Kathy Howard's Blog: Unshakeable Faith for Life, page 8

How often do you read or study the Old Testament? I’ve heard Christians give lots of reasons for avoiding the first 39 books of the Bible. We are under the new covenant. It’s too hard to understand. The Old Testament isn’t relevant. I’ve even heard, I don’t like the God of the Old Testament. 

Personally, I love the Old Testament. Yes, there are some parts that are more difficult to understand. I get bogged down in Leviticus. And there are parts of the prophets that at first read I go “huh?”

But, I know that every word is inspired. That God intentionally included every book, chapter, and verse in His Word for a purpose and for our benefit. The Old Testament is in fact glorious and beautiful and needed for our lives today.

I can tell you aren’t yet convinced. You aren’t quite ready to pull out your Bible to study the Old Testament. So, I’m going to give you some reasons. (See also “10 Reasons the Old Testament is Important for Christians.”)

6 Reasons to Study the Old Testament

The following list is not exhaustive, but I hope these reasons will foster your interest in the Scriptures Jesus Himself studied.

To expand our knowledge of God – The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament. The same God you love and follow. In the laws, history, and prophecy of the Old Testament we learn about our God’s power, holy nature, and eternal purposes. The New Testament gives us a great – but limited – understanding.To get the full story of redemption – Our story of redemption begins in a garden. In the book of Genesis. Yes, Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s redemptive purposes. But God formed His plan before the creation of the world. He began to unfold His plan when Adam and Eve chose disobedience. The thread of redemption runs through the entire Old Testament.To understand our need for a Savior – God’s dealings with His people in the Old Testament show the seriousness of sin. The Law and the sacrificial system reveal the depraved nature of mankind and the great cost of forgiveness (Romans 7:7).To gain a deeper understanding of Jesus and His work – Everything in the Old Testament points to Jesus (John 5:39). Everything in the old covenant is a shadow of the great truths of Christ (Hebrews 10:1). When we study the Old Testament, we study the person and work of Jesus.To foster a sense of awe and worship for our holy God – When we neglect the Old Testament, we often end up taking God too lightly. We fail to give Him the fearful respect He deserves. When we study the Old Testament, we see the exalted glory of our great God. For instance, when God descended on Mt Sinai (Exodus 19:16-20) and when Isaiah sees God seated on His throne, high and exalted (Isaiah 6:1-6).To see great examples of faith in action – Incredible stories of faith pack the pages of the Old Testament. People of faith like Noah, Joshua, Deborah, David, Ezra, and so many more live their faith before us. We miss so much when we don’t know their stories.Some help to understand the Old Testament

One reason we may avoid the Old Testament is because we find it a little harder to understand than the New Testament. But, with some practical tools and encouragement, we can not only understand the first 39 books of the Bible, we can also enjoy them! The following posts can help:

5 Tips for Understanding Biblical Narrative5 Tips to Help You Understand the Psalms8 Tips to Help You Understand Proverbs4 Tips to Help You Understand the Prophets How will you dive in?

What about you? Have you been avoiding the Old Testament? Maybe you have but you’re ready to dig in now. Where do you start? It can be as simple as starting to read in Genesis. If you’d like some encouragement and support, check out the Facebook group I lead “Reading the Bible Together.” We alternate between Old and New Testament books. Right now we are in Mark, but we will start Haggai and Zechariah on August 7th.

I also have an enhanced reading guide for Ruth available for a small fee. It will easily guide you through this beautiful book. Don’t avoid the Old Testament. You will miss so much about our great, big God!

Do you read and study the Old Testament? If not, why not? If you do, what’s your favorite Old Testament book?

6 Reasons to Read and Study the Old Testament by Kathy Howard.

My mother used to tell a story about me to which most moms of young children can relate. One day, when she ran into the bathroom for just a moment, I immediately began knocking on the door, demanding her attention. In frustration, she said “Can’t I get just a little privacy?” To her surprise, the knocking stopped and briefly all was quiet. Soon I was knocking again, but with a new message. “Mommy, I looked in my toy box, but I couldn’t find any privery!” 

