How to Read the Bible Like a Scholar
(Even when you are not!)
By Dr. Jonathan T. Pennington, Guest Contributor
What is the “right way” to read the Bible?
We all want to interpret Scripture correctly, but it can be difficult to know where to start. It seems everyone has their own opinion of what matters most. While some emphasize the historical context, others rely on church traditions or focus on modern-day applications.
As a professor of the New Testament, I have the privilege of teaching new students and future pastors how to navigate Scripture. But you don’t have to be a pastor, theologian, or even a Teaching Leader to read the Bible like a scholar.
I have found it is helpful to think about three distinct ways of reading the Bible. These can be described as informational, theological, and transformational. By using all of them together, we can not only understand confusing passages but also begin to see and know God personally through His Word. Let’s briefly look at each of these approaches.
1. Informational
What helps us correctly interpret Scripture as we study and learn?
When we read the Bible informationally, we recognize God is speaking to us but that it is very possible to misunderstand Him. The Bible comes to us from different times and cultures and languages, over thousands of years. The Bible doesn’t change, but our interpretation of it can get overlaid with our own assumptions and misunderstandings. Informational reading helps us bridge those gaps and reveal those blind spots.
Informational reading focuses on understanding the various contexts in which the Bible was written—literary, cultural, and historical.
Take Psalm 1, for example.
Read Psalm 1
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Informational reading directs us to ask questions about how this psalm is structured as a piece of literature. Psalm 1 is a poem, in particular a wisdom poem that uses a common theme in the ancient world called the “two ways.”
One way represents those who increasingly come under the influence of the ungodly, walking and then standing and then stopping and sitting (1:1). The result of this way of life is that a person does not know God and becomes like dust in the wind (1:4-5). The other way is a life in which we meditate on God’s instructions. The result of this life path is a verdant, fruitful tree fed by streams of water (1:4).
Understanding the “two ways” helps us read and apply the psalm effectively, while also shaping our reading of the rest of the psalms as we recognize this repeated theme. To get started with informational reading, a study Bible can help. In-depth Bible studies, like Bible Study Fellowship, also increase our informational knowledge.
The Bible comes to us from different times and cultures and languages, over thousands of years.
2. Theological
How do we know we are on the right track in our interpretations?
We need guidelines to help us stay on a faithful path. We need to read the Bible theologically.
To help us understand these things, God has given teachers to the church (Ephesians 4:11), both now and in the past. Our Bible reading is enhanced when we read in conjunction with confessions of faith like the Apostles’ Creed and the works of theologians who help us put the whole Bible together.
Think about your church: Do you read the Apostles’ Creed together? Did you sign a confession of faith to join as a member? Do you memorize catechism or use a prayer book each week?
These are all examples of summaries of belief created by theologians and church leaders throughout history that provide a foundation of the basic truths of the Christian faith.
These theological categories don’t replace the Bible, but they guide us into its proper reading.
For example, one of the most famous theological reflections on Jesus is found in Philippians 2. The Apostle Paul was probably quoting an early Christian hymn when he wrote about Jesus:
“Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:6-7 ESV)
This raises some important questions. What does it mean that Jesus did not consider equality with a God “a thing to be grasped”? And what does it mean that he “emptied himself”? People have interpreted these words differently over the centuries, some of them in ways that end up denying the full deity of Jesus while He was on the earth.
A theological reading of the Bible recognizes that we are not lone ranger Christians.
We can turn to theological categories and creeds to help guide our interpretations. We know this passage cannot mean that Jesus is not God because we affirm Jesus as fully God and fully Man in our confessions of faith.
A theological reading of the Bible recognizes that we are not lone ranger Christians reading the Bible outside of the helps God has provided through teachers and the creeds, confessions, and books they have written.
3. Transformational
Yet none of these interpretations matter if they do not shape our lives.
When we read the Bible transformationally, we recognize that our work is not done unless God’s Word sinks deeply into our heads, our hearts, and our hands. This third mode of reading focuses on the Spirit-driven application of Holy Scripture to our lives. We can learn a lot about God informationally and theologically, but without focusing on transformation, it is possible to only know about God without actually knowing Him.
We often quote 2 Timothy 3:16—“all Scripture is God-breathed”—to emphasize the inspiration and authority of the Bible. That’s good, but we need to keep reading beyond the first part. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that the purpose of God’s breathing into the Bible is so we can be taught, corrected, and trained “in righteousness.” This is a work of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to understand the Bible and empowering us to apply it to our lives.
