Steps to Learning How To Read Properly God's Word

It is so important that believers know how to read properly God's Word. Unfortunately there are many leaders within the church today do not know how to read God's Word properly so as to rush in their reading of scripture. There are many within the Charismatic and Pentecostal circles who think that the louder they shout, that quoting the scripture, and to give a "twist" or spin on what the truth is by finding themselves sinking deeper into a "spiritual" quicksand. Sanctimoniousness along with scripture quoting does not make people students of the Bible but to reveal that of their ignorance of the truth of God's Word. The Bible admonish us as believers by saying, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15). To study God's Word requires that believer's think. And the hard work of God's Word that we think biblically. The contemporary church today have become so spiritually "indifferent" towards the things of God but at worst lazy when it comes to studying God's Word. The reason of the confusion in the church today is that people have there own version of what the truth of God's Word but fail to take into account the necessity of comparing rather the information we are receiving falls unto the scrutiny of scripture (1 Jn. 4:1 2-3).

   On today I will begin to address within my article entitled, "Steps to Learning How To Read Properly God's Word." And we are going to use as an illustration that of 2 Peter 1:15-21. Well let's begin by reading these scriptures together. The apostle Peter begin by saying, "Moreover I will endeavor that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. [15] For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [16] For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. [17] And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. [18] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [19] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [20] But in verse 21 of 2 Peter chapter 1 it says, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Even though we read the anthem of 2 Peter 1:15-21 together but there is a lot of nuggets within these passages of scripture. 

    First, there is no need to be in a hurry in reading the scripture. We must take our time in reading God's Word because their is so much within these verses of scripture that has a lot of information within this Bible passages. To carelessly but haphazardly read over God's Word is to miss the intent of the message by which when it comes to interpreting such passages of scripture will do harm to the message. It is amazing how that when you preach or share something with the church that people will literally misinterpret what you says. We as God's people must listen carefully and closely to what the minister says without making an assumption or presumably believe in what they say or teach without taking the whole message into consideration. People today have the tendency to assume what you say without hearing completely the whole statement. In so many words you can ask people a question as it relates to the subject matter under study but prematurely jump to the conclusion. Many within the church today presume what they believe the scripture is saying without taking into consideration the whole of the Bible's message by which they greatly misunderstood the text of scripture (2 Pet. 1:15-21).

    Secondly, as we read the scripture slowly is to also take into account that of wording, phrases and sentence of the text of scripture.  As we begin the read the biblical text there are key words in the Bible passage that requires our attention.  People in the church today look over key biblical words in the text of scripture without seeking what those words means. They end of either literally interpreting the words of the text of scripture but at worst "spiritualize" that of its biblical meaning (2 Tim. 2:17-18). In so many word reading "into" the text of scripture something that are foreign to the clear teaching of God's Word. One of the most striking but disturbing of Christian mysticism is to flush out the deep mysteries of God's written revelation of His Word so as to attain spirituality through such revelatory knowledge (Col. 2:8). Most Christian mystics instead of allowing the Bible to speak for itself is that they "forge" that of its plain meaning as to make it say what its does not say.
  It is also important to understand each phrase and sentence within the context of scripture by comparing scripture with scripture (1 Cor. 2:13, 14). The basics of Bible interpretation is to interpret scripture with scripture. Or the best interpretation of the Bible is the Bible itself by which many ill-advised interpreters of scripture has in fact fail to come to grip with what we call biblical hermeneutics ("science" of interpretation).
    Thirdly, as we read that of the biblical text (2 Pet. 1:15-21) is to understand the type of literature  ("genre") we are reading. The reason for the confusion and misunderstanding within today's contemporary churches today is its ignorance of the literature of the Bible. We cannot afford to take reading the Bible as any other books but to understand that of its literature whether it is prophecy, poems, psalms, thematic, or doctrinal. The reason for the proliferation of cults and heresies is its gross misunderstanding of the literature of the Bible. There are excellent commentaries, Bible aids, and resource materials that can help the beginning student of the Bible to understand the type of literature ("genre) they are reading. I would advise many who are earnestly seeking to understand God's Word to beware of individuals who discourage people from furthering their knowledge and understanding of God's Word who will say, "Open up your mouth and the Spirit will give you what to say," but at worst will also say, "You need not any man to teach you but what the Holy Ghost teach you" without these ill-advised "errant" teachers are ignorant as to their knowledge and understanding of the Bible. Yes the Holy Spirit gives believers understanding of God's Word but does not say we should not study God's Word (Jn. 14:26). Meditation is not study nor is studying God's Word is meditation. To meditate upon God's Word is to reflect what God says in His Word. To study God's Word is to make sense of the biblical text of scripture says so as to make such proper application. The Holy Spirit gives illumination ("understanding"); not revelation nor inspiration. What the Church possess is God's written revelation of His Word that were written by holy men of God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21).

Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the president & Chairman of Darryl Miller International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. Darryl is the bestselling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation?" He is also the Podcast Host, "Ask Darryl" which airs 24/7 @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. As a apologist, conference speaker, and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."