Like the endless, urgent entreaties of a toddler on a frazzled mother’s time, we also experience constant demands on our limited time. Our daily 24 hours are gobbled up by family responsibilities, work, household duties, and more. Some demands we can control, forcing them into our timetable. Others scream for attention until we give it, like knee-high grass in the yard or an overflowing laundry basket. 

This phenomenon, commonly referred to as the “tyranny of the urgent,” steals valuable time from the more polite, but more important things. Sometimes we can’t avoid temporarily setting aside the important to deal with something that cannot be put off another minute. But all too often we allow the seemingly urgent to push out the important because we fail to purposefully prioritize the important.

Jesus Defeated the Tyranny of the Urgent

Jesus experienced constant demands on His time and attention. The tyranny of the urgent was always a threat. For instance, in the Gospel of Mark, we learn that Jesus couldn’t openly enter a town to teach because He would be overwhelmed by crowds of people who wanted something from Him (Mark 1:35). So Jesus intentionally worked to make room for the most important things.

When Jesus first began His ministry in Galilee, everyone in Capernaum wanted to get close to Him. So, after an overwhelmingly hectic day in ministry, Jesus rose early to get away and spend time alone with His Father. “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35 ESV). (Also see “8 Tips for Moving Quiet Time from “Want To” to “Get To“ and “11 Tips for Spending Quality Quiet Time with God.“)

When His disciples woke and discovered Jesus gone, they went looking for Him. Their search was not mere concern for Jesus’ welfare. According to Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary the Greek word Mark used that’s translated as “searched,” “looked for,” or “followed after” means to intensively track and persistently search with a determination to find. The disciples didn’t merely wonder where Jesus had gotten off to, they were a bit indignant that He wasn’t conforming to their timetable. After all, the crowds back in town clamored for His presence. (Mark 1:37).

We can Follow Jesus’ Example

Sometimes we also feel that indignant hostility from the things that pull at our attention. But rather than simply throwing our hands up in surrender, we can follow Jesus’ example. After a busy, draining evening and with more of the same ahead, Jesus intentionally did two things. 

First, He spent time with the Father by slipping beyond the reach of the urgent to commune with the only One who could provide everything He needed. He set the urgent aside to embrace the important.

Second, Jesus established His priorities and voiced them to those in His circle. Jesus clearly and firmly told the disciples that the Father had sent Him to take the Gospel message to those who needed it. “And he said to them, ‘Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.’” Mark 1:38

He would fulfill that purpose first and meet the physical needs of the people as He went. And we can follow Jesus’ example. Let’s establish our priorities, voice them to those close to us, and ask God to help us keep the important at the top of our list.

Yes, some days the time tyrant will win. But most days, with a little discipline and a lot of Jesus, we can defeat the tyranny of the urgent and use the time the Father has given us for His glory. 

This post was excerpted from “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Gospel of Mark.”

An Opportunity to Prioritize the Study of God’s Word

You are invited to join me for 8 weeks in the Gospel of Mark. This virtual study starts June 12 in the year-round Facebook group “Reading the Bible Together.” This group is perfect for the summer. You can “attend” from wherever you happen to be. You can pop in to the group at any time during the day that works for you. And you can access it wherever you have wifi or cell reception.

You don’t need anything for this study but your Bible, something to write on, and access to the Facebook group. BUT, if you’d like to enhance your study with additional commentary and some devotional thoughts, get a copy of my devotional study book “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Mark.” It’s available on Amazon in print or digital versions.

HERE’S HOW THE GROUP WORKS:

Readings & discussion questions for Monday through FridayDaily posts scheduled for 5am Central timeAverages 20-30 verses a dayFormatted to help you get into the Word for yourselfThis group is FREENew Bible books begin immediately after one endsYou can start or stop any time

JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP NOW!

Slaying the Tyranny of the Urgent by Kathy Howard.

The book of Mark is one of four in the New Testament known as a “Gospel.” Like Matthew, Luke, and John, Mark records Jesus’ life, ministry, and sacrificial death for our salvation. The word “Gospel” means “Good News.” 

Although the four Gospels essentially tell the same overall story they each do it uniquely. They have different audiences, different themes, different purposes, and different styles. Check out the list below to discover 7 things you might not know about the Gospel according to Mark. (See also “4 Tips for Understanding the Gospels.”)

