in which they were spoken.
This is one reason why Rabbi Jason is so passionate about teaching the Jewish context of Scripture. This approach to the Bible is extremely valuable because it helps us hear the Bible more closely to the way its original audience would have heard it.
Good Interpretation Leads to Better Application
Many believers are eager to apply the Bible to their lives, and that’s a good thing. The challenge is that the application works best when it flows from sound interpretations.
Too often, we rush to ask, “How does this apply to me?” before we’ve taken time to understand what the passage actually says. A better approach might look something like this:
First, investigate the original context.
Second, zero in on the timeless principle being communicated.
Third, consider how that principle applies today.
This approach requires more patience, but it often leads to deeper and more accurate insights. And we all want those, right?
Yes, this approach takes more work. But here’s something you can be confident of: many passages become far more meaningful once we stop forcing modern questions onto them and instead allow them to speak within their original setting.
The Goal Is More Than Information
At this point, it’s important to remember that studying the Bible is not simply an academic exercise. The goal is not merely to absorb information or win theological arguments. As Rabbi Jason emphasizes time and again, the goal is transformation. God gave us Scripture so that we might know Him better, understand His purposes more clearly, and learn to walk more closely with Him.
Here’s another way to think about this: Good Bible study should engage both the mind and the heart. It should deepen our understanding and deepen our devotion. Digging deep into the Word should challenge our assumptions and draw us closer to God.
A Better Way to Read
One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves as Bible readers is the willingness to slow down. Instead of immediately asking, “What does this mean to me?” we can learn to ask better questions.
What did this passage mean to its original audience?
What was happening in the historical setting?
How would the first readers have understood these words?
What does this reveal about God’s character and purposes?
Only after asking these questions should we ask how those truths apply to our lives today.
Ironically, the more we understand the Bible in its original context, the more relevant it becomes to our lives today! In other words, when we learn to read Scripture through the lens of its historical setting, cultural background, and larger narrative, we often discover that God’s Word has been speaking more clearly than we realized all along.
And perhaps that’s one of the greatest joys of Bible study. The deeper we dig into the world of Scripture, the more we discover the wisdom, faithfulness, and character of the God who inspired it.
