The Bible does not contain instructions on “how to read the Bible,” but it does provide examples: studying the Scriptures and checking what you hear against them, explaining the meaning of what you read, asking God to grant understanding, seeking the testimony about Christ in Scripture, and putting what you read into practice. These are principles derived from examples, not rules.
Biblical Principles
- The Bereans examined the Scriptures daily to see whether everything they were told was true (Acts 17:11).
- The Ethiopian official was reading the prophet Isaiah and told Philip that he could not understand without someone to guide him; Philip explained the passage to him and told him about Jesus (Acts 8:30–35).
- The risen Jesus explained to the disciples what was said about Him throughout the Scriptures (Luke 24:27) and opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:44–45).
- The psalmist asks God to open his eyes so that he may see the wonders of His law (Psalm 119:18).
- James urges us to be doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1:22).
- Application: these examples suggest several principles—read carefully, compare what you read with Scripture as a whole, do not be afraid to ask those with more experience, ask God for understanding, and put what you read into practice. Scripture does not prescribe which reading plan to choose, which book to start with, or how much to read.
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
6 Scripture passages · Father’s Blessing Bible
Acts 17:11
These were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica: they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Acts 8:30–35
30 Philip ran up and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He does not open His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away; and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, tell me: of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
Luke 24:27
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Luke 24:44–45
44 And He said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.
James 1:22
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