7 Things You Might Not Know about the Gospel of MarkMark records more miracles than any of the other Gospels – Mark’s fast-paced account reads like an action-packed novel. His liberal use of the adverb “immediately” – 42 times! – keeps things moving. This is just one way Mark reflects the sense of urgency Jesus had for sharing the good news of the kingdom in the limited time the Father gave Him on earth. Mark also focuses more on Jesus’ actions than His words.It is the first and shortest Gospel – Mark is half the length of Luke and 90% of Mark’s material is found in either Matthew or Luke. This Gospel does not record the birth of Jesus but instead begins when Jesus’ ministry begins. But Mark is also the only Gospel that records Jesus’ healing of the deaf and dumb man of Tyre (7:31-37) and the blind man of Bethsaida (8:22-26). For centuries, Mark was thought to be based on Matthew and Luke, but now scholars hold firmly that Mark was the first account of Jesus’ life and ministry to be penned.Mark is technically anonymous – The heading “According to Mark” was not in the original manuscript, but added later by scribes who made the earliest copies of the Gospel. The author does not explicitly identify himself in the account itself. However, the earliest church tradition and writings of the early church fathers identify and support Mark as the author. Most likely, “Mark” is the John Mark we read about in Acts. The early church met in the home of his mother Mary (Acts 12:12). Mark was also a cousin of Barnabas and accompanied him and Paul on the first missionary journey (Acts 12:25). Although Paul and Barnabas had a falling out over the fact that Mark deserted them early in the journey, Mark later became an indispensable ministry partner to Paul (2 Timothy 4:11).The author made a cameo appearance – Many scholars believe that Mark included a brief cameo of himself in his Gospel account. In Mark 14:51-52, Mark tells of a young man who fled the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested. Church tradition holds that this young man was Mark. Mark is the only Gospel who records this. (By the way, this young man fled the garden nude since someone in the crowd grabbed his garment to try to catch him!)This Gospel is likely based on Peter’s experience – The writings of early church fathers and early church tradition not only attribute this Gospel to Mark, but also hold that Mark based his account on Peter’s eyewitness testimony and preaching. (Note: One example is the writing of Papias, the bishop of Hierapolis, in 140 AD.) Scholars also believe Mark was Peter’s disciple and ministry partner. Papias also called Mark “Peter’s interpreter.”Mark probably wrote from Rome to Gentile Christians – According to church tradition, Mark may have been in Rome to hear Peter’s account not long before Peter’s martyrdom in the mid 60’s AD. In his first letter, Peter wrote that Mark was in Rome (Babylon) with him (1 Peter 5:13). Persecution by Nero against Christians in Rome intensified after the great fire of 64 AD. These facts support scholars’ understanding that Mark wrote his Gospel to encourage Gentile believers who were suffering for their faith. Mark’s explanations of Jewish customs support the belief he wrote to Gentiles. This may also explain Mark’s lack of Jesus’ genealogy. If Mark wrote his Gospel shortly after Peter’s death as many scholars think, the date of the Gospel would fall in the mid to late 60’s AD.The account is not in chronological order – We modern, western thinkers like events neatly laid out in chronological order, but ancient Hebrews organized more to reflect the relationship of events and to meet the needs of the hearers. The construction of Mark also shows that rather than getting Peter’s story in one long dictation, he complied the Gospel from individual conversations and sermons.Want to study Mark online with me?

If this list has made you want to read and study this great book, I can help! On Saturday, I am kicking off an 8-week study of Mark in the private Facebook group “Reading the Bible Together.” 

Note: This group and this study are both FREE. However, I have written a 40-day devotional study on the book of Mark that makes a great supplemental resource for this study. It is optional, but I will be including additional questions each day based on the book. It is available in e-book and print formats on Amazon. Here’s my affiliate link for “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Mark.”

This encouraging, active community includes women of all ages and walks of life who want to be in God’s Word. The members pray for one another and welcome all. Since the group is private, only members can see the group page with its posts and comments.
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We read through one Bible book at a time, maintaining a pace that allows us to go a little deeper each day. The group fits any schedule, you can stop in any time during the day. We have women from all over the world so everyone reads and comments when it works best for them.