If we return to Psalm 1, we can read it transformationally by asking these questions: What is God calling me to do in response to these two ways to live? What kind of person is God inviting me to become through the habit of meditating on Scripture? How might this psalm shape my goals and values? What areas of my life does this psalm challenge me to reconsider and redirect toward God?
The real aim in reading scripture is to see and know God Himself.
Throughout the Bible we are invited on a journey, a road trip. We are regularly welcomed to come and see, to taste and delight in God. The goal of reading the Scriptures is not merely to gain knowledge about God or to learn certain beliefs and behaviors. The real aim in reading Scripture is to see and know God Himself. This won’t fully occur until the new creation. But along the way, we get glimpses of what is to come. These glimpses of God happen especially through reading and studying the Bible. As we await the new creation, Scripture is crucial for discovering the meaningful and flourishing life that will last for eternity.
This is adapted from Dr. Pennington’s latest book, Come and See: The Journey of Knowing God through Scripture.
Want to learn more about how to read the Bible? Join a BSF class today!
Dr. Jonathan Pennington
Theologian
Dr. Jonathan Pennington (PhD, University of St. Andrews, Scotland) is a Professor of New Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and also one of the teaching pastors at Sojourn East Church. He is the author of many books and teaches in churches and schools all over the world. He and his wife have been married for 30 years and have six adult children.
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God doesn’t need an interpreter. That word has taken on the connotation of “spin” in secular & Christian society. “That’s just your interpretation”. Nowhere in Scripture are we told to interpret God’s Word. No one ever prayed for wisdom and ‘interpretation’. No one is commended for being a good interpreter. It is used only 74 times in Scripture (KJV). Essentially to reveal dreams (Pharoah and Nebuchednazzer) and Belshazzar, the handwriting on the wall. Virtually all the other times it refers to revealing a human language not known to the speaker. i.e., tongue-speaking.
On the other hand UNDERSTANDING/understand, understood is used 302 times in Scripture(KJV), and is often a command “be ye of an understanding heart”,etc. Interpret sounds like a Seminary word used to give weight to what is taught there.
I suggest we in BSF emphasize “understanding” God’s Word and what he actually said rather than our telling God what we think he meant through human interpretation. Kind regards.
VERY NICE ARTICLE
Once Christ died – the old laws were abolished and what Christ followed while alive is NOT what He asked be followed after his death. Ask others to seek belief in INSPIRATION & purity of New Test. ways. Even long time Christians have not learned this. Think!
Dear Lei, thank you for asking! BSF’s Core Values and Statement of Faith can be found here: https://www.bsfinternational.org/about-bsf/ For specific questions, we always encourage members to talk with their Group Leaders. We are grateful for these wise leaders in each of our classes!
Will u teach immersed believers that AFTER Christ died the Old Testament ways or worship were created for those without knowledge of Christ? After his death new ways of worship and new understanding of forgiveness were ordinates by Christ’s request.
Who and where are the 2 main guides of overall BSF?
Thank you for sharing the three ways for better interpretatint the Bible. And thanks for reemphasing the ultimate goal in pursuing this journey of live like Jesus is to be transformed to be more like Jesus.
Yes Joseph,
The Bible is certainly written for the people, each one of us.
Once you grasp this fact, the Bible will always be a part of your life.
Thanks be to God.
This is what I have learned on how to read the bible. I hope it is helpful.
The Bible is not written to us but for us.
The books in the Bible were written by the ancient writers to various ancient audiences in various literary styles, with various intends within the various historical and cultural settings at the time of writing.
We need to change our modern mindset/worldview to the mindset/worldwide of the ancient civilization to understand it better.
The text cannot mean something to us that it never meant to the original, ancient, inspired author. His intent—not our historical, emotional, cultural, personal or denominational need—is the key.
The more we know about the worldview of the ancients the better our standing will be and closer to the understanding of the ancient’s audience.
The issue to the Christian is not about the inspiration of the Bible but it is about the interpretation of the messages in the Bible.
I am thankful for this information. knowing God is so very important and this makes me want to dig deeper as I study his word.
Pray for church leaders. Asking God to help leaders in the church make biblical decisions and steward their positions well.
Quite true and inspiring. God says in His Word: My people are perishing due to lack of knowledge (of His Word).
Not only instructional, but very encouraging!
Very helpful
Thank you. for the information. I would like to read Dr. Pennington’s book. Is it in the BSF store?
It’s available on Amazon. The kindle version is $16.14 and the paperback is $16.99.
Very interesting and informative makes me want to read the rest of this book.