I'm posting this here because I think there are some of us, including myself, that forget how to read and study the Bible. I am noticing on other threads that the Bible is being taken very literal instead of keeping in mind the times when the Bible was created. For example: "That was then, this is how it applies to me today...".
This article was made by my friend, MC. Hope this will become useful to others as it has for me.
What Does the Bible Have to Do with Me?
The Bible was written by many authors representing many time periods, all of them long ago. The culture of each of those time periods was different from our own in so many ways. But the God who inspired the original authors inspires us as we read them. Sometimes when you pick up the bible, you’ll want to study and learn – you’ll want to read for you head. Sometimes you’ll be hungry to grow closer to God and experience God’s presence in your life- you’ll want to read for your heart. Whether you read for your head or your heart, God will bless you!
The PRIMA Process
Prima is Latin for “first.” Use this process when you read the Bible to Keep God first in your life.
Pray before you start reading
Read, trusting that God will help you learn and grow.
Imagine what was going on when the passage was first written. (See the “Consider the Context” section.)
Meditate on what you have read and on God’s message for you.
Apply what you have read to your life. Live it!
Consider the Context
In interpreting the meaning of any particular Scripture passage, it is important to understand it in light of the larger context in which it was written and within the living Tradition of the Church. The process of interpreting a passage is called exegesis. You’re going to need help with this. We suggest that you find an edition of the Bible with good notes and chapter introductions, like The Youth Catholic Bible.
The following are things to consider when reading Scriptures:
Making Sense of the Scriptures
The Church teaches that there are two main senses to interpret Scripture (see The Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 115 – 117):
This article was made by my friend, MC. Hope this will become useful to others as it has for me.
How to Read and Study the Bible
What Does the Bible Have to Do with Me?
The Bible was written by many authors representing many time periods, all of them long ago. The culture of each of those time periods was different from our own in so many ways. But the God who inspired the original authors inspires us as we read them. Sometimes when you pick up the bible, you’ll want to study and learn – you’ll want to read for you head. Sometimes you’ll be hungry to grow closer to God and experience God’s presence in your life- you’ll want to read for your heart. Whether you read for your head or your heart, God will bless you!
The PRIMA Process
Prima is Latin for “first.” Use this process when you read the Bible to Keep God first in your life.
Pray before you start reading
Read, trusting that God will help you learn and grow.
Imagine what was going on when the passage was first written. (See the “Consider the Context” section.)
Meditate on what you have read and on God’s message for you.
Apply what you have read to your life. Live it!
Consider the Context
In interpreting the meaning of any particular Scripture passage, it is important to understand it in light of the larger context in which it was written and within the living Tradition of the Church. The process of interpreting a passage is called exegesis. You’re going to need help with this. We suggest that you find an edition of the Bible with good notes and chapter introductions, like The Youth Catholic Bible.
The following are things to consider when reading Scriptures:
- The Historical and Cultural Context: In order to understand the author’s or editor’s intention in a specific Scripture passage, it is important to know the historical situation and cultural biases during the time the author or editor wrote.
- The literary form or device used: Was a certain passage intended to be history, poetry, prophecy, a letter, a Gospel, or another literary form? Did the passage use metaphors, parables, symbols, or other literary devices? How were these forms and devices used during the time the author or editor wrote?
- The Unity of the whole Bible: It may be tempting to look at a single verse of Scripture passage and presume that we know everything there is to know on the subject without reading further. But it is important to read the Scriptures within the context of the whole chapter of book. In fact, the old saying “use the Bible to interpret the Bible: calls us to see specific Scripture passages within the larger context of God’s message throughout the whole Bible.
- The Sacred Tradition of the Church: In order to understand God’s word, we must read it within the living Tradition of the Church. We interpret the Bible in light of what we know to be true about our faith and in light of God’s whole plan of salvation. In the Catholic Church, bishops have been given the ultimate responsibility for properly interpreting the Bible, although Scripture scholars and others share in this responsibility. When in doubt, ask a priest, minister, parish leader, teacher, or parent for help. They are God’s gift to you.
Making Sense of the Scriptures
The Church teaches that there are two main senses to interpret Scripture (see The Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 115 – 117):
- The literal sense: This is the meaning conveyed in scripture directly by the words on the page.
- The spiritual sense: Besides the texts, events reported in the Scriptures also convey meaning. The Catechism lists three senses: (1) allegorical – events are understood “by recognizing their significance in Christ” (e.g., the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea is a sign of Baptism and Christ’s victory over death), (2) moral – events are interpreted by how they “lead us to act justly,” and (3) anagogical – events are viewed in light of “their eternal significance” (e.g. the Church is a sign of God’s heavenly Kingdom).