This is a quick guide to help you understand scripture and to read it the way it is meant to be read. It is not a complete guide, but a good starting point to help you to dive into God's Word and learn more about the greatest event in human history, the Gospel.
The Apostle Paul had much to say about scripture. In the majority of his letters, Paul would devote sections speaking directly about the Word of God and it's importance, both in the corporate setting and in the personal devotion. This continued all the way to his last letter. 2 Timothy is widely agreed upon to be the last letter Paul wrote before he was beheaded in Rome. In this letter, Paul concluded his final teaching to the value of scripture. This was the final teaching to his protege, Timothy. This section begins with some of the most well-known verses in all of the letters, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
In these two short verses, we learn a great deal about how Paul understood scripture, and how we as modern readers can begin to study it effectively. The first thing we must obverse is that Paul believed that these were God's words, not mans.
Scripture is God-breathed
"All Scripture is breathed out by God..." That is Paul's position. He believed that everything found in scripture were the words of God, not men. This included his words as well. By saying "all Scripture" he was including not only the Old Testament Scriptures, but also the Gospels and the letters that were being written by the Apostles. 2 Peter 1:20-21 adds to this perspective.
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Knowing that Scripture is breathed out by God makes it valuable. These are not the teachings of religious men, but rather, the words of our perfect creator. This makes the Scriptures a valuable resource to us as we strive to live more like Christ. As Paul continues writing, we see then how exactly the Scriptures help in that ambition.
Scripture is for Teaching
Scripture is the Word of God which makes it a foundational truth in a world that rapidly changes what truth is. We come to the Word of God and read it like a history textbook. This is not a fairytale or a bedtime story, it is the most accurate and perfect history book that has ever been created and the history it is teaching us is the history of God's people and the perfect love, mercy and compassion God has shown His broken creation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Scripture is for Reproof
Reproof, or rebuke, is the is the scripture's ability to point our wrong behavior or wrong belief. The Scriptures helps to expose sin in your life which then gives you the ability to repent of these sin. When reading the bible, it is important to focus on what the text might be showing you in regards to your sins. Don't come to the scriptures only looking for encouragement, but rather, come expecting to be rebuked.
Scripture is for Correction
The beauty of God's Word is that even as it chips away at our fleshly, broken bodies, it lifts us up as well. The original Greek word for "correction" used here is a word that translates to someone helping you back up onto your feet. As you are rebuked for your sins, the bible also gives you the information needed to be corrected. This is done primarily through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. If you want to be corrected, look to the one that did it all correctly.
Scripture is for Training
As it was mentioned above, Scripture is not a fairytale or bedtime story. It is not a casual read either. We we come to the Word of God we are coming with a posture of training. Like any skill, reading the bible and allowing it to transform your heart and life takes practice and discipline. We must regularly and consistently come to the scriptures prepared to train as we would for a sporting event or a contest. This will help you live out your faith and be more solid in your foundation.
Want to learn more about how to read the bible? Check out these resources!
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