"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15).

 

1. ENLIST THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOUR STUDY OF SCRIPTURE

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come (Jn 16:13).

 

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him (1 Jn 2:27).

 

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man (1 Cor 2:14-15).

 

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures (Lk 24:45).

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It's easy to forget that the Bible is no ordinary book. Rather, it's a coded manuscript written in a spiritual language. This means that we should not attempt to understand it on our own. Therefore, we must pray and enlist the help of the Holy Spirit in illuminating God's Word for us. We should do this every time we open the Scriptures. Those who merely rely on their intellectual reasoning to decipher the Bible or treat it like a textbook are bound to adopt a flawed understanding of its message.

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When the Holy Spirit illuminates Scripture for a Believer, they don’t just gain knowledge—they receive inspired revelation. And this Spirit-given revelation is far richer than mere Bible knowledge. The original Greek of the New Testament even emphasizes this difference, distinguishing between human-acquired knowledge (gnosis) and Spirit-inspired insight (rhema). Gnosis refers to the knowledge of God’s Word (logos), while rhema is the living, Spirit-breathed understanding that brings it to life. Author Watchman Nee highlights this distinction, explaining how rhema transforms our grasp of Scripture in a way that knowledge alone never could:

 

"In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (rhema) that proceeds from the mouth of God.' Can we say that man shall not live by 'bread' alone, but by the Word of God recorded in the Bible? No. While the written Word of God is certainly valuable, we are not saying that the logos—the Word recorded in the Bible—has no importance. Rather, it is that logos alone, apart from rhema, cannot fully transform us. As Paul writes in 2 Cor 3:6, 'For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.'

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"Both logos and rhema are the Word of God, but they serve different roles. Logos refers to God’s Word objectively recorded in Scripture, while rhema is the Word of God revealed to us in specific moments by the Holy Spirit.

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"To illustrate how rhema works in the context of Scripture, consider this example from Ephesians 6:17: 'And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (rhema) of God.' Notice that while the Greek typically uses logos for 'word,' here in Ephesians, rhema is used instead. This suggests that Christians who lack an understanding of rhema may wield the Word of God like a blunt sword, devoid of penetrating power, rather than using it as the 'sharp two-edged sword' described in Heb 4:12.

"As much as we desire to grasp the spiritual truths of Scripture, we must not approach it purely with intellectual reasoning. We must approach the Word of God as though it were an encrypted message—one that only the Holy Spirit can decipher. As Job 32:8 says, 'But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.'"

 

2. AVOID PRIDE AND SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS SO THAT GOD DOES NOT BLIND YOU!

The Pharisees were convinced that they knew everything. They were self-righteous and proud. And so they scoffed at Christ’s message and mocked Him. But even today the "leaven" of the Pharisees (pride and self-righteousness) still persists in the lives of many Believers, causing them to become spiritually blind:

 

They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand (Isa 44:18).

 

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them (Jn 12:40).

 

3. RECOGNIZE THAT THE BIBLE NATURALLY DIVIDES INTO THE FOLLOWING SIX CATEGORIES

(a). Historical record of factual events

(b). God's law 

(c). Psalms and Proverbs

(d). Prophetic text

(e). Parables with allegorical meaning

(f). Doctrinal and theological teachings

 

Historical Record

The events recorded in the Bible are part of the historical record and must be understood literally. If we attempt to “spiritualize” factual events—such as the six-day creation or the crossing of the Red Sea—and reduce them to mere symbols, we distort the truth of Scripture and open ourselves to error. While the Bible recounts many supernatural and miraculous events, these occurrences are REAL and serve to reveal the all-powerful nature of our Creator.

 

God's Law 

God’s law is meant to be applied practically and literally to every area of our lives. His commands are designed for our benefit and should never be dismissed through poor interpretation. The New Testament serves as the lens through which we understand and apply the Old Testament Law.

