How to Read the Bible

When we read the Bible, we rely on the Church to guide us so that we can benefit from its unified message: “Although it took some forty men a period of more than fifteen centuries to produce the books that compose the Bible, the Bible is reality but one book. The books composing it are not isolated, but form together an organic unity, one whole made up of mutually related parts, progressively advancing to the one grand end, the restoration of the fallen man through the love and righteousness of our God.”¹

“For he knows that all Scripture is the one perfect and attuned instrument of God, producing from its various notes a single sound of salvation for those who are willing to learn”²

In this way, we approach the Bible with humility: “If the soul is not submerged under the earth in humility, it can never see the beauty of the Bible, for its beauty is present only where humility is evident.”³

We approach the Bible with love: “Approach the Bible with love, and contemplate its beauty. You will not benefit without love, because love is the entrance to understanding.”⁴

We study the Bible: “Christ sent the Scriptures to the Jews, not that they might read them casually, but that they might search them deeply and exhaustively; He did not say ‘read the Scriptures,’ but ‘search the Scriptures.’ Thus, He commands them to study them profoundly, for the words that have been said about Him need great attention if they are to reveal the benefits to be found in their depths.”⁵

“The Bible is a miniature library containing all sorts of writings. It contains poetry, prayers, hymns, love songs, riddles, fables, allegories, historical narration, folklore, biographies, prophecies, letters, etc. Each biblical author used the type of literature or literary form that best suited his purpose. Each literary form must be interpreted properly if the author is to be understood.”⁶

We pray the Bible: “The beauty of the Coptic Church is in its scriptural foundation; she lives the spirit, and practices according to the Words of the Holy Scriptures. Her prayers are biblically founded and are organized according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Every word in the book of the Holy Liturgy (the Kholagy) has its origins in the Scriptures.”⁷

And, most importantly, we apply the Bible to our daily lives: we pray in the Holy Liturgy before reading the Gospel, “May we be worthy to hear and to act according to Your holy Gospels through the prayers of Your saints.”⁸, and Jesus teaches us: “But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit” (Matthew 13:23)