How the group works:Readings & discussion questions for Monday through Friday Daily posts scheduled for 5am Central timeAverages 20-30 verses a dayFormatted to help you get into the Word for yourselfThis group is FREENew Bible books begin immediately after the last one endsYou can start or stop any time

To join, follow this link for “Reading the Bible Together,” request to join, and answer the 3 questions. 

7 Interesting Facts about the Gospel of Mark by Kathy Howard.

We may not realize it, but we do it. When we read the Bible, by default we impose our own understanding of the world into the pages of Scripture. But the people who originally received God’s Word lived in a vastly different place and time. A huge gap exists between their culture and spot in history and ours today.

Years ago, on our way home from a mission trip to Africa, our team had an extra-long layover in London. So, we decided to stow our bags in a locker and take a train into the city to do a little sight-seeing. As we approached the train’s open door we heard a recorded message repeating the phrase, “Mind the gap!”

As I stepped over the wide, open space between the platform and the train the meaning of the announcement hit me. That’s the British way of saying “watch your step.” If I had failed to “mind the gap” I might have ended up in the gap! 

When we fail to “mind the gap” when we read or study the Bible, we risk falling into misunderstanding. The people in Scripture didn’t live in an isolated Bible bubble. They lived in a big world far different than ours. To best understand the original – and only! – meaning of Scripture, we must consider the original historical and cultural situation. (Also see “4 Tips to Help You Understand the Bible.”)

First, we must consider the historical situation of the original audience by learning about the world powers of their time, what world religions dominated, and what was going on in and around Israel. Second, we should learn about the relevant cultural mores and ancient customs that shaped their lives. But how?

4 Resources to help bridge the Historical and Cultural DistanceRead the passage from different translations – One type of Bible translation, known as “dynamic equivalent,” update things like idioms, figures of speech, measurements, monetary terms, and more for the 21st century reader. Although not technically as accurate as different types, these translations help bridge the distance for the reader. My favorite dynamic equivalent translation is the New Living Translation. You can read different Bible translations online for free at BibleGateway.com or BlueLetterBible.org. (Also see “Why are There So Many Bible Translations?”)Refer to a good study Bible – Although limited due to space, most study Bibles will share key historical and cultural information on a Bible passage.Open up a Bible dictionary – These resources are a wealth of information! You can look up places, people, nations, terms, practices, things, animals, Bible books and more. There are several good Bible dictionaries. The one I have on my bookshelf is the “Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible.” I’ve also seen trustworthy recommendations for the “Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary” and on Amazon it’s far cheaper than Eerdman’s. (In fact, I just ordered myself a copy of the Holman’s dictionary!)Consult a background commentary – My favorite go-to resource for history and culture are the IVP Bible Background Commentaries. There is a New Testament volume and an Old Testament volume. These two volumes give background on just about every passage in the Bible. These resources are invaluable for my Bible study. I consult them all the time!

Do you have or use any of these resources? What’s your favorite?

Mind the Historical and Cultural Gap in Scripture by Kathy Howard.

The question came during a new Bible study on the Holy Spirit with the ladies of my church. At one point, the friend next to me asked what I thought about spiritual gifts tests. My answer? “You probably don’t want to know.”

But then we talked about it anyway. And yes, we should have been paying closer attention in class.

I usually try to avoid answering this question. If the topic comes up in a group I may stay silent or just walk away. Why? Because my opinion is different than most and I don’t want to start any doctrinal debates.

But after my conversation with Kimberly that day, I decided I would share my thoughts with you. Maybe a thoughtful conversation about spiritual gifts tests can reorient our focus.

My feelings about #SpiritualGiftsTests are different than most. 3 concerns
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Spiritual Gifts are not about Us

Sadly, spiritual gifts is one of those areas of faith where we believers tend to make it all about us instead of about God. We ask, “What can I do for God? How can I use my gifts and talents?” Instead, we should be asking, “How does God want to use the gifts He gave me?”

In their book, What’s So Spiritual About Your Gifts? (LifeChange Books), authors Henry and Mel Blackaby caution that spiritual gifts tests are limited by their nature:

“It can help identify how God has used you since you’ve become a Christian. But it shouldn’t be used as a guide for how God desires to use you in the future, for God’s purposes are based upon His strengths, not yours alone. He may choose to take you into areas of service in which you’re naturally weak, to reveal His strength and bring glory to Himself.”

