Getting a Grip on the Basics of Knowing How To Read Properly God's Word (Part 1): Questions of Discussion

The original article that I have wrote, "Getting a Grip on the Basics of Knowing How to Read the Bible" is very much basic when it comes to properly reading God's Word.  It is "unfortunate" that the leadership of many churches today especially both Charismatic and Pentecostal churches are ignorant when it comes to knowing "how to" properly read scripture. Scripture quoting and sanctimoniousness does not make a person a student of the Bible but if anything as my father said years ago, "Talking loud and saying nothing." (1 Cor. 12:1-2).  In order for believers to read properly God's Word is to take into account every word of scripture: that is paying attention to the author's original intent, the wording of the text of scripture, "small" words (e.g. "and") so as to bridge the gap between one thought into another, the grammatical structure of the context of scripture, and also such the immediate scripture as to its wider context.  That's the basics of the fundamentals of Bible reading. For the student of the Bible to read haphazardly God's Word is to miss such vital information within the context of scripture. Therefore for the leadership of the church to over read the scripture is to confuse the minds and hearts of God's people by which they will not be able to internalize that of the message of the Bible so to the subject, major points, and summary of what was stated by the speaker. 

   The goal of many authoritarian leaders is to dictate; not give such clear instructional teaching for people to grow as to have such independent thoughts and expressions.  It is for followers of these pseudo-Christian groups to follow along without questioning the "sacred" dogmas of such authoritarian leadership.  It is a way to cut off any potentiality of "independent" thinking and assessment of what is being taught or implemented.  That is the goal of many cult leaders today.  It is very important that the student of the Bible think critically by thinking biblically so as to live a life pleasing to the Lord (2 Pet. 3:18).

   Throughout this article I will begin to ask a series of questions as to shed light upon the subject of this article, "Getting a Grip on the Basics of Knowing How To Read Properly God's Word." It will be in the form of, "Questions of Discussion." (1 Pet. 3:15) It is very important to ask "key" questions without asking aimless questions of discussion. The purpose of these questions is to help students of the Bible to understand what is involved in reading "properly" God's Word. To read by misreading God's Word can in fact have a great impact as to how people look at the text of scripture so as to summarize properly what they are reading.  It can lead into all kinds of spiritual confusion, creates such "dysfunctional" reading, and more of a "cultist" mentality.  As to the "misreading" of the Bible can also in fact carries over into such misinterpretation of the context of scripture so to its perpetual creating such novelty of teaching (2 Tim. 4:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:16, 17).

Questions of Discussion

 1. What is the basics of "properly" reading the Bible? (2 Tim. 2:15)

 2. Why is it important to pay attention to every word of scripture? (Joshua 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:19)

 3. Why is it that many within the church today "misread" that of God's Word? (2 Pet. 3:16)

 4. What "goes into" what people read by "misreading" the Bible? (2 Cor. 4:1-2)

 5. What are the consequences of those who read by misreading God's Word? (2 Tim. 2:17, 18)

 6. What are some characteristics of a good reader by reading properly the Bible? (2 Pet. 1:19)


   In conclusion in order for the student of the Bible to read "properly" God's Word is to believe in the authority and inspiration of scripture (2 Tim. 3:16).  There are some leaders within the church today especially among emerging churches who treat the Bible as a "mere" text Book; not the verbally "inspired" Word of God.  They believe by "misreading" God's Word is something mysterious that jumps out of the text of scripture is to be given some spiritual "revelation" that is within a person's spirit. For the student of the Bible as they begin to read the text of scripture is to read "properly" that what they possess is the written Word of God by which scripture is complete (2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:15, 16).  The written revelation of the Bible is complete in and of itself without any "additional" revelation nor revelation of the spirit. For anyone to add or to take away from God's Word is to envision God's divine judgment (Rev. 22:18-19; 2 Pet. 2:1).
  There are basics rules of knowing "how to" properly read God's Word (2 Tim. 2:15) but to violate such biblical principle of Bible reading is to dishonor the God of the Bible since God is the Author of the holy Scripture (2 Tim. 3:15, 16).  Whenever their is an attempt on behalf of those who intently "misread" that of God's Word by misleading others is a spiritual "offense" to God by which they make a mockery of God's Word (Jude 8-10). Also there are people within the church today who are "ignorant" of reading God's Word by which it can hinder their spiritual growth in the Lord (2 Pet. 3:18). In order for the church to live lives pleasing to the Lord is to learn "how to" properly read God's Word simply because of the way they must read scripture by which it is carried over into "how" they interpret God's Word (1 Cor. 2:13, 14). The "mere" casual reading of scripture is only the tip of the theological iceberg by which it is called, "the psychology of misreading" by which cultural influence, preconceived notions, and biases involved in the reading of God's Word (2 Cor. 4:1-2, 3-4). Instead of the Bible being the interpreter's source of authority; the interpreter's cultural understanding and influence is that of its own authority in the reading of scripture (2 Pet. 3:16, 17).


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 the Podcast Host of, "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."