How to Interpret the Bible (pt. 1)

This will be a series of  "tools" to help assist you in interpreting the Bible. It is not rocket science, but it does, and will take, work and time. So let's get started...

1) PRAY. It seems self-explanatory but how often do we start reading the Word without even praying that the Holy Spirit will illuminate our hearts, mind, and soul to understand the Word.  So pray, and pray some more.

2) READ the passage over and over again. You want to start by just simply reading through the passage without jumping into it and trying to interpret.  Once you have read it 2,3,4 times stop; and then repeat step 1 and then step 2 again.  This step is to get you familiar with the text. And take your time, don't just gloss over stuff just because you think you know the passage. Slow down and read the text for what it says.

3) OBSERVE the facts of the text, the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, and HOW. Notice that I left out WHY...that comes later. Right now we are only concerned with facts, as Joe Friday would say, "All we want are the facts, ma'am". So grab your pen and paper and start writing down facts, data points of information. Who is listed, who is talking, where it is taking place, what is going on, repeated words, Old Testament quotes (in the New Testament), conversations, etc... Just take notes on what you observe, don't interpret the text at this point. If you are familiar with a passage don't bring in facts from future passages into the passage you are reading, stick to what is right in front of you.

So here are three tools to get you started. So try them out, especially the observation tool, and see for yourself just how hard it is to not jump into interpreting.