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Prophetic Text

Like parables, prophecy is filled with symbolism, but it is far more complex. Therefore, Christians must exercise great caution and avoid immediately assuming a literal or straightforward interpretation of prophetic texts.

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Prophetic texts can generally be categorized into four types:

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I. Apocalyptic prophecies related to God's judgment, often featuring graphic imagery and symbolism that is intentionally exaggerated or unrealistic.

II. Dualistic prophecies that use symbols to refer to multiple events or realities.

III. Repeating prophecies that describe past events, yet also point to similar occurrences in the future.

IV. Prophecies that pertain to the Church, but are commonly misapplied to ancient Israel.

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Given that prophecy was written in an ancient poetic style, it contains a wealth of apocalyptic imagery and symbolism that would have been more easily understood by its original audience. To navigate the ambiguity of some prophecies, it is essential to cross-reference them with those whose meaning is clearer, using the internal content of Scripture to guide interpretation.

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Parables

Parables are allegorical stories that are instructive and used to help illustrate a spiritual lesson.

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Psalm & Proverbs

The Psalms are poetic expressions of worship, prayer, and lament. They provide deep insight into God’s character and how Believers should respond in various life circumstances. While some psalms contain prophetic elements, they primarily serve as songs of praise, supplication, and thanksgiving.

 

The Proverbs offer practical wisdom for daily living. Unlike doctrinal or prophetic texts, Proverbs present general truths rather than absolute promises. They teach moral principles, wise decision-making, and the fear of the Lord as the foundation of true wisdom (Pro 1:7).

Both books, though distinct, are essential for spiritual growth—Psalms nurturing the heart in worship and Proverbs guiding the mind in wisdom.

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Doctrine and Theology

The teachings of the New Testament serve as the foundation for Christian doctrine and theology, shaping both faith and practice. None should be disregarded or considered irrelevant, since they are crucial to our salvation.

 

4. ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE (COMPARE SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE)

It is dangerous to impose our personal interpretation onto the Scriptures. Any interpretation that reflects the bias, opinions, or preconceived ideas of the interpreter, rather than the true meaning of the text, is known as eisegesis. Simply put, eisegesis occurs when foreign ideas are forced upon Scripture in a way that distorts its natural meaning and disrupts its overall harmony. In contrast, the proper method of biblical interpretation is exegesis, which seeks to draw out the meaning of the text that aligns with the broader context of Scripture.

 

To avoid eisegesis, it is helpful to consult a concordance or interlinear Bible to understand the correct usage of a word or phrase and see how it is applied elsewhere in Scripture.

 

5. CONTEXT IS KING

Have you discovered a hard-to-understand passage? Go back to the beginning of the chapter and read carefully through in order to locate the subject and theme. Often, this will help you solve the meaning of the passage. However, it is sometimes necessary to go back to the beginning of the book in order to extract the native interpretation and how it relates to a particular verse. This is the best way to gain context.

 

6. WHEN IN DOUBT CONSULT A CONCORDANCE

Some Bible versions contain mistranslations of certain words. A reliable concordance, such as Vine’s or Strong’s (classic editions), can help you trace the original Hebrew or Greek word and uncover its most accurate meaning. This is especially helpful when attempting to dissect a particularly controversial teaching.

 

7. BE MINDFUL OF ANCIENT CULTURE

The Bible includes idioms, expressions, and traditions that may be unfamiliar or meaningless to those of us in the modern era. It’s important to recognize that the grammar, language, and even lifestyle practices of Western society are vastly different from those of the biblical period. Therefore, it is crucial to study history before drawing conclusions or making assumptions about any particular issue.

 

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge... (2 Pet 1:5).

 

8. READ THE BIBLE FROM COVER TO COVER (GEN-REV)

No one reads a book by starting in the middle, or at the end and working their way backwards. The same can be said of the Bible. We need to see it as a progressive narrative with a vital message about God’s relationship with man. To gain crucial perspective, we need to start at the beginning (Genesis) and work our way to the very end (Revelation). By reading it thus we will be able fully comprehend its message.