At their best, spiritual gifts tests may identify spiritual gifts and natural talents and abilities. But at their worst, since they cannot distinguish between them, the tests could actually encourage believers to “serve” according to our natural talents rather than relying on the power and equipping of the Holy Spirit.

When you think about it, using a spiritual gifts test is a little like trying to put out a forest fire with a water pistol. They attempt to determine the work of God with a test devised by human logic.

So, while I think spiritual gifts tests can be a useful tool when kept in the proper perspective, I think too often they can do more harm than good.

#SpiritualGiftsTests can do more harm than good. 3 concerns
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Here are 3 of my concerns about spiritual gifts tests:They can replace God’s purposes with our purposes – Since spiritual gifts tests tend to reveal our own strengths and talents, we may use the assessment to find ways to “serve” in our own power. We will miss out on God’s greater purpose.They can limit the Holy Spirit – Even when the test does reveal a true spiritual gift, we may find ourselves only serving in ways that use that specific gift. We forget that as a believer we have the entire person of the Holy Spirit residing within us. We have access to all of His power to follow and obey God in any way He leads. Yet, we may hear God’s call but reject it because “that’s not in our area of gifting.”They can become an excuse – We may conveniently use the test results as our guide instead of the Holy Spirit. It’s much easier to pull out that pat answer – “That’s not my gift” – than to lay aside our own plans and seek God’s will and direction. It also gives our “no” a “spiritual” reason.

I have taken spiritual gifts tests in the past. But I have also followed God to work in areas that didn’t line up with the results of any test. And He did things that only He could do! I am so glad I didn’t rely on that test.

What about you? Are you limiting what the Holy Spirit wants to do in and through your life because of the results of a spiritual gifts test? Has God ever done anything through your life contrary to the results of a spiritual gifts test?

You may also be interested in:

5 Reasons Every Christian Needs the Church

5 Christian Trends You May Want to Re-evaluate

“What is Spiritual Fruit?” 

3 Concerns about Spiritual Gifts Tests by Kathy Howard.

Women often ask me about the best way to read the Bible. “Should I read it all the way through or should I slow down and read one book at a time?”

My answer is “YES.” Stay with me. I’ll explain.

More than three decades ago, when I first fell in love with God’s Word, I didn’t have the tools to really study the Bible for myself. So, I devoured all the in-depth Bible studies I could get my hands on – particularly Beth Moore’s. For a while, I used these kinds of resources as the guide for my time in God’s Word.

Then I realized I could – and should – go straight to God’s Word myself. Published Bible studies are wonderful resources and supplemental studies. But with the Holy Spirit as our Teacher, we can learn straight from the Bible. 

For several years I used a “Read-the-Bible-Through-in-a-Year” plan. Then I realized I felt rushed. The amount of reading required each day kept me moving quickly. I got to where I just wanted to check the box. 

A Change in my Own Reading

I really longed to slow down and take my time. So, I made a change. 

In recent years, rather than going “wide” and covering all 66 books in 12 months, I’ve been going “deep.” I take a slow, purposeful pace through one Bible book at a time. Depending on the book, I read on average about 15-30 verses a day. This pace allows me to observe and interpret the passage using my simple inductive method the 4-R Bible Study Method. 

So, back to the first question. Which is the best way to read the Bible? Wide and fast through the whole Bible in a year or less? Or, slowing down and going deep?

Yes. We need both. 

We Need Wide 

Reading through the whole Bible in a relatively short period of time – a year or less – helps us see the “Meta-narrative” or big story of Scripture. We need to see how all the individual pieces fit together and the full scope of God’s big plan. Understanding the whole Book helps us better understand each book. (Also see “How Literary Context Aids Our Understanding.”) Reading individual books without that big picture understanding is like watching the 4th Star Wars movie before you’ve seen movies 1-3. 

We Need Deep

Once we have a feel for the Meta-narrative, not only will the pieces make more sense we will also enjoy them more. We will see truths we would otherwise miss. 

