Reading the Bible as Non-Theologians
6 Steps for Your Personal Bible Study
By Anja Scholl, Head of Online
The Bible is filled with countless mysteries, complex connections, and many ways to interpret it. At first glance, this can be overwhelming. But you don’t need special training to understand the Bible! A few practical steps can help you dive into God’s Word:
1. Create the right conditions
Some people need absolute silence, while others concentrate better with soft background music. Put your phone away, make a hot drink of your choice, and create yourself a place where you can read comfortably without distractions.
2. Examine your attitude
Think honestly about why you’re reading the Bible. Are you doing it simply because that’s what Christians are supposed to do, or because you feel guilty otherwise? Reading the Bible isn’t a chore; it’s about nurturing your relationship with God—and relationships thrive on genuine interest. Discipline helps, but your attitude is what matters most: I want to get to know God, understand His thoughts, and let Him transform me. If you realize that this is not your core motivation, bring it before God in prayer.
3. Consider the context!
Context, context, context! It cannot be emphasized enough: A passage read out of its immediate context (the surrounding chapter or Bible book) and out of the wider context of the whole Bible could lead to completely absurd conclusions. Context is important!
Furthermore, there are well over 300,000 cross-references in the Bible—that is, passages that refer to other passages in the Bible. We cannot understand many texts without these references.
The following questions can help with interpretation:
- Who is speaking here, and to whom is the text addressed?
- What was the situation of the person described and/or the author of the Bible text, and, if applicable, the recipient?
- Does the text refer to another Bible text? (Many Bibles include cross-references.)
A few minutes of research online or with a good study Bible can help avoid misunderstandings.
4. Become an observer
First, observe without interpreting:
- What is happening?
- Who is acting—and how?
- Are there any key terms?
- Pay attention to repetitions, contrasts, metaphors, and symbols.
5. Interpret and apply to your life
In this step, you can reflect on what the text might mean for your life.
Ask yourself:
- What do you think the person described or the author was feeling?
- What does this text say about God?
- Which of God’s attributes is revealed here?
- What truth or principle lies behind this?
- Where does this challenge me?
6. Give God space to speak
Consciously take a moment of silence and ask God to speak to you through His Word. He knows how to reach you. God can use His Word to speak to us personally about our situation or to guide us toward the next step.
Find out what works for you! Whether it’s the steps mentioned above, a set routine, a reading partner, or a devotional book that helps you make sense of what you’ve read. Pick up the Bible and discover how God wants to build a relationship with you.
