Though there are people who call themselves Christians who try to evade it, historically and doctrinally Christianity is founded on the Bible. The New Testament records the teachings and actions of Jesus and of several of the leaders he chose. The Old Testament records God’s actions, commands, and messages to those who followed Him (sometimes only nominally), and their actions and their responses to God. The Old Testament also pointed toward and prophesied of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. Growth as a Christian is inseparable from increasing in understanding of the Bible.

Physically, intellectually, and spiritually, the Bible is a big book. It is much longer than most books on modern best-seller lists; its themes are beyond those of the best-sellers. Its key themes are simple enough to explain to a child. Yet, the profundity of some of its themes (including the "simple" ones) challenge and exceed the greatest human intellects and the deepest human emotions. The Bible is an anthology of writings in a variety of literary styles and functions: poetry and prose; history and allegory; exhortation and predictive prophecy; songs of worship and apocalyptic visions. While the styles are usually not too difficult to discern, this variety magnifies the reader’s task. Trying to understand the Bible is a significant undertaking, but God intended for the Bible to be understood. Following some common-sense guidelines, much as with an ordinary non-fiction book, will significantly aid the tasks of study and interpretation. The guidelines that follow should be used as tools, intelligently, not as blinders that obstruct one’s view.

The starting point is with what the text actually says. What do the words mean, and how are the words used in the sentences (grammar and syntax)? Now, most Christians aren’t native speakers or scholars of Hebrew or Greek. The majority of Christians rely on the knowledge and skill of those who translated the Bible translation they use. One aid in understanding the Bible is to use more than one translation. Translating from one language to another is often not a one word to one word, grammatically simple, process, so using several translations will provide the reader with a fuller sense of the meaning of the Hebrew or Greek texts. One can also find reasonably priced language tools - e.g. interlinears (the Hebrew or Greek text and a word-for-word English translation in alternating lines) and lexicons - that can help the reader dig further into the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek underlying the translations they use. These tools can also be purchased as computer software or found free online. Discerning the literary style of the passages being studied is another interpretive key. This includes the writers’ purpose (e.g. history, poetry, exhortation, prophecy) and the passages’ literal, metaphoric, and symbolic content. Context is also critical. How does the passage being studied fit in the context of its section of the book being studied, the entire book, and the whole Bible? Who is speaking? Who is being addressed? What is the historical setting? Are there parallel narratives of that same event in other books? Are there passages elsewhere that deal with the same topic? Parallel narratives and similar passages can add detail and clarify the passage being studied. A related guideline is to be careful of building too big an idea on just one passage. It’s best to have multiple passages confirming your understanding. While history passages and books portray God’s dealings with people, keep in mind that the fact that the Bible recorded a person’s action does not mean that the God approved of that action. Nor does the fact that God used a person or approved of some things that person did mean that God approved of all that person did.

Using these practical guidelines should increase your understanding in personal study of the Bible. They will help you evaluate the teachings you hear from Christian teachers or read in books. They will also help you respond to people who have misunderstood some passage in the Bible or are trying to use a Bible passage to challenge the Christian faith.