Slowing down gives us time to reflect and savor. It gives God room to embed His truths in our hearts and use them to shape our character and refine our faith. Going slow gives God time to “catch us.”

A slow, deep pace plants God’s Word in our hearts where it can take root and grow.

Never read the Bible through before?

If you’ve never read the whole Bible through in a year or less, I highly recommend that you do. I’ve got a couple of reading plans on my website that can help. One reading plan takes you straight through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Another one, organized chronologically, will take you through most of Scripture in the order things happened historically. (The Bible is organized by category rather than chronologically. See “How is the Bible Organized?” for more.)

Pastor Lamb’s Reading Plan – This Bible reading plan, which takes you through the entire Bible in a year, was compiled by one of my former pastors. It includes reading assignments for every day of the week.

Chronological Plan – If you’ve never read through the Bible before or you don’t currently read your Bible at least five times a week, I suggest you begin with this plan. Although it doesn’t cover every single Bible book and verse, you will read through all the major stories and key passages of Scripture in chronological order. And it includes just 5 reading assignments a week.

Ready to dive deep?

If you feel you have a decent grasp of the Big Story, try slowing down and savoring one book at a time. Here are a few tips:

Have a plan for reading – Pick a book of the Bible you’re interested in or find a plan that works for you. Check out the five “Book by Book” plans on my Resource Page. They take you through individual books at a slow pace. 

Start with the book’s Background – Before you start reading, find out the background info like who wrote it, who it was written to, and why it was written. It will lay the right foundation for your reading. For help see “First Steps to Study a Bible Book.”

Consider how you’ll “digest” what you read – There are right ways and wrong ways to study Scripture. A faithful Bible student uses good study tools. One simple, but solid, study method is the 4 R Bible study method.

What’s your current reading style? Wide or deep?

Online Bible Study Conference Starts Tuesday, May 2nd. Find out more!

Wide or Deep? Fast or Slow? Best Way to Read the Bible by Kathy Howard.

Think you know the book of Acts? I thought I knew it pretty well. Then I spent some time last year diving deep into this amazing Bible book to write “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Acts.” Some of the facts in the Acts Trivia Quiz I already knew, but others I learned during this time of study. (Like the other Deep Rooted devotionals, the Acts volume is formatted around the 4 R Bible study method.)

Acts Trivia Quiz

Find out just how well you know the book of Acts. Submit your email below to access the quiz!

More about Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Acts

Pack your bags and join Kathy Howard for the journey of a lifetime. You’ll experience the powerful arrival of the Holy Spirit, witness the birth of the church, and walk the dusty roads alongside those first missionaries as they boldly share the Gospel of Jesus with the world.

This volume of Deep Rooted – 50 devotions through the book of Acts – will show you how to interact with and apply Scripture, not just read it. These meaty daily devotions use a simple study framework designed to help you:

Develop a regular habit of spending quality time in God’s WordLearn how to dig into Scripture on your ownFoster a desire to share the Gospel with othersDepend on the Holy Spirit as you follow Jesus

Finally, a daily devotional with some meat on its bones! Find out more about “Deep Rooted Acts” on Amazon.

Take the Book of Acts Trivia Quiz by Kathy Howard.

“What does this Bible passage mean to you?” This question is often asked in many Bible study groups. Unfortunately, it’s a dangerous question. It can easily lead us far away from God’s truth.

Why Shouldn’t We Ask “What does this passage mean to you?”

The question itself implies that God’s truth is relative. That it’s okay for a Bible verse or passage to mean one thing to one person and something different to another. But God’s truth is not relative. It is absolute because the Bible reflects the perfect character of its Author.

The Bible is true and unchanging because God is true and unchanging. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17). The times and our culture change constantly, but God’s Word never changes. It is just as relevant today as when it was first written. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17).

God’s Word has just one, true meaning – what God meant when He inspired it to be written. While, there is but one meaning of any Bible passage, there is endless application.

Keep reading to see what questions we should ask.

What Question Should We Ask First?

So, where do we begin? Let’s start with: “What does this passage mean?” Our first goal in Bible study is to discover God’s one, original meaning. It may sound daunting, but with the proper tools we can understand the Bible. In fact, God wants us to understand His Word. And it doesn’t have to be hard.

