Author Alan Shlemon
Published on 06/24/2019
Christian Living

3 Questions You Need to Ask When Reading the Bible

Apologetics Tip #7: Alan shares the right questions to ask when reading the Bible so that you can get the most out of the meaning of the text.


Transcript

Here’s your apologetics tip of the day: Always ask three questions when reading any biblical text. You see, in order to be transformed by God’s Word, we can’t misinterpret what it means. And that’s why there are three key principles to biblical interpretation: context, history, and genre.

So first, ask about context. What is the author talking about in the surrounding text? Read as much as you can the text before and after the passage you’re studying.

Second, ask about history. Are there any historical details or events that add to your understanding of the subject being discussed in the text?

And third, ask what is the genre or the type of literature of the passage that you’re reading? Because each genre in the Bible has its own principles of interpretation. Find a resource that explains how to interpret each genre and keep it handy when you’re studying the Bible. By properly interpreting God’s Word, you’ll allow the Holy Spirit, who inspired its words, to transform you from the inside out.

That’s your apologetics tip of the day.