How to Read Difficult Scripture
Seven strategies to aid our interpretation of difficult passages of Scripture.
Smartphones have completely changed how we do life over the past 30 years. While constant and easy access to information can often be a blessing, we have also lost something in the process. We now have limited opportunities to embrace the struggle and tension of not knowing. We are not accustomed to the humility and persistence needed to dig and search for answers. As a result, we do not often rest within the beauty of mystery.
Perhaps nowhere is this more clearly seen than in our quest to understand Scripture better. In our daily Bible study, we all come to difficult passages, either in their literary construction (like the book of Romans) or in what they appear to say. We will eventually have to approach Scripture discussing creation science, race, violence, genocide, slavery, gender roles, hierarchical relationships, sexual orientation, humanity's free will, and the wrath of God. Our understanding of these can be confusing and even highly controversial amongst Christians.
We are all called to be interpreters of the Bible in our quest to know God and understand His good and perfect will in our lives. As interpreters, we must take our study of Scripture seriously. This often involves wading in the mirky mysteries while we wrestle with confusing Biblical passages.
How can we make sense of Scripture we don't understand? Here are seven strategies to aid our interpretation of difficult passages of Scripture.
1. Trust that all Scripture is living and useful
It is easy for us to write off difficult or hard-to-understand Scripture passages. We relegate them to be nothing more than relics of the past. While this might be a straightforward way to rid the Bible of complex, or even offensive, passages, doing so renders them null, void, and pointless for contemporary readers. And this action goes directly against Scripture.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
If we embrace the truth of these verses, we can't take the easy road of ignoring troublesome passages. All Scripture contains a theological value and can still teach and equip us today. It is our job to wrestle further with these difficult passages for meaning.
2. Approach Scripture with Reverence, Expectancy & Humility
As Americans, our easy access to Scripture often leads us to take it for granted. If we believe that the Bible is the very Word of God, then it is right to approach it with great respect and reverence. Our reading of it should never be frivolous or casual. In our disciplined reading of the Bible, we should expect to hear from the mouth of God. From this expectancy comes a burning desire to seek and search to know God more through our study.
On top of all this, we should enter into Scripture with a sense of humility. We seek what God wants us to know- not what we desire Scripture to say. We should also be willing to put in time and energy to reflect and study difficult Scripture passages. It isn't meant to be a quick and easy exercise!
3. Ask the Holy Spirit for Help
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)
As children of God, we can call upon the indwelling Holy Spirit for guidance. The Holy Spirit will teach and remind us about the Truths of God. Therefore, it is essential that as we study Scripture, we begin and end in fervent prayer, asking the Spirit to speak to us through God's living Word. Truly, we must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to hear from God.
4. Seek to Understand How Difficult Verses Fit into the Wider Metanarrative of Scripture
Historically, much damage has been done to people and their relationship to God when Christians take one verse out of context to defend a specific practice or belief. Like a puzzle piece, each verse of the Bible fits with the others in complex patterns. Therefore, as we wrestle with a specific verse, it is often best to study it within its smaller context and slowly widen the perspective. When encountering a difficult verse, explore the following:
How do the verses fit within the passage?: Read and reread the whole paragraph or story in which the verse appears. It is essential to pay specific attention to the conjunctions (connecter words like because, though, therefore, so that, etc.) to help discover how the verse logically fits together.
How do the verses fit within the entire book?: While every book of the Bible was God-breathed and inspired by the Holy Spirit, the individual styles and perspectives of the human authors are still evident. One of the beautiful mysteries of the Bible is that God's Word can be inerrant and living and yet still be written by imperfect humans who have distinct literary styles and varying purposes for writing. This is most evident when we compare the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. All three narrate many of the same stories of Jesus, but with different purposes, attention to detail, and intended audiences.
As we study a book of the Bible in its entirety, we should consider the original audience of the book and the human author. Consider the author's original purpose and how the problematic verse might fit within that context.
How do the verses fit within the author's other writings?: Study other books of the Bible written by the same author. For instance, if you are struggling with one of Paul's verses, it is a good idea to study the rest of Paul's New Testament writings. Do the other works by that same author conflict or support your interpretation of the verses in question?
How do the verses fit within the larger story of Scripture?: Understanding the greater metanarrative of the Bible aids us in the process of interpreting specific problematic Scriptures. In a nutshell, the Bible is about God's loving relationship with Creation throughout history. This is often split into four parts:
Creation: God's creation of the world.
Fall: Humanity's rejection of God, which resulted in sin, brokenness, and separation from God.
Redemption: God's great love is revealed through the death, resurrection, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
Restoration: the Hope and the promise that God will renew and redeem all of Creation and bring perfect peace one day.
By understanding where the verse in question fits into the story of the Bible, we are given a more exact lens through which to interpret.
5. Look At the Ministry & Message of Jesus
John 1 clarifies that Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh. As Christians, we believe Jesus' words and actions are the most apparent revelations of God. Everything Jesus said and did reveal God's great love and righteous purposes. Any interpretation of Scripture should never go against anything Jesus said or did.
6. Consult Good Resources
Read trusted commentaries: Not all Biblical resources are created equal. Certainly, not all online commentators should be heeded. Using a reference guide, like Dr. David Bauer's An Annotated Guide to Biblical Resources for Ministry, can guide you to a well-respected commentary. Among many other things, a good commentary can:
Aid you in understanding the author's cultural context and the original audience of a book of the Bible.
Connect specific verses and passages to their broader literary context.
Explain how the early church interpreted verses, which is often an important clue to the author's original purpose.
Help you see rhetorical patterns within the text that aid in interpretation.
Recognize the genre and other literary constructs of the text.
Consult church leaders: It is generally a bad idea to interpret Scripture in isolation. There are men and women in every church who have put time and energy into learning all they can about Scripture. Talk with them about verses with which you are struggling. You were not created to walk this journey alone.
7. Be Willing to Rest in the Tension & the Mystery of Scripture
Ultimately, we have to remember that we live in the time in between- the time between the ascension of Jesus into Heaven and the great, victorious Second Coming when Jesus will fully establish His eternal Kingdom on earth. One day, every knee will bow before King Jesus, and every tongue will confess that He is God. As we wait for that day, we live in a time of exploration where you and I are called to seek God without fully seeing His face.
During this time, we must embrace the fact that there are many things we won't truly know or understand until we enter into His fully consummated Kingdom. This creates tension between seeking after a God who desires to be known and trusting this same God that we won't fully comprehend in this lifetime. This is where faith comes in.
Anytime we attend to Scripture, you and I are always at work interpreting it. Interpretation can be a big, frustrating and overwhelming task. Yet, it can also be a beautiful, mysterious adventure that leads us to understand better the very heart of God and greater faith in His love and righteousness. So, as you journey, hold on to this promise from the very Word of God:
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you…” (Jeremiah 29:13-14a)
Related Articles
The Problem of Evil by William Merriman
How to Understand the Old Testament by Grant Caldwell
About Christ Church Memphis
Christ Church Memphis is church in East Memphis, Tennessee. For more than 65 years, Christ Church has served the Memphis community. Every weekend, there are multiple worship opportunities including traditional, contemporary and blended services.