There are lots of great Bible study methods and tools that help us approach and study God’s Word correctly. (For instance, see “4 R Bible Study Method” and “Video Teaching on the 4 R Bible Study Method.” for a little hands on demonstration!)

Yes! We can understand God’s Word when we handle it correctly! Just be careful. It is also easy to fall into some common ways of incorrectly approaching Scripture. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). (See also “Do You Read the Bible All Wrong?“ and “4 Tips to Help You Understand God’s Word.”)

What Question Should We Ask Last?

After using correct Bible study tools to understand what the Scripture means, we can apply God’s truth to our lives. Now, instead of asking, “What does this passage mean to you?” we can ask “What does this passage mean for you?” (For more on applying God’s Word see “4 Ways You can Apply Scripture to Your Life.“)

The Bible is a book by God and about God. (See also “Do You Look for God When You Read the Bible?“) It reveals God’s character, plans, purposes, and ways. Again, the Bible is by God and about God. But the Bible is God’s Word for us. Every spiritual truth we find in the Bible has real-life application for our lives today. And the way God shows us to apply His truth will change with time, the circumstances, and our need.

One meaning. Same truth. Endless application.

What Bible study method do you use?  Was today’s post helpful?

Don’t Ask “What Does this Passage Mean to You?” by Kathy Howard.

Have you ever watched an hour and a half of a movie by yourself then someone else joined you part-way through? They may have begun asking lots of questions like “Who is that?” or “Why are they so upset?” Your response may have been something like “You really need to see the whole thing…”

We all know we can’t start in the middle of a movie and really understand it. And yet, we often try to do that with the Bible. We fail to consider the biblical literary context. For instance, it is so tempting to pull a verse we like out by itself then examine it. But when we do, it’s easy to misunderstand it and thus misapply it.

Consider Philippians 4:13. It is one of the most-loved, but sadly most misused, verse in all of the Bible. Often, when it’s pulled out of context, it’s used as a proof text to say “I can do big and great things for God because He will strengthen me to do it.” But, in the surrounding passage Paul recounts how he learned to be content whether he had enough to sustain his physical needs or not. He found contentment in every circumstance because Jesus gave his strength. This actual meaning is far different than the popular, misguided understanding. (Also see “Do You Misuse Philippians 4:13?“)

Circle of Biblical Literary Context

In order to correctly understand the Bible, no matter how large or small the passage, we must keep it in the right context. (Also see “4 Things to Consider for Biblical Context” and “4 R Bible Study Method.”) Every sentence is part of a paragraph. Every paragraph is part of a larger passage. Every passage is part of an entire book. We cannot assign meaning to a verse without considering the greater context. Here is this expanding “circle of context:”

Single verseThe surrounding passageThe whole bookOther books by the same authorThe same TestamentThe whole Bible

Just like the surrounding passage shapes the meaning of one verse, the whole book shapes the meaning of each passage. Books, particularly the New Testament epistles, contain running arguments, consistent themes, and repeated literary devices. For instance, the book of Galatians has one major running theme – “Follow the Spirit, not the Law” – that helps us better understand individual pieces of the letter.

It also helps to consider other books by the same author. Their doctrinal views will be consistent from book to book. So, for instance, if we’re struggling with the topic of grace in Romans, we can also read Paul’s writings on the topic in Ephesians. (See also, “Who Wrote the Bible and Why Does it Matter?“)

Amazingly, although the Bible was written by more than 40 different God-inspired authors over roughly 1,500 years, both Testaments and the whole Bible contain one, consistent message. All the individual books and stories within the Bible join together to tell one big story: the rule, reign, and redemptive purposes of God. This big story is also known as the meta-narrative.

Every part of the Scripture fits within God’s big story. Keeping this in mind helps us understand the Bible and all the parts. We can ask: “Where does this fit in the Big Story? What does this teach us about God’s rule, reign, and redemption? No individual story will contradict the Big Story.

A Few Practical Tips for Literary ContextIf possible, read the entire book in one sitting, particularly the New Testament letters.Remember that chapter and verse divisions were added later and sometimes interrupt the natural flow of the author’s thought.No matter where you start – one verse or a larger passage – pull back and consider the larger context.Look for big themes and running arguments that impact the way we should understand the individual pieces of a book.Don’t forget the meta-narrative. Does your understanding of a verse or passage agree with the big story of Scripture?

Have you ever misunderstood a Bible verse or passage because you didn’t consider the literary context?

How Biblical Literary Context Aids Our Understanding by Kathy Howard.

It’s not only those who are new to the Bible that have questions about how it’s put together. With a little looking some things seem to make sense. Like the story of creation being at the beginning and the end of human history coming at the end. But other things just don’t seem logical. 

So, just how is the Bible organized? And how do we find what we’re looking for? In the following sections we will work our way down from the largest divisions to the smallest.

The Bible is Organized into Two Testaments

The Bible is divided – not evenly mind you – into two primary sections. The Old Testament and the New Testament. There are 66 books in the Bible – 39 in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. Historically, there is a break of 400 years between the Old and the New Testaments.

The English word “testament” means “covenant” or agreement. The books of the Old Testament cover God’s covenant agreement through Moses with the people of Israel. But they also point to the new covenant to come through the Messiah. The books of the New Testament share the new eternal covenant of salvation God provides through Jesus. (Also see “6 Reasons to Read and Study the Old Testament.”)

Categories of the Old Testament

It might seem logical for the Old Testament to be arranged chronologically. But instead it is arranged categorically, by the type of literary genre of the books. (For more on biblical genre see “8 Tips for Handling Different Biblical Genres.”) The 39 books of the Old Testament are divided into five categories:

Law (or Pentateuch) – The five books in this group, from Genesis through Deuteronomy, include the story of creation, the Jewish patriarchs, the Exodus, and the giving of the Law.History – The twelve historical books (Joshua through Esther) covers Israel’s entry into the Promised Land, the periods of the judges and kings, the time of the exile, and the re-establishment of the Jews in Jerusalem.Poetry and wisdom – These five books are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.Major Prophets – The five books of the major prophets – Isaiah through Daniel – are categorized as “major” because of their length, not their importance.Minor Prophets – Conversely, the twelve books of the minor prophets – Hosea through Malachi – are just shorter, not less significant!

The ministry of the various prophets spanned a period of more than 300 years, from the time of the kings through the post-exilic period. Some overlapped each other.  (For a bit more explanation of the organization of The Old Testament see “How is the Old Testament Organized?”)

Categories of the New Testament

Like the Old Testament, the New Testament is organized by categories instead of chronologically. But these categories are a bit different.

Gospels – The four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – tell the story of Jesus. His incarnation, His ministry and teaching, and His work on the cross. The Gospels are a unique blend of history and Jesus’ theological teaching. (See also “Four Tips for Understanding the Gospels.”)History – The book of Acts tells the history of the beginning of the church and the spread of the Gospel.Pauline Epistles – These 13 letters, written by the apostle Paul, includes letters to 9 churches and 4 individuals. General Epistles – These 8 letters were written by a variety of biblical authors including the apostle Peter and John. Apocalyptic – The book of Revelation is an exciting and fitting end to the canon of Scripture. But its literary genre does make it notoriously difficult to understand. 

(For more on the organization of the New Testament see “How is the New Testament Organized?”)

The Bible is Organized by Chapters and Verses

Every Bible book is divided into chapters, then each chapter is further divided into verses. With this reference system we can go directly to any specific point in the Bible. For instance, the reference John 3:16 takes us to the Gospel of John, chapter three and verse 16. There we read the well-loved verse: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, the whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” 

But this reference system did not always exist. The biblical authors did not include divisions of any kind when they wrote. Over time, different individuals began to develop divisions to make specific sections easier to find. But the full reference system we conveniently use today -chapter and verse – wasn’t fully developed in the English Bible until 1560 AD. (For more on the history of references see “The Origin of Verse Divisions.”)

This reference system is necessary for navigation. But, it’s important to remember that chapter and verse division weren’t divinely inspired like Scripture. Sometimes they interrupt the flow of thought. Sometimes, in order to get the right context of a passage we need to look past these divisions.

What’s your favorite part of the Bible?? (Also, if you found this post helpful, I’d love for you to share it!)

How is the Bible Organized? by Kathy Howard.